Shop now for Parts Tools, and Info specific to 1989-1993 Dodge Ram Getrag G360 5 Speed Manual Transmission in Dodge D250, W250, D350, W350 trucks with Cummins Diesel engines.
The Getrag G360 is a German made 5 speed fully synchronized, cast-iron case transmission that Dodge used in 1989 to 1993 Ram 250 and 350 series trucks with the Cummins 5.9 liter Turbo charged Diesel engine. At first glance, the G360 looks like a good, strong gearbox, however, in practice, it suffered from severe durability problems.The typical Getrag will usually last between 75,000 and 125,000 miles between rebuilds. Certainly, some went far more than that, but for most of these vintage trucks, you can expect to rebuild or replace the transmission 2 or 3 times over the life of the engine.
Most G360 failures can be attributed to one or more of four major causes: lubrication issues, engine torque, heat from long-distance driving, and clutch pilot bushing wear. Dodge owners manuals recommended 5w30 motor oil. While we have been unable to find a suitable high-pressure lube for this application, experience has shown switching to a synthetic 5w30 has beneficial effects as does adding no more than one quart of additional oil. The G360 would have been a great transmission behind a V8 gas motor, but from an engineering standpoint, it is marginal for the torque of the stock Cummins Diesel. Generally, with manual transmissions, the model number indicates the torque rating of the unit so you can make your own conclusions about the 420 lb-ft torque of the Cummins. Heat generated from long-distance, high-speed trailer towing combined with the pre-load on the bearings will significantly hasten bearing wear. Lastly, Dodge used a thin-wall bronze clutch pilot bushing in the Cummins flywheel. These bushings have a tendency to wear quickly. A worn pilot bushing will not keep the transmission input shaft centered with the crankshaft or keep it in alignment with the transmission mainshaft. Result? Increased wear on the transmission bearings and gears, plus possible erratic clutch performance.
Many trucks with G360s' were retrofitted with the New Venture NV4500HD 5 speed which debuted in 1994 Dodge trucks. We were one of the pioneers with this conversion, doing our first one in 1996. Installing a brand-new 4500 with our Torque King® Mainshaft set was a great match with these first generation trucks and it still is, but the economics of putting that much money into an aged truck makes rebuilding the G360 much more sensible and cost-effective than it was in previous years. Rebuilding your G360 will extend the life of your truck without the expense of doing a conversion. We offer a full line of aftermarket replacement parts to keep your hard-working Dodge on the job.