Just wondering about automatic transmission shift kits for our cars. I don't see much mentioned.

I used to have a Ford Tbird. They weren't made as sports cars and more for the older crowd (hey, I'm 26 and was younger when having the Tbird). So we had a number of good options for shift kits. We had TransGo, B&M, and a custom one from OEM parts for updated transmissions. These mainly made the shifting quicker and not as soft. We usually added a trans cooler too while doing the work.

What about our automatic transmissions? It seems that the automatic used in the C5's isn't too bad to start with. I don't see too many shift kits mentioned on the forums so I just wanted to see if anyone here is using them and if you like them. The complete shift kits I've used in the past were about $200 for parts and self installation. What's the cost and are they easy to install your self?

Or is it that the best option is a built up transmission? And I'm not looking to start an auto vs stick debate here. So please keep that in the other threads. So what transmissions mods are popular for our A4, shift kits? Trans coolers? If so is the 24000 GVW coolers a good choice? I live in hot SoCal and I'm a pretty hard driver by nature. And is there anything else for beefing up our transmission to take a hard daily street use?

Thanks,
Shawn

 

I've read other threads that are along the same line (A4 exclusive). It seems the overwhelming reply is to leave the shift kit alone and get the trans tuned.

 

that's because with these computer controlled A4's... you can reprog it to do almost everything a shift kit once did for our cars. And the beauty is that using a programmer... you can make changes on the fly.

When at the dragstrip, I will increase the line pressure higher than I would normally run on the street. Then just before going home at the end of the evening... I'll change things back.

In serious drag racing applications (where cars are trailered to & from the track)... a shift kit with adjustable modulator may be needed. But for almost all other applications, a handheld or PC based programmer works well.

I personally use the Predator by Diablosport.

 

I had my 03 A4 Trans tuned by a friend. He used his HPTuners to do it. The results were amazing. Each gears winds out more. It shifts faster now (.250 Sec.). No more 3rd gear lugging @ ~1500 RPMs, now I give it a slight touch of the gas pedal and it quickly downshifts.

 

Ok, well I like the tuning idea of it. I'm going to get a dyno tune later this year so I will just have them do what they can for a street application. Thanks for the info guys.