Compresses the clutch drum and low/reverse piston springs on GM 4L60E units and resizes the turbine and stator shaft Teflon seals on the bench.
Anyone rebuilding a 4L60E out of a Silverado, Tahoe, S10 or Camaro hits the same two walls: a stack of clutch return springs that has to be compressed to get a snap ring out, and a set of hard Teflon sealing rings that have to be stretched onto a shaft and shrunk back down again. This bench set covers both with four tools: the T-0158 universal drum spring compressor, the T-0151 low and reverse spring compressor, the J-36418-C turbine shaft seal installer and resizer, and the ST-1503 stator shaft seal installer and resizer. It is the GM 700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E, 4L70E and 4L70L rebuild in one box.
Think of the job in the order you will reach for them. On teardown, the T-0158 goes on first. Mount it to the bench, set the input housing, forward clutch or reverse input drum under the plate, and wind the screw down until the retainer clears the snap ring. It opens to drums up to 6 inches in diameter. GM's own procedure does this with the J 23327 compressor and an adapter; this tool covers the same drums. The T-0151 is used once the gear train is out. It grips the low and reverse spring retainer in the bottom of the case so you can lift out the snap ring without the retainer jumping up at you.
The seal tools come in at reassembly. The turbine shaft in the input housing carries four Teflon rings and the stator shaft on the pump carries its own set. The installer cone lets each ring slide over the shaft without being stretched out of shape, and the resizer sleeve squeezes it back down so the next drum can slide over it. GM's overhaul procedure adds a step people skip: leave the sizer on the turbine shaft until you are ready to install the reverse input clutch, or the rings will not clear the bore.
A burned 3-4 pack is the most common reason a 4L60E is on the bench, and Sonnax traces most of those back to low line pressure and leaks in the third-gear circuit, which includes the turbine shaft sealing rings this set installs. Read our 4L60E common problems guide before teardown so you know which drum and which seals need the closest look, and our 4L60E bench tools guide for the end play and band apply pin checks this set does not cover.
The listing covers the GM 700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E, 4L70E and 4L70L. The T-0151 also fits the older TH250, 250C, 350 and 350C and the 4T80-E, and the T-0158 handles Chrysler, Ford and Turbo 350/400 drums up to 6 inches. Cross-references are Trans-Tool T-0158-HD, T-1574, T-1574-Long, T-1574-M, T-1503 and #39SS. If you only need the low and reverse tool, the T-0151 on its own is available, and the 6-piece Teflon seal installer set covers seals only. See all 4L60E parts on the 4L60E transmission page.
Bolt both compressors to a solid bench or clamp them in a vise; they are not meant to be held by hand. Compress only until the snap ring moves freely and no further, so you do not distort the retainer. Lubricate the installer cone and the new rings with assembly lube or clean ATF, and install rings one at a time. Pair the set with a 4L60E master rebuild kit for the frictions, steels and seals, and with a holding fixture so the case is stable while you work on the low and reverse piston.
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Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
For the drum work, yes. The T-0158 compresses the input, forward and reverse input drum springs up to 6 inches in diameter, which is the job GM's J 23327 and its adapter do in the factory overhaul procedure.
The rings come stretched over the shaft larger than the bore they seal in. The resizer sleeve squeezes them back down so the drum or pump can slide on without cutting them. A ring cut during assembly leaks apply oil and can cause a slipping 3-4 clutch.
Yes. The set is listed for the GM 700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E, 4L70E and 4L70L.
No. Both compressors are screw-driven and mount to a bench or vise. You do not need a shop press, and you should not use one with a socket on a drum.
A master rebuild kit with frictions, steels and seals, a dial indicator for end play, an inch-pound torque wrench for the valve body, and a holding fixture or stand for the case.
