It finally happened........
Racer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 265
Likes: 25
From: Houston Texas
Rebuild Costs and Things to Watch For
I went through the dreaded 3-4 clutch failure myself a few months back. It ended up costing approx $3600.00 out the door and that took care of a few items:
1) 3-4 Clutch Pack
2) 2-4 Band
3) Uprated Sunshell (trust me you want this while you are in there)
4) Upgraded 29 spline forward sprag
5) Complete rebuild including removal, teardown, repair and install
I ended up using a Chevy dealer (Mac Haik) due to some nuances of my situation but....the mechanic (Kevin), service manager and shop foreman where all very knowledgeable and my Vette runs great now.
I am sure you can find lower cost options but .... for the hassle involved with doing the transmission, I would recommend you make sure whatever you decide on is going to last so you aren't going back in again any time soon.
1) 3-4 Clutch Pack
2) 2-4 Band
3) Uprated Sunshell (trust me you want this while you are in there)
4) Upgraded 29 spline forward sprag
5) Complete rebuild including removal, teardown, repair and install
I ended up using a Chevy dealer (Mac Haik) due to some nuances of my situation but....the mechanic (Kevin), service manager and shop foreman where all very knowledgeable and my Vette runs great now.
I am sure you can find lower cost options but .... for the hassle involved with doing the transmission, I would recommend you make sure whatever you decide on is going to last so you aren't going back in again any time soon.
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
I went through the dreaded 3-4 clutch failure myself a few months back. It ended up costing approx $3600.00 out the door and that took care of a few items:
1) 3-4 Clutch Pack
2) 2-4 Band
3) Uprated Sunshell (trust me you want this while you are in there)
4) Upgraded 29 spline forward sprag
5) Complete rebuild including removal, teardown, repair and install
I ended up using a Chevy dealer (Mac Haik) due to some nuances of my situation but....the mechanic (Kevin), service manager and shop foreman where all very knowledgeable and my Vette runs great now.
I am sure you can find lower cost options but .... for the hassle involved with doing the transmission, I would recommend you make sure whatever you decide on is going to last so you aren't going back in again any time soon.
1) 3-4 Clutch Pack
2) 2-4 Band
3) Uprated Sunshell (trust me you want this while you are in there)
4) Upgraded 29 spline forward sprag
5) Complete rebuild including removal, teardown, repair and install
I ended up using a Chevy dealer (Mac Haik) due to some nuances of my situation but....the mechanic (Kevin), service manager and shop foreman where all very knowledgeable and my Vette runs great now.
I am sure you can find lower cost options but .... for the hassle involved with doing the transmission, I would recommend you make sure whatever you decide on is going to last so you aren't going back in again any time soon.
Last edited by enoniam; Jan 15, 2016 at 04:28 PM. Reason: had reaction shell identified where I should have said reverse input drum
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
bluemike28 & enoniam are spot on.. Our A4 transmissions have some widely known WEAK SPOTS!
The aftermarket has stepped up and made BETTER parts. Its extremely wise to have the up-graded parts installed during the rebuild for better reliability and better performance.
Ive always been a MN-6/MN12 manual car fan. I like to help people with problems so,, I did a LOT of researching to find out WHY the A4s fail and fail rapidly after the car is MODDED.
Here are a few EXCELLENT vids to explain the failure modes and some of the ways you can improve yours using GM PERFORMANCE Improvements and or Aftermarket parts:
WHY IT FAILS!
Using AC DELCO Performance parts:
The AFTERMARKET WAY:
The AUSSIE way:
The aftermarket has stepped up and made BETTER parts. Its extremely wise to have the up-graded parts installed during the rebuild for better reliability and better performance.
Ive always been a MN-6/MN12 manual car fan. I like to help people with problems so,, I did a LOT of researching to find out WHY the A4s fail and fail rapidly after the car is MODDED.
Here are a few EXCELLENT vids to explain the failure modes and some of the ways you can improve yours using GM PERFORMANCE Improvements and or Aftermarket parts:
WHY IT FAILS!
Using AC DELCO Performance parts:
The AFTERMARKET WAY:
The AUSSIE way:
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 15, 2016 at 04:16 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Bill, thanks for doing all that research and posting the videos. I certainly enjoyed watching them and learned a lot about the A4. After watching the longer video (teardown inspection), I have a much greater appreciation for how involved the A4 is in its complexity and operation. To be honest, I don't know how that guy keeps track of all the parts he's removing. I'd probably have some parts left over if I had to put it all back together. 
I learned a LOT. I would have to watch it 4-5 times to get confortable with disassemblyreassembly.Im glad I was able to help. Should allow you to select a set of parts for a very reliable A4 build. Dont forget to get a NEW CONVERTER consider a slightly higher stall speed if you like a little more performance. I would also consider getting an external aftermarket trans oil cooler.
Where do you Live Maybe someone can recommend a good 4L60E shop close by that really knows their stuff.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 6
From: Georgetown Texas
If that's with labor I think that sounds pretty good, a high performance rebuilt trans from rpm starts at around 2k for trans itself and go way up from there, plus core and labor of course.
It is illegal to drive with hazards on, many people don't know it, that's why he told you that!
It is illegal to drive with hazards on, many people don't know it, that's why he told you that!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 4
From: Hempstead Texas
West of Houston
I watched the E N T I R E series one weekend. I learned a LOT. I would have to watch it 4-5 times to get confortable with disassemblyreassembly.
Im glad I was able to help. Should allow you to select a set of parts for a very reliable A4 build. Dont forget to get a NEW CONVERTER consider a slightly higher stall speed if you like a little more performance. I would also consider getting an external aftermarket trans oil cooler.
Where do you Live Maybe someone can recommend a good 4L60E shop close by that really knows their stuff.
Bill
I learned a LOT. I would have to watch it 4-5 times to get confortable with disassemblyreassembly.Im glad I was able to help. Should allow you to select a set of parts for a very reliable A4 build. Dont forget to get a NEW CONVERTER consider a slightly higher stall speed if you like a little more performance. I would also consider getting an external aftermarket trans oil cooler.
Where do you Live Maybe someone can recommend a good 4L60E shop close by that really knows their stuff.
Bill
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 265
Likes: 25
From: Houston Texas
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 4
From: Hempstead Texas
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 93
From: Boulder City NV
my A4 went 222300 before rebuild. Then it was rebuilt at Baca's Natl Transmission in Vegas, cost $1800. I got one yr warranty which has expired, but I got almost 3k on it since and it shifts and feels great.
Last edited by SaxyVette; Mar 9, 2016 at 12:29 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 76
Likes: 2
From: Knoxville TN
For what it is worth, I had shifting problems in my Yukon several years back. Transmission shop wanted quite a bit to rebuild it. I punted on them and took it to another shop and just had the filter and fluid changed. Immediately no more problems. Try the simple fix first unless you are sure
