68RFE Overhaul Kit 2007-2017

This is a sealed-bag overhaul kit for the 68RFE built from 2007 through 2017, the six-speed automatic behind the 6.7L Cummins in Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and the 3500-5500 cab chassis trucks. Buyers usually land here after a high-mileage truck starts slipping out of 5th or 6th on a tow, takes a second or two to grab Drive on a cold morning, or keeps marking the driveway with red fluid from more than one spot. When the unit is coming out for a rebuild anyway, the overhaul kit is the base layer of the job: the gaskets, piston seals, sealing rings and O-rings that let every clutch circuit hold pressure again. It covers the whole first decade of the 68RFE in one part, which is useful when a truck has an unknown history or a swapped transmission.

What the overhaul kit does in a 2007-2017 68RFE

The 68RFE has no bands. Each of its six forward gears comes from applying clutch packs with oil, so the transmission is only as good as the seals that keep that oil where it was sent. Pump pressure goes through the solenoid block and valve body, crosses spinning shafts and drums on Teflon or cast iron sealing rings, and ends at a piston whose rubber lip seals turn it into clamping force on the pack. Years of towing heat make those seals hard and flat. A hardened piston seal or a worn sealing ring lets pressure bleed off, the clutch slips while the controller is still commanding a full apply, and the slip makes more heat. GEARS Magazine notes that fluid life halves for every 20 degrees F above about 200 degrees F, which is why towing trucks in this range wear out their sealing layer long before the hard parts.

One detail makes this year span easier than it looks. Early trucks use the white pass-through case connector with a dedicated overdrive solenoid, and from 2010 Chrysler moved to the gray connector and eliminated that solenoid. Transmission Digest confirms that the same silicone-beaded solenoid block gasket serves both the white and gray assemblies, so one gasket set covers 2007 through 2017. That changed only with the blue connector in 2019.

Symptoms on 2007-2017 trucks that call for an overhaul

• Flare or slip on the 4-5 or 5-6 shift under load, the classic overdrive clutch complaint on these trucks
• Slow engagement into Drive or Reverse when cold that improves once the fluid is warm
• Leaks at the pan rail, front pump seal, case connector or output seal
• Burnt-smelling fluid and friction material on the pan magnet
• Slip codes or line pressure that drops below commanded as the fluid heats up

How to confirm before you buy

Set the fluid level hot, pull codes and look in the pan before committing to a teardown. Sonnax points out that overdrive clutch failures on 2007-2020 68RFEs are often driven by housing flex and inner retainer wear, so measure the hard parts while the unit is apart rather than only replacing seals. A weak pump can mimic leaking seals; our 68RFE pump failure guide explains how to compare actual and commanded line pressure to tell them apart. If the problem is mostly a harsh or wrong-gear shift with clean fluid, read the 68RFE valve body testing guide first.

Fitment

Listed for the 68RFE from 2007 to 2017. Confirm your unit has a white or gray pass-through connector on the case. A blue connector is a 2019-up design with a different solenoid block gasket and is not covered here. Kits within a family can still vary by build date, so compare each gasket and seal against your old parts as you go, or send us your year and VIN before ordering. All year-specific 68RFE parts are on the 68RFE collection page.

Install notes

• Soak lip seals and O-rings in ATF+4, and set sealing rings with assembly gel so they do not cut on the drum bores.
• An overhaul kit does not include clutch plates. If the packs are burnt, add the BorgWarner 68RFE friction clutch module kit on the same rebuild.
• Air-check every clutch circuit before the valve body goes on, and check clutch clearances with a dial indicator.
• Install a new sump filter, spin-on filter and pan gasket; the 68RFE filter kit for 2WD trucks has all three.
• Flush the cooler and lines. GEARS recommends at least one gallon per minute of cooler flow on these units.
• Fill with ATF+4 only, set the level with the fluid at 160 degrees F or higher, and perform a quick learn.

Does this kit fit both the white and gray connector 68RFE?

Yes, it is listed for 2007-2017, which covers the white connector early units and the gray connector units from 2010 on. Both use the same solenoid block gasket. It does not fit the blue connector 2019-up design.

Are clutch frictions and steels included?

No. An overhaul kit is the gasket and seal set. If the clutches are worn or burnt, add a friction module or a master rebuild kit.

Will an overhaul kit fix my overdrive slip?

Only if leaking seals are the cause. Overdrive slip on these trucks also comes from burnt OD frictions, housing flex and worn retainers, so inspect and measure those parts during the rebuild.

What fluid do I use after the rebuild?

ATF+4 only. Check the level with the fluid at 160 degrees F or above.

Does the transmission need a relearn after installation?

Yes. Run a quick learn with a capable scan tool so the controller relearns clutch volumes, then road test and recheck the fluid level hot.

• 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins Common Problems and Fixes
• 68RFE Pump Failure: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Replacement
• 68RFE Valve Body Problems: Symptoms, How to Test, and Replacement
• 68RFE Ram 3500 Cummins Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix