BorgWarner high energy friction module for the GM 700R4 and 4L60E family, 1987-2000, with upgraded 3-4 clutch plates for a longer-lasting rebuild.
Rebuilding a 700R4 or early 4L60E out of a 1987-2000 Chevy or GMC truck, Tahoe, Suburban, S10 or Camaro because it burned the 3-4 clutches, slips in overdrive or lost third and fourth? BorgWarner part number 34036KIT is a friction clutch module for that job: the friction plates for the transmission's clutch packs, with high energy lining in the 3-4 pack where this transmission needs it most. BorgWarner supplies friction material to vehicle manufacturers, so plate thickness and engagement feel stay close to factory, which suits a daily driver or tow vehicle better than an aggressive race lining.
A friction module is every lined plate the rebuild needs, packaged together. In the 700R4/4L60E family those plates go into the forward, 3-4, overrun and low-reverse packs, with steels between them and a hydraulic piston behind each pack. The 3-4 clutch is the weak link: it applies on the 2-3 shift and holds through fourth, carrying input torque in a small drum with little room to shed heat. Sonnax notes that the original 700-R4 and 4L60-E 3-4 packs carried only five or six frictions, compared with seven in the later 4L65-E and 4L70-E, and that the factory backing plate flexes during apply, heating the pack unevenly. High energy frictions tolerate more heat before they glaze, which is why rebuilders use them in this pack on anything that tows or makes more power than stock.
Be sure the failure is clutches before ordering. A stripped sun shell also removes third and fourth, and on electronic units a worn pressure control solenoid with code P0748 can make shifts soft enough to feel like slipping.
Drop the pan first. Friction debris and a burnt smell confirm clutch wear; large pieces of metal mean hard parts are damaged too. On the bench, air check the input drum before you strip it so you know whether the 3-4 and forward pistons were leaking. Do not stop at the plates: Sonnax's 3-4 burnup checklist traces most failures to low line pressure or leaks of 3rd gear oil through the pump, accumulators, servo and valve body, and new frictions will burn again if those leaks remain. Our 3-4 clutch pack failure guide walks through those checks, and the friction count and upgrade guide covers how many plates your drum can take.
Listed fitment is the GM 700R4 (THM700-R4), 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E and 4L70E, model years 1987-2000. That is a wide span, and GM changed input housings, pistons and 3-4 plate counts within it, so treat the year range as a starting point. Count the frictions and steels in each pack as you take them out, measure the thickness, and compare them with the plates in the kit before building up. If your build uses a different input housing or a non-stock 3-4 stack, set the pack up to that housing's specification. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to check before ordering. All of our parts for this transmission are on the 4L60E parts page.
Soak every friction in clean ATF for at least 30 minutes before assembly. Install new steels unless the originals are flat, unmarked and within thickness, and fit new piston seals in every drum you open. Stack each pack in the correct order and set 3-4 clearance with a feeler gauge or dial indicator rather than by feel. While the unit is apart, the servo deserves a look because it doubles as the 3rd accumulator, and Sonnax lists a leaking 3rd accumulator checkball as a leading cause of 3-4 failure; our Corvette servo piston assembly is a common upgrade at this point. For gaskets and seals, pair it with the 4L60E overhaul kit. Fill with Dexron VI and check the level hot after the first drive.
| Manufacturer part number | 34036KIT |
| Brand | BorgWarner |
| Type | Friction clutch module, high energy 3-4 plates |
| Fits | GM 700R4, 4L60, 4L60E, 4L65E, 4L70E |
| Years | 1987-2000 |
| Weight | 3 lb |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It is a friction module, meaning the lined friction plates. Plan on sourcing steels, piston seals and a gasket set separately, such as from an overhaul kit.
It is listed for 1987-2000. Later units changed parts in the input housing and clutch packs, so for a 2001-up transmission look at a module listed for those years.
High energy lining resists glazing and burning at higher temperatures than standard paper material. The 3-4 pack runs hot in this transmission, especially when towing or behind a modified engine.
Some input housings and aftermarket backing plate kits allow more frictions than stock. Count what your drum held, check the clearance you can achieve, and follow the specification for the hardware you are using.
Dexron VI ATF. It is GM's current specification and replaces the older Dexron grades used in these transmissions when new.
