Transmission Fluid recommendation?

[KidAce]

Hey gang,

I bought my 2005 TB (LS) in November and it now has 51K miles on it.

I need to have the Trans and Diffs serviced , but I was wondering if you guys have specific recommendations as to what Trans fluid I should instruct my shop to use (other than the typical Dex 3).

Thanks for your input.

[maxwedge]

Updated Dexron VI

[KidAce]

Thanks for the reply, Max. I appreciate it.

Do you use the updated Dex VI on your TB? If so, are you able to experience a noticeable difference from Dex III?

The reason I'm asking is because my '05 TB is behaving rather oddly.

By oddly, I mean:

1) When I start driving the truck in the morning, and come to a complete stop (regardless of speed), the truck kicks back a little. It's hard to explain, but I'd say it feels almost as if the break calipers (all 4 of them) are traveling. I know it's not physically possible, but that's what it feels like.

After driving for about a good 5 or 8 miles, it stops doing it. It brakes normally again, and won't show that symptom until the next morning.

2) Another symptom that I've started noticing, lately, is when I'm stopped at a light and the light turns green, when I release the break pedal, before I even put my foot on the gas, sometimes I hear and feel my drive shaft clunk and engage. I don't think it’s supposed to clunk like that.

3) The final "odd" behavior that I've increasingly been noticing is the jerking of the truck when I come to a stop. I realize that the gear box needs to down-shift, from whatever gear it was in, but it's becoming more and more noticeable.


Now, I did have the shop flush the transmission and replace it Dex III, and I also had them service both Diffs, and I even had them service the Transfer Case, but it still does all of the before mentioned behaviors.

So, do you think the updated Dex VI will help reduce (or even resolve) these symptoms?

Thanks again,

[maxwedge]

Without driving it I would say this also could be an issue with the Eaton locking diff not disengaging or possibly the drive shaft front yoke binding in the transfer case. Fluid will not correct this.

[KidAce]

Hey Max,

So, would you recommend I take it to a Transmission place to verify or is there a way that I can test it myself? More importantly, would I be able to fix it myself or is it something that a Transmission place would have to do?

Thanks,

[maxwedge]

The driveshaft you can be corrected by removing the shaft and lubing the inside splines, the diff is usually not a DYER type repair. Diagnosis is the primary issue here.

[KidAce]

Wow... sounds labor intenssive.

I don't know if I trust myself enough to dismental my drive shaft. The last time I did that, 5 years ago (on a '96 Dodge Ram 1500), I somehow managed to throw the shaft off balance, which caused the mounting bearing assemby to to rip right out of its thick rubber mounting and ultimately trashing the U-joint to the rear Diff. It was ugly.

Thanks for the suggestions though. At least now I have some ideas to take to the shop and ask them to do it.