46RE Master Rebuild Kit with Filter for 1998-2002 Dodge

This is a complete soft-parts overhaul kit for the Chrysler RE four-speed in 1998-2002 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups, Dakota and Durango. It is listed for the 46RE and 47RE and their older names, A518 and A618. If your truck is slipping on the 1-2 or 2-3 shift, flaring into overdrive under load, smelling burnt after a tow, or dropping black fluid with friction material in the pan, and you have already decided the unit is coming out, this box covers the wear parts for the whole job: clutch frictions and steels for every pack, sealing rings, lip seals and O-rings, the front pump and rear seals, the pan gasket and the other case gaskets, plus a new filter.

What the master rebuild kit does in a 46RE

The 46RE shifts first through third with hydraulic shift valves pushed by governor pressure, and it holds each gear with a combination of four clutch packs (front, rear, overdrive and direct) and two bands. Every one of those clutches is applied by oil held in a drum by rubber lip seals and cast-iron or Teflon sealing rings. When the frictions glaze or the seals harden, apply pressure leaks away and the pack slips, which heats the fluid and speeds up the wear on everything else. A master kit replaces all of those wear surfaces at once, so a rebuilt unit is not running a new forward clutch next to a 20-year-old input shaft ring that bleeds off its pressure. The new filter matters too: a rebuilt unit fed through the old filter is pulling the debris from the failure straight back into the new parts.

Symptoms that send a 46RE in for a rebuild

• Slipping or flaring on upshifts, worse when the fluid is hot or the truck is towing.
• Delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse after sitting, or a long pause before the truck moves.
• Late or missing third gear, a known 46RE complaint when the direct clutch drum seal no longer holds pressure.
• Overdrive that slips or will not hold 4th, often tied to overdrive clutch wear and a lube-starved overdrive section.
• Dark, burnt-smelling fluid with clutch material or metal in the pan.
• Leaks from the front pump seal, the rear extension seal or the pan rail.

How to confirm it before buying

Not every bad shift on a 46RE needs a teardown. These units shift the first three gears off governor pressure, so a failed governor pressure solenoid or sensor, a worn valve body bore, a misadjusted TV cable or a restricted cooler can all feel like a worn-out transmission. Check fluid level and condition hot, read codes, and put a gauge on the governor and line pressure ports before you commit. Our 46RE common problems and fixes guide walks through those checks in order. If the pan holds heavy friction material, the fluid is burnt and pressures are low across several clutches, the unit needs this kit. Before you order, also read what drives 46RE rebuild cost so you budget for hard parts found at teardown.

Fitment

The listing covers 1998-2002 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, Dakota and Durango with the 46RE or 47RE. In those years the 46RE sits behind the 5.2L and 5.9L gas V8s, while the 47RE is the heavier-duty version found mainly behind the Cummins diesel in 2500 and 3500 trucks. The two share their basic layout, but clutch pack stack-ups and some parts differ between them and between model years, so read the ID tag on the driver side of the case and compare your old frictions, steels and seals against the kit photos before you start assembly. If you are unsure which unit you have, send us the year and VIN and we will check it. Other 46RE parts and kits are on our 46RE collection page.

Install notes

• Tear down and clean the case, then inspect hard parts before you open the kit. On these units look closely at the overdrive piston retainer seal to the case, the cast forward clutch retainer for cracks, the direct drum inner seal groove, the servos and band struts, and end play. Our 46RE rebuild wear points guide covers each one and the upgrade parts that fix them.
• Soak every new friction in ATF+4 before installation and check each clutch pack clearance against the factory specification for your unit.
• Set the bands during assembly. The 1998 Chrysler service manual gives the 46RE front (kickdown) band as 72 in-lb then back off 2-7/8 turns, and the rear band as 72 in-lb then back off 2 turns; the 47RE front backs off 1-7/8 turns and the rear 3 turns.
• Install the new filter and pan gasket. The same manual gives the filter screws at 35 in-lb and the pan bolts at 13 ft-lb. Fill with Mopar ATF+4 only and check the level hot in Neutral.
• Flush or replace the cooler and lines. Cooler restriction is a known cause of lockup and lube problems in this family and will undo a fresh rebuild.
• Replace worn hard parts while it is apart. A slipping overdrive often means a worn 46RE clutch module, and a unit that never locked the converter may need a new overdrive and lockup solenoid assembly.

Will this kit fit my 2001 Ram 1500 with the 5.9L?

The kit is listed for 1998-2002 Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500, Dakota and Durango with the 46RE or 47RE, which includes the 5.2L and 5.9L gas V8 trucks. Check the ID tag on the case to confirm you have a 46RE, and compare your old frictions and seals to the kit photos. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to confirm.

Does it fit the 47RE behind a Cummins?

The listing names the 47RE and A618 as well as the 46RE and A518. The 47RE uses some different clutch stack-ups than the 46RE, so count your old clutch plates during teardown and match them against the kit before assembly.

What else should I replace with a master rebuild kit?

Inspect and replace worn hard parts found at teardown: bushings, a cracked forward clutch retainer, a scored drum or a worn overdrive section. Have the torque converter serviced or replaced, and flush the cooler and lines so debris from the old failure does not reach the new clutches.

What fluid does the 46RE take after a rebuild?

Mopar ATF+4 (MS-9602). Do not use generic Dexron or multi-vehicle fluid. Check the level with the fluid hot and the selector in Neutral.

Does the kit include a filter?

Yes. The kit comes with a new transmission oil filter along with the gaskets, seals, frictions and steels shown in the photos.

Do I need to adjust the bands after the rebuild?

Yes, set both bands during assembly. The 1998 factory manual specifies 72 in-lb then back off 2-7/8 turns on the 46RE front band and 2 turns on the rear band; the 47RE front band backs off 1-7/8 turns and the rear 3 turns.

• 46RE Rebuild Guide: Known Wear Points and Upgrades
• 46RE Common Problems and Fixes: A Rebuilder's Diagnostic Guide
• 46RE Rebuild Cost and What Drives It
• 46RE Pump Failure Symptoms and Replacement