2025 Ram Heavy Duty To Get New ZF Powerline® 8-Speed

[LegendaryLawman]

Definitely.
The knob shifter makes sense and will likely be the choice they go with. It’s readily available and also cleans up the dash and interior. No more rubber boots to wear out and no loose 10mm bolt causing a loose shifter.

As you already know, I’ll pass

 

[Brutal_HO]

Definitely.
The knob shifter makes sense and will likely be the choice they go with. It’s readily available and also cleans up the dash and interior. No more rubber boots to wear out and no loose 10mm bolt causing a loose shifter.

Rental car this week, Hyundai Sonata, has a little stubby column "shifter" that just twists back and forth. Nearly as dumb as some of the dash mounted push buttons or levers like Lincoln and anything else with a mini-van-ish sloped dash. Only saving grace is it self parks when you push the ignition button.

Personally, I wouldn't really have a problem with the current knob setup, have used it on some rentals and it does just fine. I would miss the tactile feedback from the leather column shift knob...

 

[mbarber84]

Rental car this week, Hyundai Sonata, has a little stubby column "shifter" that just twists back and forth. Nearly as dumb as some of the dash mounted push buttons or levers like Lincoln and anything else with a mini-van-ish sloped dash. Only saving grace is it self parks when you push the ignition button.

Personally, I wouldn't really have a problem with the current knob setup, have used it on some rentals and it does just fine. I would miss the tactile feedback from the leather column shift knob...

Check out the column shifter PACCAR is using in the trucks equipped with the TX-8 (ZF-Powerline)

Not sure if that’s actually a PACCAR product, or if it’s a rebranded ZF component the same as the transmission itself.

 

[Brutal_HO]

This thing is hideous and just plain weird to use.

 

[AH64ID]

I’m not the biggest fan of knob shifters, but that’s really not much different than what we have now.

What I really want back is a manual transfer case lever. I shift in and out of 4wd all the time on dirt roads and find the electronic transfer case annoying and slow, I also don’t trust it’ll last very long with constant use.

 

[LegendaryLawman]

I’m not the biggest fan of knob shifters, but that’s really not much different than what we have now.

What I really want back is a manual transfer case lever. I shift in and out of 4wd all the time on dirt roads and find the electronic transfer case annoying and slow, I also don’t trust it’ll last very long with constant use.

I’ll agree with you that I’ll miss my old t case shifter in my 3rd gen ram. The 2nd gen was kinda weird with the vacuum issues and with high miles they would rattle a lot

 

[Grateful Dad]

I actually liked having the manual lever tcase in my Tradesman though you still have to wait on the CAD to shift

 

[AH64ID]

I actually liked having the manual lever tcase in my Tradesman though you still have to wait on the CAD to shift

If I had a manual transfer case I’d want a manual CAD switch to leave it locked on all the back roads for quicker in and out of 4wd.

 

[jsalbre]

If I had a manual transfer case I’d want a manual CAD switch to leave it locked on all the back roads for quicker in and out of 4wd.

I’ve never seen a manual CAD shifter, but you can buy a one piece axle shaft and eliminate the CAD altogether.

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve never seen a manual CAD shifter, but you can buy a one piece axle shaft and eliminate the CAD altogether.

Yeah that’s an option too.

BD has their 2Lo kit, so I figure you could reverse engineer it to keep it locked instead of unlocked.

 

[jsalbre]

Yeah that’s an option too.

BD has their 2Lo kit, so I figure you could reverse engineer it to keep it locked instead of unlocked.

Hmm, that’s an interesting idea.

 

[Brutal_HO]

I’ve never seen a manual CAD shifter, but you can buy a one piece axle shaft and eliminate the CAD altogether.

Installed a manual CAD shifter on a buddy's 94 12 valve.

 

[gimmie11s]

Check out the column shifter PACCAR is using in the trucks equipped with the TX-8 (ZF-Powerline)
View attachment 71867
Not sure if that’s actually a PACCAR product, or if it’s a rebranded ZF component the same as the transmission itself.

Our new Peterbuilt Cummins x15 equipped trucks have this exact shifter.

It's weird.

 

[mbarber84]

Our new Peterbuilt Cummins x15 equipped trucks have this exact shifter.

It's weird.

Must be a PACCAR component specifically then. Which auto transmission is behind the X15?

 

[gimmie11s]

Must be a PACCAR component specifically then. Which auto transmission is behind the X15?

Eaton 12 speed Endurant.

 

[Nothotdog]

Thought I'd share a video with a diesel mechanic's thoughts. He seems to have fairly reasonable points (but I'm not well versed in any of this)

 

[2Many12Valves]

I absolutely love my ram 21HO the transmission has been put through abuse for 88,000 miles pulling a 10,000 lbs trailer every day in stop and go traffic with zero issues. I jumped back on here to see what has changed. Not too sure I want to be the guinea pig on this new transmission. Looks like I’ll be buying a 24.
with this set up, I get 12.6 MPG no matter what unless I unhook which I’ve only done three times since New

 

[thecastle]

The ZF powerline has been around since 2017 in heavy duty class 5-8 trucks. It should be fine in a light duty 3500 (class 2,3). The ZF 8 spds family have been on the market since 2008, so I wouldn't call this a new transmission, just a new application for Ram pickups with cummins (a version has been on the HD gas engines for a while). I've owned several vehicles with the ZF 8 spds and they're great, probably the best torque converter auto I've driven. The AISIN 6spd I currently have in my HO is a known quantity I get that. However the AISIN is pretty primitive by todays standards, slow shifts, often rough shifting at slow speeds (much better after software update) and kinda inefficient, its also had its quality issues with snap ring failures. The ZF 8sp pulls off lightening fast shifts (DSG like) which should help keep the turbo spooled for faster launches, and likely more efficient. Other than its new to ram cummins owners, it should be a good trans. Hopefully its less maintenance intensive too, which would be a bonus.

 

[AH64ID]

The ZF powerline has been around since 2017 in heavy duty class 5-8 trucks. It should be fine in a light duty 3500 (class 2,3). The ZF 8 spds family have been on the market since 2008, so I wouldn't call this a new transmission, just a new application for Ram pickups with cummins (a version has been on the HD gas engines for a while). I've owned several vehicles with the ZF 8 spds and they're great, probably the best torque converter auto I've driven. The AISIN 6spd I currently have in my HO is a known quantity I get that. However the AISIN is pretty primitive by todays standards, slow shifts, often rough shifting at slow speeds (much better after software update) and kinda inefficient, its also had its quality issues with snap ring failures. The ZF 8sp pulls off lightening fast shifts (DSG like) which should help keep the turbo spooled for faster launches, and likely more efficient. Other than its new to ram cummins owners, it should be a good trans. Hopefully its less maintenance intensive too, which would be a bonus.

I agree with most of that, but I’ve never had either of my Aisin’s shift so slow that boost drops between shifts. It actually often spikes due to rapid intake airflow changes and VGT positioning.

Also, while a major issue for some the snap ring failure is a one off issue effecting a small percentage of Aisin’s on the Rams and was an easy fix overall.

 

[Ostracize]

Turbski spool between shifts is not a transmission shift speed thing.. It's a ecu defueling between shifts thing. Only highlighting the difference because the trans programming could be "perfect" but if the ram ecu programming is biased to conservative (to lessen strain on the whole driveline) the between gear feeling likely will be similar to current applications.