Greetings. Rebuilding a transmission requires several ingredients to be successful. Your transmission is a highly complex piece of equipment with more than several hundred parts inside, including solenoids, bushings, bearings, washers, rubber o rings, clutch plates, planetary gears, and a pump. Anything short of a logical, calculated approach will not lead to perfection.
The first and foremost is cleanliness. Transmissions require extreme cleanliness because of the number of parts and complexity of an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is a hydraulic pump and has a plethora of cavities and passages that collect debris over the years.
When you clean your parts, you will need compressed air to force dirt and contamination through the passages.
The second is following directions and organization. Please familiarize yourself with the transmission you are rebuilding before disassembling it for inspection. Use a systematic procedure to lay the parts on your workbench. Purchase a professional transmission repair manual online at ATSG (Automatic Transmission Service Group).
The third suggestion is to use the special tools recommended for the transmission you are rebuilding. Special tools will make the job easier. Otherwise, parts (drum seals and Teflon rings) may be damaged if special tools are not used.
Tips:
- Use a seal installer to install seals. Pack the inside of the seal, behind the metal pressure band, with frozen Vaseline, and install the seal on the seal installer, then put a small amount of Blue Loctite around the perimeter of the seal before you band it in with a wood or brass mallet.
- Coat the rubber o rings with STP for ease of fit and use your seal installers.
- Soak the clutches and bands in automatic transmission fluid.
- Use plenty of STP and transmission fluid, so the transmission issue’’ inside, thus not allowing for dry startups.
- Add one quart of AFT to the torque converter before installing it in the front of the transmission.
- FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION cooler. (most crucial unperformed step) Usually located in the radiator. Not Flushing the debris out of the transmission’s cooling system is critical; otherwise, the debris is flushed into the rebuilt transmission once the fresh ATF gets hot and releases the detergents in the ATF. The detergents allow the debris to enter the transmission and stick valves in the valve body. (Because ATF is changed not very often, it contains a 27 additive package, including friction modifiers and detergents).
- Use factory-approved full synthetic transmission fluid.
- Ensure you have clearance between the torque converter and flexplate when you bolt the engine and transmission together, or the pump will become damaged.
- Fill your transmission in neutral with the wheels off the ground. The vehicle must be at operating temperatures.
- Check for leaks.
- Road test for 30 minutes, or until at full operating temperature with a scan tool hooked up to monitor the electrical system.
- Recheck your work for leaks.
Thank you for cooperating and taking my advice. Use this recipe, and you will be sucessful.
Danny