E4OD Planetary Gears. Upgrade?
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E4OD Planetary Gears. Upgrade?
Hi guys, I'm back with another question. 
Upon disassembling my transmission, I discovered that all my planetary gears are the 3 pinion design. I'm trying to decide whether or not to upgrade them. And if I do upgrade them, what to upgrade to.
My engine is the 4.9, all stock. No performance upgrades and I'm not planning any. I'll be doing some light towing (6X12 enclosed trailer) and I might upgrade to a slightly bigger trailer in the future. I won't be doing any off-roading or racing, but I won't baby the truck either. Simply speaking, I want a trans that can take all a stock 4.9 will give it.
I have seen replacement planetary gears in two styles, 4 and 6 pinion. They come in aluminum or steel. Question is, which ones to get. I was thinking 6 pinion aluminum for the forward planet, 4 pinion aluminum for the overdrive planet and 4 pinion steel for the reverse planet. But I really don't know which ones I need, which is why I came here for help.
Any input you can give is much appreciated.
Thanks!
Upon disassembling my transmission, I discovered that all my planetary gears are the 3 pinion design. I'm trying to decide whether or not to upgrade them. And if I do upgrade them, what to upgrade to.
My engine is the 4.9, all stock. No performance upgrades and I'm not planning any. I'll be doing some light towing (6X12 enclosed trailer) and I might upgrade to a slightly bigger trailer in the future. I won't be doing any off-roading or racing, but I won't baby the truck either. Simply speaking, I want a trans that can take all a stock 4.9 will give it.
I have seen replacement planetary gears in two styles, 4 and 6 pinion. They come in aluminum or steel. Question is, which ones to get. I was thinking 6 pinion aluminum for the forward planet, 4 pinion aluminum for the overdrive planet and 4 pinion steel for the reverse planet. But I really don't know which ones I need, which is why I came here for help.
Any input you can give is much appreciated.
Thanks!
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Beings that you have a stock 4.9 and light towing just use factory planets and if you want to upgrade something upgrade your valve body. That'll do you the most good out of any mod. Coming from a guy with a e4od on a chipped powerstroke pulling horses on 35 inch tires
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Thanks for the advice! My main concern with the original planets is that they have nearly 200K miles on them, some of those miles with low fluid. At the same time, I'd like to save the extra $ and not replace them...
This is a hard decision! But your advice is definitely helpful. Before this thread I was 90% sure I needed to upgrade them. Now I'm seriously considering reusing them.
I have a great idea, I'll go to bed and maybe there will be more advice here in the morning!
This is a hard decision! But your advice is definitely helpful. Before this thread I was 90% sure I needed to upgrade them. Now I'm seriously considering reusing them. I have a great idea, I'll go to bed and maybe there will be more advice here in the morning!
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I will inspect them for sharp edges and post some pictures of what I find.
Thanks!
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hmmm u know I can't recall. Iv rebuilt a few e4od and remember the diesel ones having better thrust bearings but idk about more planets I don't think so. The tranny I have now has been rebuilt and modified by some company. It's got billet tq converter shift kit and more clutches on the OD
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The edges on the current planets look fine to me based on pictures of new planets.
I'm more concerned about the splines stripping out on the OD and forward planets than I am about the planet housings cracking. I don't want to floor the truck to get on the expressway and have it strip the OD or forward splines. But a drivetrain is only as strong as its weakest part, so I probably need to be worrying about something else than planetaries.
I'm more concerned about the splines stripping out on the OD and forward planets than I am about the planet housings cracking. I don't want to floor the truck to get on the expressway and have it strip the OD or forward splines. But a drivetrain is only as strong as its weakest part, so I probably need to be worrying about something else than planetaries.
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For anyone reading this thread, I couldn't resist upgrading the planetaries since I already had the transmission apart. I ended up purchasing the steel 6 pinion forward planet, the steel 4 pinion OD planet, and the aluminum 4 pinion reverse planet. I wanted steel for the forward and OD so that the splines would not strip out. The reverse planet doesn't get as much wear and tear, so I couldn't justify the expense of a steel 6 pinion planet for it.
Does anyone know why the pinion thrust washers have cracks in them at the base of the tabs?? My original ones were cracked so I was going to replace them, but it looks like new ones are cracked as well.
Are these cracks normal??
Does anyone know why the pinion thrust washers have cracks in them at the base of the tabs?? My original ones were cracked so I was going to replace them, but it looks like new ones are cracked as well.
Are these cracks normal??
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