'08 Superduty recall

[Builder]

Nice truck. I wish the GM HD had an exhaust brake.

Never knew you could get the Aisin tranny on the 3500.... thought it was 4500/5500 only.

The only thing I dislike about your truck is the back seat is too small for these big goons that work for me.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The Aisin tranny, which is a 6-speed auto, is the only auto you can get with a 2007+ Cummins in a Dodge pickup. The 4-speed auto will not be missed. Oh, I have one and it works, but any 6 speed is a huge upgrade over it. I'll bet my Dodge would gain 1-2 mpg just by having that transmission.

 

[Builder]

The Aisin tranny, which is a 6-speed auto, is the only auto you can get with a 2007+ Cummins in a Dodge pickup. The 4-speed auto will not be missed. Oh, I have one and it works, but any 6 speed is a huge upgrade over it. I'll bet my Dodge would gain 1-2 mpg just by having that transmission.

I do not believe that to be true. I think the Dodge pickups have the 68RE 6 speed auto which is an adaptation of the old 48RE trans. The Aisin is an option or found only on the heavier chassis.

Apologies if I'm wrong in advance.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I do not believe that to be true. I think the Dodge pickups have the 68RE 6 speed auto which is an adaptation of the old 48RE trans. The Aisin is an option or found only on the heavier chassis.

Looks like you're right - oops! It appears they are unrelated 6-speed autos, the 68RFE being a DCX internal design (not clear how much it shares with the prior 48RE) while the Aisin is an outsourced Japanese transmission. The aisin apparently has a PTO, the 68RFE doesn't. Otherwise both appear to be well regarded.

Who would'a thunk that they would introduce two new 6-speed autos for their diesel line around the same time?

 

[Builder]

Looks like you're right - oops! It appears they are unrelated 6-speed autos, the 68RFE being a DCX internal design (not clear how much it shares with the prior 48RE) while the Aisin is an outsourced Japanese transmission. The aisin apparently has a PTO, the 68RFE doesn't. Otherwise both appear to be well regarded.

Who would'a thunk that they would introduce two new 6-speed autos for their diesel line around the same time?

The Aisn & 68RE are quite different. My neighbor is an equiipment mechanic that specializes in Aisin & Allison equipment repairs. We discussed the differences in both of these chunks quite a bit.

The 68RE doesn't lock up in lower gears (1 & 2) -it only drives lower gears in unlocked mode (converter only). Converter drive above 3rd gear is usually reserved for a lighter duty transmission-it can't handle direct lockup in lower gears because of engine torque will destroy it.

As Allison like in my truck or an Aisin will apply the lock-up to gears 2nd-6th. Only 1st doesn't lock up. This allows them to be more efficient, they act more like a traditional clutch in a manual trans and that also increses fuel economy and efficiency.

If you look at pictures of both units, the Aisin & Allison have huge tailshafts and input shafts compared to the 68RE & Ford torqshift transmissions.

I believe that the Allison & Aisin will routinely go 150-200K and the 68RE & Torqshift are 100K transmissions, but that's just my opinion.

 

[JB4310]

Nice truck. I wish the GM HD had an exhaust brake.

Never knew you could get the Aisin tranny on the 3500.... thought it was 4500/5500 only.

The only thing I dislike about your truck is the back seat is too small for these big goons that work for me.

The brake is nice, the more weight the more it comes on, alot of guys with empty pick ups are asking what they should be feeling, or they think the exhaust brake isn't working because they are at curb weight, but put a heavy body on and load it up or hook up a 6 ton trailer and you wont have to ask what it should feel like, you don't have to touch the service brakes on the steepest hill.

As far as the Aisin, Ya, the 07 3500 cab/chassis was kind of a prototype for the future 45-5500's, Dodges way of testing the cab/chassis waters after the x number of years they didn't offer one. My 3500 (class 3) has the same frame and same tranny as the much higher rated class 5, 5500. Their main goal was to compete for Fords market dominating 550's, I read somewhere that Dodge now has the class 5 market, at first I didn't think that was possible but so few class 5 trucks over all are sold compared to pick ups that it really isn't that hard for one brand to sell more than another.
John,

 

[Rara Avis]

Dodge - 2008 Ram 3500 HD Chassis Cab - Powertrain - Transmissions

Aisin 6 speed still available on the 2008 3500 C&C...

 

[jcmseven]

Patrick,

The reprogramming of your truck, in my opinion, actually makes it run BETTER. In fact, if you bought yours after June 1, 2007, it has already been reprogrammed. Usually, but not always, a sticker was placed on the front bulkhead indicating it had been done. My truck seemed to run smoother and get about 1 mpg better after the reprogram. The stacks would then likely not be needed.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Builder,

I have been posting in this forum since 4/07, and I cannot recall your "ripping" any other brands than Ford in that time, although I could certainly be wrong--but I am apparently not wrong about my Ford purchase. A quick update: we are still running OK, no major failures yet. Actually, no minor failures, either. And my mileage is really not that bad at 15 in combo driving and 17-18 on the road now. I suppose these 6.4's CAN do pretty well on fuel, after all.

John M

 

[gemini5362]

I was reading an article on the Allison transmission. The article was from a company that takes transmissions including the allison and makes them a lot more heavy duty for trucks that have been modified for higher horsppower. The article talked about what needed to be done to the allison to make it heavier duty. I did find one thing interesting. The allison in stock form can take about 75 horses more then the last version of the duramax engine which should mean that it is good for about 435 horse or so. After that it needs more clutches in the clutch pack and higher hydraulic pressures internally. The article said that in a totally stock truck with the duramax engine there is pretty well nothing you can tow or do with the truck that is likely to damage the allison transmission.


I found one of the previous posts interesting they talked about a dodge pickup with a jake brake. I dont know too much about jake brakes but from what I think I know the jake brake is incorporated into the engine itself and it has to be designed with the brake in it. It is not a add on item. I have noticed several places in towns where they have a sign no jake brakes. I am assuming that is because of the noise ?