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Transmission Question!


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Posted

Hello all, been creeping through these pages for a while now and I finally grew a pair big enough to ask a question! I have a '99 Silverado with the 5.3 and I'm wondering what option are for a more reliable transmission, I've read post upon post on how poorly these transmissions can be and am wondering if there is anything out there that can help with that. Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Posted

RPM, FLT, Gearstar, PATC

RPM still builds decent units, FLT is questionable since Vince left. Gearstar and PATC are meh at best.

 

 

What he is asking is what will make a unit live longer.

 

The best answer is proper service intervals and a shift kit can help the life of the 4L60/65/70E units. That being said I have seen some that are always lead footed and never serviced last over 100K and some that are babied and serviced like you should and they fail at 60K. It is really luck of the draw.

 

I have never really had an issue with the units other than hard parts failures, but then again I have someone with 40+ years of building experience building the units with me.

 

I have snapped an input, output, and exploded a 3/4 drum but that's what happens when you hook up on the race track...It breaks stuff.

Posted

RPM still builds decent units, FLT is questionable since Vince left. Gearstar and PATC are meh at best.

 

 

What he is asking is what will make a unit live longer.

 

The best answer is proper service intervals and a shift kit can help the life of the 4L60/65/70E units. That being said I have seen some that are always lead footed and never service last over 100K and some that are babied and serviced like you should and they fail at 60K. It is really luck of the draw.

 

I have never really had an issue with the units, but then again I have someone with 40+ years of building experience building the units with me.

This is true. I service mine regularly and have a large cooler. it has 185k on it. 60k of that is with an LQ9.
Posted

I have about 1 week of experience with the unit so you could say I'm somewhat of a know-it-all. HAHA that being said, I was under the truck the other day looking as any owner should, and I noticed there was a small leak around the torque converter housing (if that sounds remotely accurate, it's what I believe from my hour or so of research) and these transmissions have a habit of getting pin hole size leaks. JB weld seem to be the answer to that. I'm just looking at either getting it rebuilt into something more reliable or fixing the one I'm with.


I have about 1 week of experience with the unit so you could say I'm somewhat of a know-it-all. HAHA that being said, I was under the truck the other day looking as any owner should, and I noticed there was a small leak around the torque converter housing (if that sounds remotely accurate, it's what I believe from my hour or so of research) and these transmissions have a habit of getting pin hole size leaks. JB weld seem to be the answer to that. I'm just looking at either getting it rebuilt into something more reliable or fixing the one I'm with.


Whats an LQ9?

Posted

This is true. I service mine regularly and have a large cooler. it has 185k on it. 60k of that is with an LQ9.

Yes coolers are also very helpful, but being in North Dakota I don't think he will have much of an issue with heat.

 

However driving them hard when ice cold can damage parts as well.

Posted

I have about 1 week of experience with the unit so you could say I'm somewhat of a know-it-all. HAHA that being said, I was under the truck the other day looking as any owner should, and I noticed there was a small leak around the torque converter housing (if that sounds remotely accurate, it's what I believe from my hour or so of research) and these transmissions have a habit of getting pin hole size leaks. JB weld seem to be the answer to that. I'm just looking at either getting it rebuilt into something more reliable or fixing the one I'm with.

 

I have about 1 week of experience with the unit so you could say I'm somewhat of a know-it-all. HAHA that being said, I was under the truck the other day looking as any owner should, and I noticed there was a small leak around the torque converter housing (if that sounds remotely accurate, it's what I believe from my hour or so of research) and these transmissions have a habit of getting pin hole size leaks. JB weld seem to be the answer to that. I'm just looking at either getting it rebuilt into something more reliable or fixing the one I'm with.

 

Whats an LQ9?

 

 

You cannot see the torque converter unless you pop out the circular covers and at that you can see about .1% of it. What you are seeing is more than likely a rear main seal leak from the seal at the rear of the crank shaft. It is common of these trucks and many just leave it until it starts to actually leave a sign of fluid on the ground.

 

LQ9 is the GM RPO code for the high compression 6.0L engine found in the Escalade, SS Silverado, and VHO Silverados.

 

Don't ever use JB Weld to do anything other than glue crap together to hold down papers on your desk. Seriously it is not the proper fix for anything automotive. It does work well for bedding the action of a rifle though :)

Posted

It drips enough to leave a little residue on the garage. I've wiped it off once or twice now and it slowly drips. Not enough to physically see it drip while i'm cleaning it but enough to, again, leave a mark on my garage maybe a half in in diameter. What would you say is the cost of this typically, if it is the seal?

Posted

It drips enough to leave a little residue on the garage. I've wiped it off once or twice now and it slowly drips. Not enough to physically see it drip while i'm cleaning it but enough to, again, leave a mark on my garage maybe a half in in diameter. What would you say is the cost of this typically, if it is the seal?

Around 400 bucks if it is in fact the rear main.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Noticed today that if I go from reverse to drive and then back to reverse there is a mechanical "clunk" noise coming from the transmission. What in the heck could it be now?

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

The number one weakness in a 4L60E is the sun-shell reaction assy. People that go in reverse then continue to roll backwards while shifting to Drive and accelerate forward. This causes stress on the sun gear assy and since it's a stamped piece of crap from the factory it will go around 100k....this is caused from metal fatigue.

 

The clunk you are hearing is drive shaft / u-joint play....it's normal with most trucks.....you have a 99 ? Expect a few shakes, rattles and groans....lol

 

Best thing to do with the tranny is keep up on maintenance fluid changes and filter....don't need to "flush" just service or drain about 5 quarts out when the pan is dropped to change the filter...do that every 50k-100k and you should be fine.....it will be the best 100 bucks you ever spend....will run a long time....

Posted

Thanks for the reply. Plan on trading it up for a diesel in the next couple of months since it's only 3 cents more expensive than gas.

  • 4 months later...
Posted

I have a 01 z71. Truck is tuned. (Shifts at 6300) headers exhaust intake. Etc. Truck is driven hard every time its driven. Stock 4l60e. 193k miles. The key is to keep it cool. And keep the fluids good inside of it. Still no gauruntee that it'll last forever. But you have a better chance of it surviving. I'd buy a trans cooler. A shift kit. And pray every night haha.

 

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

  • 2 months later...
Posted

Just to piggy back on this post, does anyone suggest running an aftermarket trans cooler. If so, what brand and where should I put it?

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