How to Install a Sonnax Valve Body Bore-Fix Kit

Time: 4-6 hrs Difficulty: Advanced Family: Multi
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Worn valve body bores cause harsh shifts, slip, and pressure inconsistencies that no amount of solenoid replacement fixes. Sonnax bore-fix kits machine out the worn bore and install an oversize sleeve + new valve. 4-6 hours bench time per kit, but extends the rebuild life by 100K+ miles.

Part You Need
Sonnax Valve Body Sleeve Kit
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Step-by-Step

  1. 1Remove valve body from transmission (assumes transmission is open / on bench).
  2. 2Clean valve body in mineral spirits or solvent tank. Remove all old fluid and varnish.
  3. 3Identify the bore Sonnax kit addresses (each kit fixes a specific bore - 1-2 accumulator, EPC, etc.). Confirm part matches application.
  4. 4Set up Sonnax-recommended reamer in drill press. Use cutting fluid throughout the operation.
  5. 5Ream the worn bore to Sonnax-spec diameter. Take light passes - do not heat the aluminum.
  6. 6Test-fit the Sonnax sleeve. It should slide in with a slight press fit. If too loose, the bore was over-reamed - bad day.
  7. 7Press in the new sleeve using Sonnax-supplied tooling. Verify it bottoms out at the correct depth.
  8. 8Install new oversize valve in the sleeve. Verify smooth movement, no binding.
  9. 9Reassemble valve body with new gaskets, separator plate (if included), and torque all valve body bolts to spec.
  10. 10Reinstall valve body in transmission. Complete rebuild as normal.
  11. 11Test pressure on first start - Sonnax-rebuilt valve bodies usually run 5-10 PSI higher than stock. This is normal.
Sonnax kits are not interchangeable - each one targets a specific valve body bore on a specific transmission. Verify the kit matches your unit before reaming anything. A mis-reamed valve body is a $300 mistake.
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