Transmission Band Adjustment

Rford · 10-13-2006, 11:28 AM

Last week I asked for some guidance on the correct transmission band adjustment on my 1994 GC 42RE transmission. I got a couple of responses and thank those gentlemen. It looks like the "book" adjustment is is 3 5/8 for the front and 4 for the rear. Some sources are different. One source that probably is trustworthy is IPT Transmissions. On their web site, under forums, they recommend 3 for the front, 3 1/2 for the rear.

You'll find other sites that have 2 for the front.

Seems to me that that actual "correct" band adjustment is a little loose on these trannys so if anyone is fretting over a 1/8 of a turn I wouldn't.

Following the IPT site, but not straying too far from the factory manual, I'm going with 3 turns front, 3 1/2 rear to see how that works.

greasefingers · 10-13-2006, 12:24 PM

Do it early in the morning as you may have to run out to the store to buy the correct tool. I could not get to one of the bands, so I left it alone. If my memory is correct you need some type of crows-foot for one of the band bolts.

**Yardman Harry** · 10-13-2006, 01:41 PM

not having much experience with trannys, i have a question. If i know my bands havent been adjusted in 8 years at least, how would the performance of my tranny differ if i adjusted them? i know, a stupid question, but thank your for any responses.

Rford · 10-13-2006, 02:15 PM

Can't help you there. Mine is a little sluggish engaging when starting out in reverse and a little slow in getting off in first. Seems like I'm carrying a load of bricks and I hope that a fluid change and adjustment will give it a little more pep. But my jeep has 155k on it and this could be as good as it gets. I fugure I can't do too much harm.

zjhitman · 10-14-2006, 05:30 PM

Like you guys, I ran into the same problem with my 97 GC with the 44RE. I have both a Chiltons and a Haynes for it and both of them had different numbers for the band adjustments. I called the service manager at the dealer and he transferred my to their transmission guy and I asked him what he used. He had numbers for the front and rear band adjustments that were about 1/2 of the amounts listed in the Chiltons and Haynes. I used his numbers for the adjustments, changed the filter at the same time, put a drain plug in the pan and put it back together. I only did that once, and I don't have the mileage in front of me at the moment, but I think it was somewhere around 75-100K. I have over 250K on it now, and it's still doing o.k. My experience with automatics has taught me that the greater the number of turns out from snug, the slower and softer the shift happens because the piston that is tightening the band has to move further in the bore in the valve body. I think, but don't have hard evidence to back it up, that this slow engagement causes more wear to the bands and friction discs in the clutch packs. After adjusting per the dealer mechanic's specs , mine did shift faster and firmer. Just my 2 cents. If anybody wants those band adjustment specs, I can post them.

Found the specs I used: Front band - 1 1/2 turns out. Rear band - 1 3/4 turns out

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 05:56 PM

Rford: I would like to go in and do mine as well, before it gets too cold out. Let me know what final adjustments you decided and if it made any difference.

Hitman: please post your adjustments as well. I might take an average of the FSM, IPT, your settings for a final value

**Yardman Harry** · 10-14-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasefingers

Rford: I would like to go in and do mine as well, before it gets too cold out. Let me know what final adjustments you decided and if it made any difference.

Hitman: please post your adjustments as well. I might take an average of the FSM, IPT, your settings for a final value

my thoughts exactly, thanks for the great info.

**Woody** · 10-14-2006, 07:53 PM

When I did my first band adjustment I went with the Haynes manual specs. Wow, the shifting was softer, but very defined. Every time I pulled the pan I did the adjustment. The only special tool I needed was a 15/64's socket for the front band. I know that's not the correct tool, but it worked for me.

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 08:12 PM

There was something in the way on re42 on one of the bands. I cannot remember what is was or what tool I need to coorect for this. But I know for sure that I could not get to one of the bands??

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 08:15 PM

Some sort of crows-foot jogs my mind? Maybe an off-set one. Woody are you saying that a regular socket was all you used?

-Joe- · 10-14-2006, 08:17 PM

I seem to remember i couldnt adjust one of them as well. One was in a tight area I thought.

edit: I thought they both were inside, but i guess the front is on the outside of the trans. Shows what I remember.

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 08:22 PM

This has got me curious now. I will have to rip that pan off to investigate … soon.

**Woody** · 10-14-2006, 08:26 PM

The one that's hard to adjust is not in the pan, it's on top. It's a pain with all the linkages, you need to disconnect a few things to do it right.

I think I had to move the tranny shifter and T-case shifter tojust the right place.

It's been awhile, I like the 5-speed better.

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 08:45 PM

OK now I remember. The front band is on the outside and at the time I decided to skip it. The rear band is inside the pan and this is the one I adjusted.

From what my brain can process from the FSM (it’s been damaged by beer) the bands really don’t do a whole lot. The rear one slightly controls the reverse gear and the front one slightly controls second gear shift. The clutches are more important and cannot be adjusted. I guess changing the AFT every 30 k miles is the most important thing that one can do!

greasefingers · 10-14-2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody

It's been awhile, I like the 5-speed better.

Yep my 1988 2-door Cherokee 5-speed was great

10-14-2006, 05:30 PM	#5
zjhitman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 289 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Like you guys, I ran into the same problem with my 97 GC with the 44RE. I have both a Chiltons and a Haynes for it and both of them had different numbers for the band adjustments. I called the service manager at the dealer and he transferred my to their transmission guy and I asked him what he used. He had numbers for the front and rear band adjustments that were about 1/2 of the amounts listed in the Chiltons and Haynes. I used his numbers for the adjustments, changed the filter at the same time, put a drain plug in the pan and put it back together. I only did that once, and I don't have the mileage in front of me at the moment, but I think it was somewhere around 75-100K. I have over 250K on it now, and it's still doing o.k. My experience with automatics has taught me that the greater the number of turns out from snug, the slower and softer the shift happens because the piston that is tightening the band has to move further in the bore in the valve body. I think, but don't have hard evidence to back it up, that this slow engagement causes more wear to the bands and friction discs in the clutch packs. After adjusting per the dealer mechanic's specs , mine did shift faster and firmer. Just my 2 cents. If anybody wants those band adjustment specs, I can post them. Found the specs I used: Front band - 1 1/2 turns out. Rear band - 1 3/4 turns out __________________ zjhitman Last edited by zjhitman; 10-14-2006 at 09:36 PM..

10-13-2006, 02:15 PM	#4
Rford Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 52 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Can't help you there. Mine is a little sluggish engaging when starting out in reverse and a little slow in getting off in first. Seems like I'm carrying a load of bricks and I hope that a fluid change and adjustment will give it a little more pep. But my jeep has 155k on it and this could be as good as it gets. I fugure I can't do too much harm.