Auto Transmission Upgrade/Rebuild Options

[Muddy Bean]

Our '98 is equipped with the A343F (I think?) and it's beginning to slip. In an effort to try to be ahead of the impending failure, I'm researching heavily as to my options. Obviously I can just r&r with a reman or used unit. But I would be grateful for input other than that. The questions I'm trying to research:

1. Is a Transgo kit or something like this a way to fix the tranny or does it need more? http://www.westcoastcruisers.com/transfer.php I am new to how auto transmissions function so please enlighten me. Here's a link to a thread on MUD that refers to a Transgo kit fixing a slipping trans: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/a343-transgo-reprogram-kit-install-1995-1997.731930/

2. Can I rebuild this myself to the point of fixing it? Rebuild kits are $100-300 which seems to me to be a far cry from the $3000 I'll have to drop on a reman.

3. If I do have to put in another tranny altogether, does this require torsion bar removal etc. which will require a new front end alignment etc?

At the end of the day, I don't want my trans to die ever again. The end.

 

[Skidoo]

Valve bodies like the Transgo are just a small part of what wears out in a transmission.
Lots of other parts, clutch plates, torque converters, etc. I see a Toyota rebuild kit from one of the discount dealers is over $600. Not sure that the rebuild kit would cover everything you need if something else has gone out. If something is failing and generating a lot of metal particles, it can be fun to get the particles out of the transmission and oil cooler.

 

[jgray]

Muddy Bean - www.car-part.com has plenty of transmission options available. The A343F is a pretty durable and overall very reliable tranny. Some of these units go several hundred thousand miles with nothing other than normal maintenance. I'd look for a well priced lower mileage unit and swap one of those which will be cheaper than a complete rebuild and much less than most of the other options you will find.... I know quite a bit about this because I've been down this road as well... - I found a smoking deal on a A343F locally that showed up on car-part.com at the perfect time for me... I can't remember how many miles I had when I swapped in the new tranny but it was done in 2010 and I now have 211K miles rolling strong still! I should also mention I killed my original transmission wheelin in deep mud and water crossings so it was self inflicted... Most people don't wheel these trucks so a used unit has most likely just been in accident and is probably fine...

 

[marshotel]

If the only symptom is that its beginning to slip, then you might not need to replace the whole transmission.

You might be able to fix the slipping by using a different transmission fluid, maybe one of the synthetics, or using some kind of additive.
Be sure to check the fluid level carefully on a level surface, warm, with the engine running.
Do you see any chunks in the fluid?

The transmissions in the 1998s don't fail very often, and I don't think a little slipping is a sign of impending failure.

Rebuilding automatics is a black art, and I would not dig into it unless you have to.
Try a new fluid before replacing the whole thing.

 

[scottryana]

Go with the transgo kit, you will get higher clamping force giving you longer life out of existing components but it is just putting off the inevitable but might give you time to save for the rebuild.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Good info here. Thanks a bunch. I found a reman on Rock-Auto for about $2000 give or take plus shipping. 3 year warranty unlimited miles. I'll check car-part too. With a new front locker and diff rebuild and a new tranny, I'm keeping the truck until I die.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Car Part doesn't have one. That's fine. I'm still saving up $$. Question on the transgo kit. Should I install this in my replacement trans? Crisper shifts would be nice....will it potentially lengthen and toughen the life of the A343F? It claims it can handle twice the power with the upgraded valve body installed.

 

[scottryana]

It will firm up the shifts and should lengthen the service life. Wear happens when there is slip, less slip less wear, but in luxury cars/trucks most users don't want neck snapping shifts.

The A343F has lived in my truck for 150,000 miles and the last 5,000 have been at a little more than double stock power levels.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Good stuff. What I needed to hear. Thank you. I'll be swapping in a replacement at some point, but I'm going to ride this one out as long as I can.

 

[jgray]

My car-part.com search shows over 40 available in the continental usa... Are you limiting your search to just your local area?

 

[scottryana]

Yeah I definitely think it is worth it and it is not all that difficult with the transmission out of the car it would take an hour tops.

 

[Muddy Bean]

My car-part.com search shows over 40 available in the continental usa... Are you limiting your search to just your local area?

Yep. My bad. I limited it to the Midwest. Thanks.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Yeah I definitely think it is worth it and it is not all that difficult with the transmission out of the car it would take an hour tops.

Curious to how crisp the shifts would be. Crisp is good. Harsh, not so much for a daily driver.