4L60E Shift kit question

[jpwalt1987]

Hey guys, This is for my daily driver 2005 chevy 1500 with a 5.3liter. The 1-2 shift sucks, it feels like the first gear clutches are releasing then there is a pause before the second gear band engages. It doesnt really feel like its slipping, just that the timing is off. It drives and shifts fine at all other times though. I was thinking of doing a transgo shift kit and 2nd gear super servo to help the problem. I serviced the trans 10K miles ago and all was good. It has 70K on it now. I ocassionally pull a small aluminum boat but thats about it. What are yalls thoughts on the symptoms and do you think the shift kit will help/cure it. thanks, Jeremy

 

[tta1240]

i would buy a programer for it.you can change all shift points and adjust line pressure to firm or loosen up the shifts.

 

[87buickracer]

Hey guys, This is for my daily driver 2005 chevy 1500 with a 5.3liter. The 1-2 shift sucks, it feels like the first gear clutches are releasing then there is a pause before the second gear band engages. It doesnt really feel like its slipping, just that the timing is off. It drives and shifts fine at all other times though. I was thinking of doing a transgo shift kit and 2nd gear super servo to help the problem. I serviced the trans 10K miles ago and all was good. It has 70K on it now. I ocassionally pull a small aluminum boat but thats about it. What are yalls thoughts on the symptoms and do you think the shift kit will help/cure it. thanks, Jeremy

I woud start with the shift solenoid first to see if that solves your problem..They are about $22.00 each,so wouldn't hurt to change both..

 

[SSedan64]

i woud start with the shift solenoid first to see if that solves your problem..they are about $22.00 each,so wouldn't hurt to change both..

x2^^^.....

 

[Otto J]

First gear does not let off. Forward clutches are engaged at all times forward. the band applying adds second gear.
It is common for the 2cnd gear accumulator spring to break and cause a
delay in the shift.
If second gear is solid once engaged the band is most likely fine and adding a shift kit may be a good move.It will come with new acc springs.
This is all speculation though and there may be some other problem.

 

[jpwalt1987]

I took special notice of the way it shifted on the way home this morning. When it was cold, there was no delay in the second gear engagement. Once it warmed up however the delay was noticable. Second gear is solid after the shift. I did some searching last night and saw that it is common for the 1-2 servo piston to crack as some were made of plastic. That is easy to check along with looking at the spring. That will be my first place I check but I dont think that will be it because that would cause the band to have less pressure and slip( I believe) Its gonna get a shift kit regardless though. I dont like the programmer idea with it mainly just jacking the line pressure up. Not to mention that a programmer is at least $300. I can do a shift kit for under $100. I am going to do some more research and look in my ATSG manuals for some more clues.

OTTO, What shift kit would you recommend and would you suggest the corvette servo or the "super servo"

Thanks

 

[Otto J]

I took special notice of the way it shifted on the way home this morning. When it was cold, there was no delay in the second gear engagement. Once it warmed up however the delay was noticable. Second gear is solid after the shift. I did some searching last night and saw that it is common for the 1-2 servo piston to crack as some were made of plastic. That is easy to check along with looking at the spring. That will be my first place I check but I dont think that will be it because that would cause the band to have less pressure and slip( I believe) Its gonna get a shift kit regardless though. I dont like the programmer idea with it mainly just jacking the line pressure up. Not to mention that a programmer is at least $300. I can do a shift kit for under $100. I am going to do some more research and look in my ATSG manuals for some more clues.

OTTO, What shift kit would you recommend and would you suggest the corvette servo or the "super servo"

Thanks

The Trans go kit works awesome in the 4l60E. A cracked accumulator piston will not cause a pressure loss after the apply, it just messes with accumulator oil.
THe shift kit will not come with a new 1-2 acc piston. I can get you one if you have no source

 

[gsgns4me]

That will be my first place I check.......

First step should be to check for trouble codes. Not all trans DTC's will turn on the CEL, but give you some clues for further diagnosis.

 

[jpwalt1987]

I will definatly check for codes before I go into it.

Otto, what is your opinion of the pinless accumulator pistons?? I would like to have pistons on hand when I pull the VB just in case I have a cracked one whether it is pinless or stock aluminum. Do you know what mods the Transgo kit does? .500 boost valve? Different pressure reg valve and spring? I will also get the vette servo as I have read the billet ones hit too hard for a stock truck. What else would you recommend in addition to the transgo shift kit? thanks for the advice.

 

[87buickracer]

I took special notice of the way it shifted on the way home this morning. When it was cold, there was no delay in the second gear engagement. Once it warmed up however the delay was noticable. Second gear is solid after the shift. I did some searching last night and saw that it is common for the 1-2 servo piston to crack as some were made of plastic. That is easy to check along with looking at the spring. That will be my first place I check but I dont think that will be it because that would cause the band to have less pressure and slip( I believe) Its gonna get a shift kit regardless though. I dont like the programmer idea with it mainly just jacking the line pressure up. Not to mention that a programmer is at least $300. I can do a shift kit for under $100. I am going to do some more research and look in my ATSG manuals for some more clues.

OTTO, What shift kit would you recommend and would you suggest the corvette servo or the "super servo"

Thanks

when it's cold there is more pressure in the circuits due to the fluid being thicker...and causes it to shift firmer..another area to look at would be the pump and boost valve as well.check your line pressure also when it's cold and hot to see if your in the proper range..a 13 vane pump and 500 boost valve would be a plus...and help extend the life of your tranny before rebuilding...

 

[john kinch]

transgo kit

kit is about $50 on ebay .fixes all the problems g.m. ignored including fault codes. cheapest insurance policy I know of for a rebuild imo.

 

[LSJM1]

SK 4L60E TRANSGO kit cheap $40 bux follow the directions 1-2 acc spring controls the length of the 1-2 shift

 

[jpwalt1987]

I ordered my shift kit from Summit yesterday. Should be able to start looking at everything next week. Gonna check pressures and codes first. I have built a few 2004Rs, 400s and two 4L60Es, so the shift kit is too easy. I will update on what I find and how it turns out.

 

[jpwalt1987]

Well I got the Transgo shift kit installed today. Not complicated at all, just follow the directions. It took me twice as long as it should have because I kept getting pulled away and didnt have my inch pound torque wrench as I had forgotten I loaned to a friend. So alot of that time was waiting.

The 1-2 shift is much better. Like it should be, but you can tell the torque management kick in right after. The 2-3 shift is a bit faster and firmer. I only drove it down the street, so we will see how it does around town. I only used 1 shim in the 1-2 accumulator. That was the setting for "firm". It also had a plastic piston in that accumulator. I did'nt have an aluminum one so the plastic piston stayed. It looked brand new. The only thing I saw was on the seperator plate where the check balls seal. You could see where they were wearing into the holes. I wasnt expecting that and didnt have a new plate so I used a small hammer and an anvil to "fix" the holes as best I could. It turned out good and better than it was. If I do another shift kit(on another truck) I will order a new plate and aluminum accum. pistons.

All in all.. the kit is very easy to install and the differences are noticable. Keep in mind this is not race truck, its a daily driver/hauler.

Thanks for the advice, OTTO!!

 

[LSJM1]

Yeah I have a mail order tune from westers they took most of the torque management out then I put in a shift kit from superior what I wound up with was way too hard of a 1-2 shift even with the stock springs in the 1-2 accumulator.Later when I rebuilt the trans I put a I-6 trailblazer 2400rpm convertor in it and it was perfect.

 

[challengermike]

If it was a slide bump shift a corvette servo would of fixed it.