A4LD broken 4th gear planets

[Wildpig]

Come one come all, I`m a little concered about what happened here I keep haven the worst luck with this A4LD tranny. Complete rebuild first from 90 4.0 and installed onto 84 Ranger two wheel, 2.8 fresh engine, runs realy strong, new ring and pinon 4.10`s with posi, I`m in CA. so I`m limited to what I can do.This state and its dumb smog laws. I started with all post`s from all sticky,brooklyn bay and other`s built a great trans worked great till new radiator dumped coolant into trans and got into frictions they swelled to the point that it locked up tranny and pushed out almost all the fluid. New rebuild all new frictions, complete cleaning check all, new radiator, flush system,to flush external cooler. Ok thought were ready to go. I`m shifting TCC and overdrive through mounted switch`s on dash, I would shift into 4th after about 45-55 mph [kind of a guess no speedo gear,done by tach, speedo almost at max] about 2500 on tach.Then add TCC and down the road I`d go, I was comming from family get together, over altamont pass not sure I would say about 10-12 percent grade and with the wind trying to push you back down the hill, the grade is about 2-4 miles long and of course most of the idiot`s are going wright along riding the brakes, so I`m passing them but lost a little speed so I down shifted to third without unlocking converter I was wandering if this caused the demize. The planets for overdrive were burned up, one planet axles had come loose at one end not sure if part failed or somthing I did caused this, sun gear to star washer burnt and overrun burned as well and all torringtons all burnt and took out bushing [sonnax] in center support. I did some research and when vacuum is low [wide open throttle] TCC should be unlocked I was shifting from 4th to 3rd to get back to power band of engine, but l had the throttle almost wide open I have a vacuum gauge in truck it was so close to zero not worth the difference. I did this twice to get around the morons and the last time it felt funny to the point I`m thinking that didnt feel right. At 580 to 680 interchange there is a long 90 deg turn, now when I slow down to inside about 30MPH I would unlock both but when at highway speed I wouldnt unlock converter went threw the gears again and felt ok till I got home thats where all hell broke loose. I knew I was going to be pulling the tranny out to check things out.I started looking threw post`s and decided to ask instead of lookin through all posts. I going to go vacuum swith on TCC and go threw thermal on water outlet on upper hose and set it for about 5" vacuum, I would like to set on thermal switch for closed lupe for computer but I`m a little concerned about lupe circuit for computer. All who like to give there input I would realy appreciate all help
Thanks Wildpig
Its been awhile since last post

 

[BrooklynBay]

You shouldn't have to use switches on the dashboard to shift. I would recommend either getting the same transmission that was removed or swapping another drivetrain into it with a computer. There are aftermarket controllers for the 4R70W & 5R55S if you decide to swap one of these transmission into it with adapters. An older non computer controlled transmission might be another option.

 

[Wildpig]

BrooklynBay thanks for for your quick responce,
What I did was removed the C-3 trans and went to the A4ld for better milage. but have had alittle trouble getting it to work out just right. I did some research to find how to shift TCC with vacuum method, which I like and I could leave 4th on the switch or maybe there is a link to get more options.
Thanks again Wildpig