46RE Overhaul Kit 1990-2003

This is the soft-parts kit for resealing an A518-family automatic: the 46RH, 46RE, 47RH and 47RE built from 1990 through 2003 for Dodge Ram pickups and vans, Dakota, Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is a Transtec-brand kit listed under part numbers K22950R and 22002E, and it carries the gaskets, lip seals, O-rings, metal-clad seals, sealing rings, a small parts bag and a Farpak pan gasket. It does not include friction discs, steels, bands, bushings or a filter. That makes it the right buy when the unit is coming apart for leaks or low apply pressure and the clutch plates still measure good, or when you are buying frictions and steels separately and want to pick the brand yourself.

What the overhaul kit does in a 46RE

Every shift in a 46RE depends on fluid getting from the pump to a piston without leaking. The front clutch, rear clutch, overdrive clutch and direct clutch are each applied by a piston sealed with rubber lip seals, and the two bands are applied by servos sealed the same way. Fluid is carried from the stationary reaction shaft support and the overdrive housing into spinning drums through sealing rings, and the case, pump, valve body and adapter are sealed by gaskets and O-rings. After years of heat from towing, those lips harden and shrink, rings wear their grooves, and gaskets take a set. Apply pressure then leaks away before it reaches the piston, the plates slip, and the unit runs hotter, which ages the remaining seals faster. Replacing all of them at once is what a proper overhaul means.

Symptoms that point to worn seals

• Delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse after the truck sits overnight, which improves once it warms up
• Slip or flare on a shift that gets worse as fluid temperature rises
• Fluid leaks at the front pump seal, the shift shaft or the extension housing
• Soft or late shifts with normal governor pressure readings
• Low pressure on one circuit during a pressure test while the others read normal

How to confirm before buying

Rule out the cheap causes first. Check the fluid level hot in Neutral, read stored codes, and on 1996-up electronic-governor trucks compare governor pressure desired and actual with a scan tool, because a governor solenoid or transducer fault can mimic a slipping unit. If the fluid is clean and the problem is a late engagement or a leak, seals are the likely answer. A circuit-by-circuit line pressure test shows which piston or servo is losing pressure. Our 46RE common problems guide lays out that testing order, and the 46RE pump failure guide helps separate a worn pump from a leaking seal.

Fitment

The kit is listed for the A518 and A618 family from 1990 through 2003: 46RH, 46RE, 47RH and 47RE. That span covers hydraulic-governor RH units and electronic-governor RE units, so a few seals and gaskets in the bag will be left over on any one transmission. Before you buy, match the tag on the left side of the case or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm it. The 48RE and the 2004-up units are not covered by this listing. Hard parts, pumps and valve bodies for the same unit are in our 46RE parts collection.

Install notes

• Lay out old and new seals side by side before assembly. The kit covers several years, so match lip direction and size, not just shape.
• Soak lip seals in ATF+4 and coat sealing rings with assembly lube so they seat in their grooves without rolling or cutting during installation.
• Air-check every clutch and servo after assembly. A piston that bleeds air will bleed fluid.
• With the unit apart, inspect the pump gears, pump bushing and stator. If they are scored, a replacement 46RE front pump is cheaper than a second teardown.
• On 1996-1999 units, a worn overdrive and converter clutch solenoid is a common reason a fresh overhaul still sets codes; the 1996-1999 OD/TCC solenoid mates with the round transducer used on those years.
• Set the bands per the Chrysler service manual: tighten each adjuster to 72 in-lb, then back the front band off 2-7/8 turns and the rear band off 2 turns before locking the nuts.
• Fit the Farpak pan gasket dry and do not overtighten the pan bolts; the manual calls for 13 ft-lb. Fill with ATF+4 and check the level hot in Neutral.
• Flush the cooler and lines before the first drive. Sonnax ties most 46/47RE converter and engagement complaints to cooler restriction, and our cooler line guide covers the job.

Does this kit include clutches or bands?

No. It is the gasket and seal kit only: lip seals, O-rings, metal-clad seals, sealing rings, gaskets, a small parts bag and a Farpak pan gasket. Frictions, steels, bands, bushings and the filter are bought separately.

Will it fit my 1998 Ram 1500 with the 5.9L?

The 1998 Ram 1500 with the 5.2L or 5.9L uses the 46RE, which is inside the 1990-2003 range for this kit. Check the tag on the left side of the case, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm it.

Can I use this kit on a 47RE behind a Cummins?

Yes, the kit is listed for the 47RH and 47RE through 2003. It does not cover the 48RE used in later Cummins trucks, so confirm which unit your truck has before ordering.

Why are there extra seals left over?

The kit covers both the hydraulic-governor RH units and the electronic-governor RE units across 14 years, so it carries more than one version of some seals and gaskets. Match each new part to the one you removed.

What fluid should I use after the rebuild?

ATF+4. Fill it, run the engine, cycle through the gears, and check the level hot in Neutral as the Chrysler service manual describes.

My truck only leaks at the front seal. Do I need the whole kit?

Not always. A front seal leak can often be fixed with the transmission in the truck. But if the pump bushing is worn, the new seal will leak again soon, and if you also have a late engagement, a full reseal with this kit is the better repair.

• 46RE Common Problems and Fixes: A Rebuilder's Diagnostic Guide
• 46RE Pump Failure Symptoms and Replacement
• 46RE Cooler Line Replacement Guide
• 46RE 3-4 Clutch Failure: Symptoms and Fix