NV4500 Bearing and Seal Rebuild Kit, Dodge Ram 1992-2005

This is the bearing and seal package for a New Venture NV4500 five-speed rebuild in 1992-2005 Dodge Ram trucks. The NV4500 is the cast iron case, aluminum top cover heavy-duty five-speed that went behind the Cummins and the gas V8s in 2500 and 3500 trucks. When you have the case split, these are the parts that get replaced as a matter of course, because reusing a bearing that already has miles on it is how a fresh rebuild comes back apart.

Use this kit when the transmission is howling in the lower gears, has developed play at the shafts, or is leaking at the front and rear seals. It covers the bearings and seals only. If your synchro rings are worn and the box balks going into gear, or you are chasing the well-known fifth gear popout, you want a master kit with synchros instead of this one, or you will have the case open twice.

On the bench, tear the case down, press the old bearings off the input, mainshaft, and countershaft, and check the shafts and bores for spun races or scoring before anything new goes on. Drive the new bearings on square with a driver set, not a hammer and socket. Set your endplay to spec with a dial indicator, and drive the front and rear seals in flush and dry so they seat without cocking. Take note of shim stacks and thrust washer positions as they come apart, because they go back the same way.