4L85E Sprag Clutch, new and ready to install. Fits the 4L85E. Ships fast from the USA.
When a GM heavy-duty truck or van with the 4L85E pulls fine in first, then flares or drops into what feels like neutral as it shifts to second, the part people end up searching for is the intermediate sprag. This listing is a new sprag clutch for the 4L85E, the same TH400-pattern sprag used in the 4L80E. The photo shows the assembly: a ring of sprag elements held in a cage between two black retaining rings, ready to press into the outer race during a rebuild.
The 4L85E is a TH400 with an overdrive section in front of it, and it kept the TH400's intermediate sprag. The sprag sits between the direct clutch drum and the intermediate clutch outer race. In second gear the intermediate clutch applies and holds the outer race still; the sprag then locks and keeps the sun gear from turning backward, which is what gives you the 1.48 second gear ratio. On the 2-3 shift the direct clutch applies, the sun gear starts turning forward, and the sprag simply overruns. That one-way action is why the 2-3 shift in this family is so smooth: nothing has to be released at the exact right moment. It also means a worn or rolled-over sprag shows up almost entirely in second gear.
A burnt intermediate clutch causes almost the same complaint, so the sprag and the intermediate clutch pack should be judged together at teardown.
Rule out electrical and pressure causes first. A P0732 can come from a shift solenoid that is not doing its job, and our 4L85E shift solenoid guide shows how to check them. Low line pressure from a worn pump or boost valve will also let the intermediate clutch slip, which feels exactly like a sprag; see the pump failure guide. Once the unit is apart, hold the direct drum and turn the outer race: it should freewheel smoothly in one direction and lock solidly in the other. Any roughness, slip in the locking direction, or elements that are flat-spotted or tipped over means it is done.
This sprag is listed for the 4L85E and references the TH400. The 4L85E (RPO MN8) went into production in 2002, mostly behind the 6.0L and 8.1L in Silverado, Sierra, Express and Savana heavy-duty models, and Sonnax lists the TH400, 4L80-E and 4L85-E intermediate sprag location as one shared design. Before you order, compare your old sprag's width, element count and diameters with this one, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm it. Every other part we carry for this unit is on the 4L85E parts page, and the 4L80E vs 4L85E guide covers what does and does not interchange between the two.
| Fits | 4L85E |
| Part type | Sprag Clutch |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Reference | TH400 |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It is the intermediate sprag, the one-way clutch that works with the intermediate clutch to hold second gear. The 4L85E inherited it from the TH400, and the 4L80E uses the same location.
Second gear slips or disappears. Most drivers notice a flare or a moment of neutral on the 1-2 shift before third gear catches, and the computer may store P0732 for an incorrect second gear ratio.
No. The sprag sits inside the direct drum and intermediate clutch assembly in the middle of the unit, so the transmission has to come out and be disassembled.
The intermediate sprag location is shared across the TH400, 4L80E and 4L85E according to Sonnax. Compare your old sprag's size and element count with this one, or send us your year and VIN to confirm.
Before final assembly, hold the direct drum and turn the outer race. It must freewheel in the direction the service manual shows for your unit and lock in the other. A backward sprag gives no second gear.
The intermediate clutch frictions, any pitted race, and the seals and filter in a rebuild kit. Fix any low line pressure problem too, or the new parts will slip again.
