Guides the bonded and molded underdrive pistons and their retainer into the drum on a Dodge 68RFE so the lip seals seat without rolling or tearing.
If you are rebuilding the 68RFE out of a 6.7L Cummins Ram 2500 or 3500 and you have reached the input clutch assembly, this is the tool you want on the bench before the underdrive piston goes back in. The underdrive piston and its retainer use bonded, molded lip seals, and a lip that folds over on the way into the bore will not show itself until the truck is back together and the underdrive clutch starts slipping. This three-piece set, made in the style of the Kent-Moore T-3250-KM, guides those parts in square so the seals arrive where they belong.
The underdrive clutch applies in first, second and third gear on the 68RFE, so a leak in its apply circuit affects almost every shift the truck makes. The piston rides inside the input clutch retainer with a molded seal on its inner and outer diameters. Those lips face the pressure side, which means they have to be pushed past the edge of the bore without rolling backward. Fingers, a screwdriver or a feeler gauge used as a shoehorn are how most rolled and nicked seals happen.
The set covers the bonded piston, the molded piston and the retainer. Each piece centers the part over its bore and tucks the seal lip as the piston travels down, so it goes in level instead of cocking to one side and pinching. The tools are high-grade PVC, which is softer than the aluminum and steel they touch, so they will not scratch a sealing surface. The drum, retainer and pistons are not included; this is installation tooling only.
You need this set any time the input clutch assembly is apart: a full overhaul, a clutch module replacement, or a teardown after overheating. Sonnax points out that the 68RFE runs some of the thinnest clutch plates in any transmission, with a single-sided .034 inch steel core in the overdrive pack, so these units get torn down often on trucks that tow. If you are still deciding whether to rebuild, our 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins common problems guide explains which failures need a teardown and which can be fixed from the pan. The 68RFE rebuild guide covers the full order of assembly.
The set is listed for the Dodge and Ram 68RFE behind the 6.7L Cummins, 2007 and up, in Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups. It is sized for the 68RFE underdrive piston and retainer; we do not list it for the 45RFE, 545RFE or 66RFE, and a tool that is close but not exact can do more harm than good. Transmission Digest notes that the 68RFE changed in several ways over the years, including a new connector in 2010 and solenoid changes in 2019, so if your unit has been rebuilt before, compare the piston you pulled out against the parts in your kit. You can see everything we carry for this unit on our 68RFE collection page.
Clean the drum and retainer and inspect the bores for scoring before anything goes in. Lube the tool, the piston and both seal lips with ATF+4 or assembly lube. Set the drum flat on the bench, seat the correct tool over the bore, set the piston in and press it home in one steady motion with even hand pressure. Do not tap it with a hammer. Repeat for the retainer. Air check the underdrive circuit before you close the case; a quiet, firm apply means the seals are seated. Pair the tool with a complete 68RFE rebuild kit so you have new molded pistons, and a 68RFE friction clutch module kit if the frictions are worn or glazed.
| Fits | Dodge/Cummins 68RFE (2007 and up, 6.7L Ram 2500/3500) |
| Application | Bonded and molded underdrive piston and retainer installation |
| Reference | Kent-Moore style T-3250-KM |
| Pieces | 3-piece install tool set |
| Material | High-grade PVC |
| Ships | From the USA |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It is an aftermarket three-piece set made in the style of the T-3250-KM and does the same job: guiding the underdrive pistons and retainer into the 68RFE input clutch assembly without rolling the seals. It is not a Kent-Moore branded tool.
No. You get the three installation tools only. The underdrive pistons, retainer and drum come from your rebuild kit or the original transmission.
We list it for the 68RFE behind the 6.7L Cummins only. The other RFE units share a basic layout, but piston sizes differ, and using a tool that does not match can damage the very seals it is meant to protect.
ATF+4 or a transmission assembly lube. A thin, even coat on the tool, the piston and both seal lips lets the piston slide in with steady hand pressure.
Air check the underdrive circuit before final assembly. You should hear and feel a clean, firm apply with no hissing leak. A leak at this stage means the piston needs to come back out for inspection.
