chevy suburban transmission question

HGM · Jan 14, 2006

With modern transmissions(since '85 or so) I would change the fluid regardless. Most of the issues are from inferior bonding on the clutches and detergent fluids. When you would replace the old worn out fluid with fresh it had the tendancy to release the clutch material from the plates, also the seals hardened. This hasnt been an issue for a while that I am aware of. If the trans takes a dump after you change the fluid, it was about to go anyhow. Much better to change it and maintain it.

Bird · Jan 14, 2006

Brent, I had the Gear Vendors put on that truck before it was a year old. The only thing I don't like about them is their apparent pricing and dealer policies, and of course I don't know what might have changed in the last 15 years. When I bought mine, most places wanted $2,800 for it and would have to keep the truck overnight. The dealer I got it from did it in 3 hours or less, with me visiting and watching, for $2,200, but a short time later, they revoked his franchise and gave it to someone else.

Of course my truck was just a stock 454 engine, but it had all the power I needed.

On the motorhome, I used a U.S. Gear instead of Gear Vendors because I could get it much cheaper and my brother and I installed it. It did basically the same thing, but you had to let up on the accelerator for it to shift, while the Gear Vendors could shift up or down under full throttle.

Alan L. · Jan 14, 2006

Sorry to hijack this thread. I detected the presence of some tranny expertise and wanted to take advantage. Looks like consensus is to go ahead and change out the fluid.

Bird · Jan 15, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( consensus is to go ahead and change out the fluid )</font>

I think so, Alan. I bought a '68 Plymouth Roadrunner new and, like most folks, I never had the automatic transmission serviced. It had somewhere around 70k miles on it when it developed a small problem. When I'd start it up cold in the garage and go to back out, the engine would rev up and then it would slowly begin to move backwards. Once thoroughly warmed up, it worked OK. Sure scared me; I could just imagine the huge bill for a new transmission, but I took it to a dealer and left it. Imagine my delight when they told me it only required a fluid and filter change. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif So since then, I have my transmissions serviced every 30k miles.

Bully · Jan 16, 2006

The question is Bird,... do you still have that '68 Roadrunner?

Bird · Jan 16, 2006

Nope, Gary, I sold that Roadrunner in '73 or '74. My wife still says that was her favorite car. It was great, except for that 12 mpg gas usage, and spark plugs having to be changed frequently.