Which 700R4/4L60E Rebuild Kits Is The Right One For You?

Posted by Gearstar Performance Transmissions on July 29th, 2019

There are a variety of 700R4 and 4L60E rebuild kits present on the market today, so it gets difficult to find the apt kit to accomplish what you are trying to rebuild. This guide is a great starting point for a re-builder considering what type of rebuild kit they require for their situation. The first step in deciding which of the 4L60E high performance rebuild kits is right for you and your situation is that you need to figure out what is the main intention of your rebuild.

Why are you rebuilding the transmission?

Are you rebuilding your 4L60E because you want to save time/money by just doing a minor repair that will get your vehicle back on track?

Do you want to do a thorough overhaul and prevent any of the known OEM issues commonly found in GM 4L60E transmissions?

Or, are you one of those people who are looking to do all of the above?

Basic Things to Consider Before Starting

What year is the car that requires the 4L60E rebuild? (year range chart)

Does the transmission have a 700R4, 4L60E or a 4L65E? (transmission model chart)

How severe is the damage in the transmission? What hard parts should you plan on installing before you start to rebuild? (refer to the symptom diagnosis chart)

Does the transmission have a deep oil pan?

Are pistons in the transmission molded rubber pistons or do they make use of piston lip seals? (year range chart)

Does the transmission use a bonded-valve body plate? Does its pump use an o-ring style seal? (refer year range chart)

Rebuild Recommendations

It is advisable that you replace all friction items and filter when doing a transmission rebuild.

OEM 700R4 and 4L60E rebuild kit transmissions have in-build weak points in the sun shell and 3/4 clutch packs. Always ensure that you use an aftermarket sun shell even if the OEM sun shell appears to be fine. You can also opt to buy one of the upgraded sun shells, that have been re-engineered to correct the OEM issues, but even if you don't purchase one, things should not be so difficult. By paying as low as you can easily correct a known issue. Since you have already made the transmission, you can move forward and replace it confidently.

Don’t forget to replace the pump body, rear case, and front tube bushings. If the others look worn/scratched, replace them as well.

If you own a P1870 code, either install a Sonnax TCC Isolator valve and sleeve kit, or purchase a valve body from a reputed dealer with one already installed.