Well to start with before I took my truck out of service 7 mths ago my 4R100 front seal was leaking and it would every now and then act funny and shutter with a little grind noise going in and out of OD. Well I was pretty sure it was the torque converter or the tcc valve in pump was sticking. But other than that it shifted ok and went down the road ok.

Now mind you the trans has been sitting on the floor for 5 mths now

So this weekend I got around to pulling the pan to remove the filter so I could pull the pump to do bushing, seal and Sonnax valves. Well when I got the pan off the magnet in the pan had about 3/8 to 1/2 inch of very fine metal shavings on it. It looked like a baby Don King in my trans pan. That told me there is something seriously wrong with my trans. So I pulled the pump which didn't want to come out. So I put a bolt in the 2-7 oclock bolt hole and used a 5lb slide hammer to get it out.

Now I had read about the OD return spring retaining ring being an issue and that there are upgraded ones out there made. So I pulled the coast clutch drum and the retaining ring feel out and the return spring was just sitting there. It made me sick and pissed!! So I pull the OD clutchs and start to inspect the OD/ Intermediate cylinder and it is chewed up from the return spring just spinning around in there.

Next week I'll finish tearing it down so I can work on a parts list that will fit my cash flow issues. I really wish I had the cash to do it the way I want...Oh Well So you will be seeing a rebuild write up from me in the near furture. I need this thing done so I can drive it to RRE in 2 mths.

OD retaining came out and was just sitting in there

OD return Spring is loose

 

Good information Ed, I look forward to your rebuild write-up as well!

 

Sonnax and TransGo offer the spiral lock snap ring. Sonnax is the better of the two.

This problem has been around since the E4OD days.

 

I have heard both them were good and was wondering why you say Sonnax's is better. Also have you used the Sonnax or Transgo retaining ring for the coast clutch drum ?

 

Sonnax Spiral lock ring actually locks in place. TransGo spiral ring dosn't have a lock. It's still a good part. Works well. Way better than stock. But out of the two you put the sonnax ring in, have fun getting it out. TransGo is a little easier.

Coast clutch, TransGo, because it is in the kit.

 

My Transgo OD snap ring has a lock tab on it.


I also went with a machined 4 disc Coast Clutch that uses a thicker, wider snap ring. Upgraded on left. Stock on right.

 

I am liking the idea of the thicker retaining ring. But could you please explain "machined 4 disc Coast Clutch" is it a 4 disc set machined to fit a stock coast clutch drum or did you have to machine the coast clutch drum? And who makes this retaining ring? By the way you take pretty pictures

 

If you look closely at the Coast Clutch Drum on the right, you will see indentions that form barbs that the stock snap ring fits under. The modded one on the left has a groove machined into the housing, at a point higher up, that allows for more discs and a thicker snap ring. I purchased the upgraded one from Sun Coast Transmissions. IIRC, there is an upgraded snap ring for retaining the stock drum.

 

TransGo offers the snap ring in their Tugger kit.

 

I kind of thought they did. I used a mixture of TransGo (E4OD-HD2), Sonnax, and other custom parts when I upgraded mine.

 

Thats my general route too. A little of this a little of that.

Custom stuff is were the fun starts.