Full overhaul kit for the Chrysler 45RFE automatic: clutch frictions, steels, gaskets, seals and O-rings to rebuild Dodge Ram, Durango and Jeep units.
If your Ram 1500, 2500 or 3500, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Commander or Liberty with the Chrysler 45RFE is slipping on the highway, dropping into limp mode after a hard pull, or leaving black, burnt-smelling fluid on the dipstick, the clutches inside are usually what is spent. This master rebuild kit (manufacturer part number ING-RP01901) is the soft-parts and clutch package for a full bench overhaul of that unit. It crosses to OE references B128820A, W128880A and W128881A and ships at about 10.5 lb, so you can have it on the bench before the teardown is finished.
The 45RFE does not use bands. Every ratio comes from applying and releasing multi-plate clutches inside the case, and the transmission controller keeps learning how quickly each pack fills so the shifts stay crisp. That adaptive control hides wear for a long time, then the overdrive or 4C pack burns and the truck suddenly flares or slips. By the time a 45RFE comes out, several packs and most of the rubber are tired at once. This kit renews the friction plates, the hardened steel plates, the full gasket set, and the lip seal and O-ring set in one job, so every clutch you rebuild starts with fresh material and every circuit seals the way the controller expects.
Pull the pan before you commit to a rebuild. Clutch lining on the magnet and in the filter, plus fluid that smells scorched, means the packs are worn and a kit like this is the right call. Clean fluid with a bad shift points you toward the solenoid switch valve, the pressure control solenoid or a sensor instead, and those can be fixed without pulling the transmission. Our 45RFE 3-4 clutch failure guide walks through the overdrive pack failure step by step, and 45RFE and 545RFE problems and fixes covers the other common faults. If you are deciding between doing it yourself and paying a shop, read 45RFE rebuild cost and what drives it first.
This listing covers the 45RFE in Dodge Durango, Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, and the Jeep and Chrysler models built with that transmission. The RFE family changed several times: Chrysler later reprogrammed the same hardware as the five-speed 545RFE, and the 2009 valve body dropped the overdrive solenoid and two check balls. Clutch plate counts can differ by year and application, so do not order on the vehicle name alone. Read the ID tag on the case, match the OE reference numbers above, and count the plates in each pack you remove against the kit. If anything does not line up, send us your year and VIN before you order. You can see every part we carry for this family on our 45RFE and 545RFE parts page.
| Fits | Chrysler 45RFE — Dodge Durango, Ram 1500/2500/3500, Jeep and Chrysler applications |
| Includes | Clutch friction plates, steel plates, gasket set, seal and O-ring kit |
| Does not include | Hard parts, bushings, or filter (order a 45RFE filter separately) |
| OE reference | B128820A, W128880A, W128881A |
| Manufacturer part number | ING-RP01901 |
| Shipping weight | 10.5 lb |
| Ships | From the USA |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It includes the friction plates, steel plates, gasket set, and the seal and O-ring kit. Order a 45RFE filter and pan gasket separately so the rebuilt unit starts with clean filtration.
It is listed for the 45RFE in Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, Durango, and Jeep and Chrysler models. Diesel heavy-duty Rams use the 68RFE instead, so read the case tag and match the OE references B128820A, W128880A or W128881A. Send us your year and VIN if you are unsure.
No. The transmission has to come out and be completely torn down on the bench. The kit replaces worn clutch material and rubber, but drums, hubs, the pump and bushings must be inspected and replaced separately if they are worn.
ATF+4 only. A dry overhaul fill is roughly 14 to 16 liters depending on the cooler and lines, so add fluid in steps and check the level hot with the engine running.
Yes. Reset the transmission adaptives and run the quick learn procedure so the controller relearns clutch fill times on the new frictions. Skipping it can leave harsh or flared shifts until it relearns.
