TH350 Clutch Drum 1969-1986, remanufactured and ready to install. Fits the TH350. Ships fast from the USA.
Lost third gear and Reverse at the same time, found pieces of a broken overrun cage in the pan, or opened a Turbo 350 and found a direct drum with a scored piston bore? This is a remanufactured direct clutch drum with sprag, part number 44555K, for the GM TH350 and TH350C built from 1969 through 1986. It covers the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Impala, C/K pickups and Blazer, GMC trucks and vans, and the Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Cadillac cars that used the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350. Remanufactured means the drum was completely taken apart, inspected and rebuilt, so you are not gambling on a swap-meet core with hidden cracks.
GM labels the direct clutch the 2-3 clutch. It sits right behind the pump, rides on the pump hub, and is fed through three hook-type oil rings on that hub. When the 2-3 shift valve opens, oil strokes the direct piston, the pack locks the drum to the input, and the transmission is in third. The same clutch also applies in Reverse, which is why a leaking direct circuit usually costs you both gears at once.
The drum does a second job. Its hub is machined as the inner cam of the intermediate overrun clutch, the part this listing calls the sprag and GM's manual calls the intermediate overrun roller clutch. In second gear that one-way clutch locks against its outer race so the intermediate clutch can hold the sun gear. In third it freewheels. If it slips or breaks, Drive goes from first straight to third while manual second, which uses the band, still works. Because the cam surface is part of the drum itself, a pitted or spalled cam cannot be fixed with a new roller assembly alone.
Start with a line pressure check in Reverse. Low Reverse pressure with a healthy pump points to the direct circuit: broken pump hub rings, a cut piston seal, a stuck piston check ball or a cracked drum. Good Reverse pressure with a 1-3 shift in Drive points to the overrun clutch. Once the drum is out, hold it and turn the outer race. It has to freewheel one way and lock solid the other, with no rough spots. Also look at the bushing inside the hub and at the piston bore for scoring. Our TH350 common problems and fixes guide walks through no-third and no-Reverse diagnosis, and the TH350 delayed engagement guide covers slow Reverse engagement that can come from the same circuit.
The listing covers the TH350 and the lockup TH350C, 1969 through 1986. Before you order, pull your old drum and compare it side by side. GM built the Buick 375B version with five direct plates instead of four, and direct drums changed over the production run, so check the plate count your drum holds, the piston style and the thrust washer or bearing at the front. If anything differs, send us the year, the VIN and a photo of your drum and we will check it. The full range of parts for this unit is on our TH350 transmission parts page.
The drum comes with the sprag assembly, not with frictions and steels. Pair it with a TH350 master rebuild kit for the clutches, band, seals and bushings, or a TH350 master repair kit if you only need the seals and gaskets. If the forward pack is also worn, the TH350 input drum is the matching piece directly behind it.
| Fits | TH350 1969-1986 |
| Part type | Clutch Drum |
| Condition | Remanufactured |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
The remanufactured direct clutch drum with the sprag (the intermediate overrun roller clutch) installed. Clutch plates, piston seals and gaskets are not part of this listing and come from your rebuild kit.
It can, if the direct drum is cracked, the piston bore is scored or the bushing is worn. Pressure test Reverse first, because broken hook rings on the pump hub and cut piston seals cause the same symptoms and are cheaper to fix.
Yes, it is listed for the TH350 and TH350C from 1969 to 1986. Compare the plate count, piston and front thrust washer or bearing with your original drum before installing.
In Drive, second gear depends on the overrun clutch locking on the direct drum hub. When it slips or breaks the unit skips second. Because the inner cam is part of this drum, a damaged cam means replacing the drum.
GM specified DEXRON automatic transmission fluid for the TH350. Use a current DEXRON-licensed ATF and set the final level on the dipstick at operating temperature.
