44RE Overhaul Kit 1988-1996, new and ready to install. Fits the 44RE. Ships fast from the USA.
Owners of a 1988-1996 Dodge Dakota or six-cylinder Jeep Grand Cherokee with the small A500 four-speed usually land here after the same story: the truck slips when it gets warm, the 2-3 or 3-4 shift flares, or fourth gear disappears after a tow, and the pan is full of dark fluid and friction material. This kit is built for a full rebuild of that early unit, sold for the 42RH, 44RH, 42RE and 44RE from 1988 through 1996. It is more than a seal set: the box holds BorgWarner friction plates and a full set of steel plates, a TransTec soft parts kit with every rubber seal and gasket, a new filter, a pump bushing, an extension housing bushing and a new front band. New, made in the USA and shipped from the USA.
The small-case Chrysler four-speed makes first through third with a front clutch, a rear clutch, the front (kickdown) and rear (low-reverse) bands and an overrunning clutch, then adds fourth with a separate overdrive section that carries its own overdrive and direct clutch packs. Every one of those clutches is applied by a rubber-sealed piston, and every circuit feeding them runs through sealing rings and gaskets. When the seals harden with age the pistons bleed pressure, the clutches slip, and the slipping burns the frictions. A seal-only kit fixes half of that. This kit replaces the frictions and steels too, so the packs go back together with flat, fresh plates instead of glazed or heat-blued originals.
The years matter. ATSG describes the RH version (A500) as using a mechanical governor on the output shaft, while the RE version (A500SE) builds governor pressure electronically with a solenoid and sensor; the clutches, seals and gaskets are the same type of parts either way. On an RH unit you inspect and clean the mechanical governor during the rebuild. On an RE unit, the governor solenoid and pressure sensor are separate electrical parts and are not in this box.
Check fluid level and condition first, then put a gauge on line pressure. If pressure is correct and the unit still slips, the clutches are worn. If the shift points are wrong but the clutches hold, look at the governor first: a sticking mechanical governor on an RH unit, or the solenoid and sensor on an RE unit. Our 3-4 clutch failure guide covers the overdrive-section failures this family is known for, and the identification guide helps you confirm which Chrysler unit you have.
The listing covers the 1988-1996 A500 family: 42RH, 44RH, 42RE and 44RE in Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive applications. It is for the small-case transmission only. Some vehicles in this era could have either the small case or the larger 46RH/46RE, so check the case tag and pan shape before you order. Clutch pack counts and selective parts can vary by build, so lay out each pack as it comes apart and match it. If you are not sure, send us your year and VIN and we will confirm. You can see everything else we carry for this unit on our 42RE/44RE parts page.
If the drums are scored or the pump is chewed up, pair the kit with a replacement 44RE front clutch drum or a rebuilt 44RE pump. On an RE unit that also had shift-timing complaints, a 1993-97 solenoid kit renews the governor electronics while the pan is off.
| Fits | 44RE 1988-1996 |
| Part type | Overhaul Kit |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Reference | A500 |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It includes BorgWarner friction plates, steel plates, a TransTec soft parts kit with the seals and gaskets, a filter, a pump bushing, an extension housing bushing and a new front band.
It is built for the small-case 42RE/44RE in the 1988-1996 range, which is what the 4.0L six used. The V8 Grand Cherokees used the larger 46RE, which this kit does not fit. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to confirm.
No. RH units use a mechanical governor that you inspect and reuse. RE units use an electronic governor pressure solenoid and sensor, which are sold separately.
Use ATF+4. It replaces the older ATF+3 listed in early factory manuals. Soak the clutches in the same fluid before you install them.
Inspect the drums, pump, bushings in the case and the overdrive section. Replace any scored drum or worn pump, and flush or replace the cooler so old debris does not reach the new clutches.
