47RE Overhaul Kit 1990-1997

This is the kit for the older trucks: a 1990-1997 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 with the A618 transmission, sold as the 47RH through the hydraulic-governor years and the 47RE once the electronic governor arrived. Owners shopping for it usually describe the same things: the truck slips into a flare on the way to overdrive with a trailer behind it, the kickdown feels soft, it is slow to pick up Drive or Reverse after sitting, and the pan holds dark fluid and lining dust. The kit is new and includes a Precision overhaul gasket and seal set, a friction clutch pack, the front (kickdown) band, the rear (low-reverse) band and a filter. Steel plates are not in the box.

What the overhaul kit does in a 1990-1997 47RH/47RE

Inside, the A618 is a three-speed main case with front and rear clutches and two bands, plus a rear overdrive unit with its own overdrive clutch, direct clutch and sprag. The 47RH and 47RE share that hard-parts layout; the change in this era was how governor pressure is made, by a spinning governor on the output shaft in the RH and by a solenoid and pressure sensor in the RE. The overhaul kit renews what wears regardless of which you have: piston and lip seals, sealing rings, gaskets and O-rings that keep each clutch and servo circuit holding pressure, and the lined parts that do the gripping. Having both bands matters on these years, because a truck that has towed most of its life tends to wear the bands as fast as the clutches.

Symptoms this kit addresses

• Overdrive slip or 3-4 flare under load from worn overdrive or direct frictions
• Slipping or late kickdown and a soft 1-2 shift from a glazed front band
• Slip or a bang into Reverse or manual Low from a worn rear band
• Delayed engagement when cold, the classic sign of hardened piston seals
• Leaks at the servo covers, pan and pump from old gaskets and seals

How to confirm before buying

Rule out the cheaper causes first. On a 1996-1997 47RE, governor sensor and solenoid faults cause third-gear starts and no upshift that get blamed on the clutches; on an earlier 47RH, check the throttle valve cable adjustment. Check fluid level hot in Neutral, then drop the pan and look in the filter. Band lining and clutch material there mean the unit needs to come apart. Our Ram 3500 Cummins shift problems guide walks through the diagnosis, and 47RE valve body testing covers the wear that mimics slipping.

Fitment

Listed for 1990-1997 A618/47RH/47RE and also the A518/46RH/46RE family, including 46RE Jeep Grand Cherokee units. Since one kit is sold to both families, count the frictions in your old packs before assembly: the factory manual lists 4 front, 5 overdrive and 10 direct discs on the 47-series against 3, 4 and 8 on the 46-series. If a 47RE pack comes up short, add discs before you close it up. Confirm your unit from the case tag on the driver side, or send us your year and VIN and we will check it. Other 47-series parts are in our 47RE parts collection.

Install notes

• Reuse steels only if they are flat and not heat-blued. If they are cooked, the 47RE 1990-1997 steel plate set pairs with this kit.
• Bushings are not included. Measure the pump and tailshaft bushings, and replace a scored pump with a 47RE pump on 1994-up trucks.
• Soak frictions and both bands in ATF+4 before installing them.
• Adjust bands to the 47-series figures: 72 in-lb on each adjuster, then back off the front 1-7/8 turns and the rear 3 turns.
• Inspect the kickdown strut while it is out; Sonnax notes RE units often bend or break the stamped OE piece.
• Flush the cooler and lines before the first drive, fill with ATF+4 and set the level hot in Neutral.

What comes in this 1990-1997 overhaul kit?

A Precision overhaul gasket and seal set, a friction clutch pack, the front (kickdown) band, the rear (low-reverse) band and a filter. Steel plates and bushings are not included.

Does it fit a 47RH and a 47RE?

Yes. It is listed for the 47RH and 47RE from 1990-1997, as well as the 46RH/46RE. The RH and RE differ in governor control, not in the clutch, band and seal layout.

Are there enough frictions for my 47RE?

The kit is sold for both 46 and 47 series units. A 47RE uses 4 front, 5 overdrive and 10 direct discs, so count your old packs and compare before assembly, or send us your year and VIN.

Do I need new steels?

Only if yours are warped, scored or blue from heat. Many towing units need them; the matching 1990-1997 steel set is listed separately.

What fluid should I use?

ATF+4. Soak the frictions and bands in it before assembly and check the level hot in Neutral after the rebuild.

• 47RE Ram 3500 Cummins Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 47RE Valve Body Problems: Symptoms, How to Test, and Replacement
• 47RE Ram 2500 Cummins Common Problems and Fixes
• 47RE Pressure Control (EPC) Solenoid Symptoms