I'm replacing my transmission. Are there any tricks that I need to know?

[dukes98]

replaceing the tranny in my 98. it has a 4.0 sohc. is there any tricks tip i should know?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The top two bolts are hard to get to. Use either a wobble extension or a universal socket (a socket with a U joint built onto it). The catalytic converter, driveshaft, transfer case, and the lower cross member should be removed. Disconnect the 2 cooler lines, electrical connectors, linkages, remove the starter, and the 4 torque converter nuts. Always disconnect the connection from the battery when working with starter cables. Drain the fluid to make it lighter, and cleaner to work with. Use a prybar to separate everything. A good transmission jack will make the job easier.

 

[glfredrick]

One BIG trick...

Get one of these. Worth their weight in gold!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=18170&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

33" long -- 1/2" drive on the drive end, 3/8 drive on the socket end -- locks the socket in place so you don't loose it -- take all the bell housing bolts out from the rear very easily.

Drop the crossmember, droop the entire assembly, pull the t-case, then stick your head right up in the hole and you can see everything from the rear.

 

[Cobraguy]

I have a half inch drive extension a foot longer than that! LOL don't like getting my hands dirty! But it is a life saver pulling transmissions on 4X4's

 

[BrooklynBay]

One thing that you should keep in mind with those super long extensions is that they are only good with a breaker bar or a ratchet even though they are impact quality. The pounding action from the impact gun gets lost along the length of the bar (the bar just vibrates).

 

[Cobraguy]

I use an impact on mine every time BB. It's a heavy one, and with impact wobblies, it has never failed me.

 

[wyochimneysweep]

yeah i always use a impact. with a good compressor and impact it transfers enough torque. there ussauly only 45 lbs of torque on them

 

[glfredrick]

One thing that you should keep in mind with those super long extensions is that they are only good with a breaker bar or a ratchet even though they are impact quality. The pounding action from the impact gun gets lost along the length of the bar (the bar just vibrates).

That Snappy extension lets an impact do its work. Better quality steel makes a bigger difference in the performance of a tool than most people realize. But I'm hearing what you say. Extensions do absorb some of the force of the gun.

I used to be a Snappy dealer. Part of what I did was to warranty broken tools. One thing that I hardly ever had to warranty was extensions. In fact, I had one customer that used his 1/2 drive 8" extension as a punch, and he really buggered up the end. I figured that if I could somehow break that extension, I could get away with a warranty claim for him. After a year of trying, I gave up. I couldn't break it with anything I tried, including a 150 ton hydraulic press at a customer's machine shop. All I was trying to do was to twist off the end. No way... I tried a couple of other brands that were traded in. Didn't have the same problem. Twisted off the Craftsman in the truck vise without really trying hard. Took a couple of pulls with the Proto. Got to break (or try) a lot of tools. I know what I buy and what to avoid.

 

[calmac06]

How about reinstallation of a used trans? I know i'll have to put a filter in it, but how about the torque converter? Any thing we should know about that?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Never reuse an old torque converter.

 

[calmac06]

Okay, so what is the difference between the 5R55E and 5R44E torque converters? I was looking at this one, but it's for the 5R44E..

http://www.transmissioncenter.org/a4ld.htm

I wanna get a nice torque converter when I replace this trans, but don't know where to look for a nice one? I'd like a performance one, but a stock one would be fine too.