Mercedes-Benz Mercedes G56

Mercedes-Benz's G56 — the six-speed manual behind the Cummins in Ram heavy-duty trucks.

⚑ A Mercedes gearbox in an American pickup is exactly as odd as it sounds, and it is a DaimlerChrysler artefact: Chrysler and Mercedes were one company when it was specified. Searching Ram material finds owner forums; searching Mercedes finds the engineering.

It replaced the New Venture NV5600 and is the lighter unit of the two — which is the standing argument among owners who tow, and the reason the NV5600 is a common swap back.

Fluid is the recurring subject and the specification changed. Chrysler called for ATF at first and later for a manual-transmission fluid; the wrong one produces exactly the notchy cold shift and bearing noise that get reported as wear.

It is the last manual offered in these trucks, so a surviving one is usually in a vehicle whose owner chose it deliberately and works it hard.