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The 46RE is a four-speed rear-wheel-drive automatic: a three-speed TorqueFlite-style main box with a bolt-on overdrive unit behind it. It went behind the 5.2L and 5.9L Magnum V8s in Ram 1500 pickups, Ram vans, Dakota and Durango, and the V8 Grand Cherokee. It is simple, it is rebuildable on a bench in a home garage, and parts are everywhere. That is exactly why so many rebuilds go wrong: people buy the cheapest kit that says "46RE" on the box and skip the parts that caused the failure in the first place.
Picking a kit comes down to two questions: what failed and what year is the transmission. The first decides overhaul vs banner vs master. The second decides which version of that kit fits.
Kit Levels — What You Actually Get
| Kit | What's In It | Buy It When |
|---|---|---|
| Overhaul kit | Gaskets, lip seals, sealing rings, O-rings, pan gasket | Leak repair, or a unit that shifted fine and you are resealing it |
| Banner kit | Overhaul kit plus a full set of friction plates | Slipping, but steels are flat and not blued |
| Master kit | Banner kit plus steel plates; many include bands, filter and bushings | Burnt fluid, heat damage, high mileage, or you are only doing this once |
If the fluid came out black and smelled burnt, buy the master kit. Heat warps and glazes steels, and new frictions on old steels will slip again inside a few thousand miles. The price difference between a banner and a master kit is small next to pulling the transmission twice.
Shop the kits: 46RE Master Rebuild Kit · 46RE Master Rebuild Kit 1990-2003 · Transpeed A518 / 46RE / 47RE Master Kit · 46RE Banner Kit · 46RE Overhaul Kit
Match the Kit to Your Year
Chrysler kept revising this transmission through its run, and kits are split by year range because seals, pump parts and overdrive pieces changed along the way. The big dividing lines to know:
- A518 / 46RH (early 1990s): hydraulic governor on the output shaft. No governor pressure solenoid.
- 1996-1999 46RE: electronic governor pressure solenoid and sensor, first design.
- 2000 and later 46RE: revised governor pressure solenoid and sensor. The 1996-99 and 2000-up parts are not interchangeable.
- Late units (2002-up): revised valve body details; valve bodies for these years are sold separately from earlier ones.
Before you order, read the part number stamped on the driver side of the case above the pan rail and note the vehicle build date on the door sticker. A kit listed for "1990-2003" is built to cover the range with extra pieces; a year-specific kit has fewer leftovers. Either works if the fitment matches.
What Kills a 46RE — Fix These While It's Apart
Throttle Valve (TV) Cable Adjustment
The 46RE sets line pressure and shift timing from the TV cable. A cable adjusted too loose drops line pressure, and the clutches slip on every shift until they burn. A huge share of "my 46RE burned up" stories start here. A new kit will not survive a misadjusted cable, so adjust it to the factory procedure when the transmission goes back in.
Overdrive Unit: Direct Clutch and Overrunning Clutch
The direct clutch in the overdrive unit is held on by a heavy spring, and when it slips you get a flare or no-drive in the lower gears. It needs a spring compressor to take apart safely — do not try it with a C-clamp. The overrunning (sprag) clutch in the overdrive unit also wears; if it slips, you lose drive coasting or in first. Inspect both.
Tools and parts: T-1302 Direct Clutch Spring Compressor · 46RE Sprag Clutch
Sun Shell
The sun gear driving shell is a known weak point on this family. Splines strip or the shell cracks, and the result is a no-drive or a grinding noise in second and third. It is not in any rebuild kit. Look at it hard during teardown and replace it if the splines are sharp-edged or you see any crack.
Governor Pressure Solenoid and Sensor
When the governor pressure solenoid or sensor fails, the truck stays in first or second, or won't upshift until it is well over normal shift speed. People rebuild perfectly good transmissions for this. Test the governor circuit before you pull anything, and replace it during the rebuild regardless — it is cheap insurance.
Governor Pressure Solenoid 1996-99 · Governor Pressure Solenoid 2000-up · Solenoid and Sensor Kit
Bands and Pump
The 46RE uses a front (kickdown) band for second gear and a rear (low/reverse) band. Both have external adjusters, and both need to be set to spec after the rebuild. Check the pump gears and bushing for scoring; a worn pump bushing leaks pressure and eats converter hubs. If the pump pocket or gears are scored, replace the pump instead of just resealing it.
The Parts No Rebuild Kit Includes
- Hard parts: sun shell, drums, planetaries, sprag. Budget for at least one.
- Valve body work: a kit does not clean or repair a valve body. If you had debris in the pan, the valve body needs to come apart and be cleaned, or be replaced with a remanufactured 46RE valve body.
- Cooler flush: clutch material sitting in the cooler and lines goes straight back into your new clutches. Flush both directions.
- Pan and filter: a deeper pan adds capacity and helps the fluid run cooler if you tow. 46RE / 47RE / 48RE Pan with Drain Plug and Filter
- Fluid: ATF+4, filled and checked hot per the dipstick.
Get the Right 46RE Kit the First Time
Master kits, banner kits, overhaul kits, pumps, sun shells and governor solenoids for the 46RE. More transmission hard parts are available at CoreTransmissionParts.com.
Shop 46RE Rebuild Kits →FAQ
Is a 46RE rebuild kit the same as a 47RE kit?
Many seals and gaskets are shared, but the 47RE has more clutch capacity and heavier-duty parts, so friction and steel counts differ. Some kits are listed for A518, 46RE and 47RE together; check that the kit lists your exact unit and year before ordering.
What is the difference between a 46RE banner kit and a master kit?
A banner kit is the overhaul kit (gaskets and seals) plus friction plates. A master kit adds steel plates and often bands, a filter and bushings. If the fluid was burnt or the steels are blued or warped, buy the master kit.
Why does my 46RE not upshift out of first or second?
The most common cause is a failed governor pressure solenoid or governor pressure sensor, not worn clutches. Diagnose the governor circuit before deciding on a rebuild.
Can I rebuild a 46RE at home?
Yes. It is one of the more approachable automatics to rebuild on a bench. You will need snap ring pliers, a torque wrench, a dial indicator for endplay, and a spring compressor for the overdrive direct clutch.
What fluid does a 46RE use after a rebuild?
ATF+4. Use assembly lube on seals and clutches during assembly, soak new frictions in ATF+4 before installing them, and check the level hot.