4L60E Transmission Master Rebuild Kit with Filter

This kit is for the late-model GM 4L60E and 4L65E, the 2004-and-newer case found behind the 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2L in Silverado, Tahoe, Yukon and Avalanche, plus the Colorado and Savana. Most people land here after the same story: third gear started slipping when the truck was loaded or towing, the fluid went dark, and then reverse got weak or quit. That is the signature 4L60E 3-4 clutch failure, and once it has happened the only repair that lasts is a full soft-parts rebuild.

What this kit replaces in a 2004-up 4L60E

Inside the box are friction plates and steel plates for the clutch packs, a set of bonded pistons, the full gasket set, the rubber seal set, sealing rings and the pan filter. The manufacturer part number is AHM-QMP-GN02483. Bonded pistons are the main reason to pick this kit over a basic overhaul set. On the late units GM moved to pistons with the sealing lip molded onto the piston itself, and an old bonded piston that has gone hard cannot be fixed by swapping a loose seal. Replacing the pistons with the clutches means the apply side of each pack is as fresh as the friction side.

The 3-4 clutch is the pack this kit is really built around. It applies for 3rd and 4th, carries a large share of engine torque through the top two gears, and has a small number of plates for the load. When line pressure drops from worn seals or valve body bores, the pack slips, overheats and sheds material into the rest of the unit. Debris then wears the reverse input and forward packs, which is why one burnt pack becomes a whole-transmission job.

Symptoms on a late 4L60E

• 3rd gear flares or slips under throttle, then 3rd and 4th drop out entirely
• Reverse becomes soft, delayed or missing after the 3-4 pack has failed
• A 1-2 shift that flares or feels long
• Dark fluid with a burnt smell and lining material in the filter
• Converter clutch slip codes such as P1870 as apply pressure leaks away

How to confirm before you buy

A worn 2004-up unit and a failing solenoid can feel alike, so rule out the electrical side first. A shift solenoid or pressure control solenoid fault will usually set a code, and a bad internal harness on 2006-2008 trucks can cause erratic shifts with no mechanical damage at all. Our 4L60E shift solenoid symptoms guide covers the tests. If the codes are clean and the pan shows lining material, the unit needs to come apart.

Fitment

This kit is for the 2004 and newer case only. Listed fitment: 2004-2006 Escalade 5.3/6.0L, 2007-2008 Avalanche 5.3/6.0L, 2004-2010 Colorado 2.8/2.9/3.5/3.7L, 2004-2005 Corvette 5.7/6.0L, 2004-2010 Silverado 1500 with the 4.3/4.8/5.3/6.0/6.2L, 2004-2010 Tahoe and Yukon 4.8/5.3/6.0/6.2L, 2004-2010 Savana 1500 4.3/5.3L, and 2004-2007 Sierra 1500. It is also listed for the 4L70E and 4L75E versions of the same case.

Do not use it on a 1993-2003 unit; the early transmissions use different pistons and gaskets. Corvette and some heavy-duty applications run the 4L65E with a five-pinion rear planet, so match what comes out of your case. A truck built close to the 2003-2004 changeover can carry either style, so check the transmission ID tag, or send us the year and VIN and we will confirm. Everything else for this unit is on our 4L60E collection page.

Install notes

• Build the pump and drum seals first, then the 3-4 pack, then the forward and overrun packs, and fit the new bonded pistons before the drums are stacked.
• Check 3-4 clutch clearance with a dial indicator, not by feel.
• Air check each circuit through the case before the valve body goes on.
• Set end play during reassembly; a common target is 0.020-0.030 in on the bench.
• The pan filter and pan gasket go on last. Fill with Dexron VI and set the final level hot after a test drive.

This kit does not list a 2-4 band, so inspect yours and replace it if it is glazed or thin. For a unit that has already burned a 3-4 pack, the Raybestos 3-4 Z-PAK clutch pack gives you more plates in the same space, and the 4th gear super hold servo kit helps the band hold in overdrive. A 4L60E shift kit firms up shift timing so the new clutches spend less time slipping. Before you start, read the bench tools you actually need.

Will this kit fit my 2002 Silverado?

No. It is built for the 2004 and newer 4L60E and 4L65E case. The 1993-2003 units use different pistons and gaskets, so choose one of our early-style kits for that truck.

Are the pistons included?

Yes. The kit includes bonded pistons along with the frictions, steels, gasket set, rubber seal set, sealing rings and pan filter.

Does it come with a 2-4 band?

A band is not listed in this kit. Inspect the old 2-4 band during teardown and replace it if the lining is glazed, cracked or worn thin.

Why did my 4L60E lose 3rd and then reverse?

That pattern usually starts with the 3-4 clutch pack burning. The debris and lost pressure then wear the reverse input clutch. A full rebuild with this kit replaces both packs and the seals that let pressure leak.

Is any relearn needed after the rebuild?

Many 2004-up GM trucks adapt shift timing over time. If the shifts feel off after the rebuild, a scan tool can reset transmission adaptive values so the computer relearns on the new clutches.

• 4L60E Shift Solenoid Symptoms, Testing and Replacement
• 4L60E Rebuild: The Bench Tools You Actually Need
• 4L60E Common Problems, Symptoms, and What to Actually Do About Them
• 4L60E 1-2 Accumulator and Shift Feel: Diagnosis