My friend is going to help me with my 30K maintenance and I have a couple of questions on the adjusting of bands.

1. What size Torx is needed?

2. Will a Torx on a torque wrench be able to reach both bands? The manual mentions some about an adapter.

 

Sorry, don't know sizes. but unless you are having shifting problems there is no need to adjust the bands. Change the oil and filter and away you go.

 

I agree with GreyTD, no need to adjust the bands unless its starts to slip. You only have X amount of adjustment and once you use it up then it will soon be time to be replacing them. Yes many will adjust them as if you wear them out faster its more $$ for them when they need to be replaced. Also when I had my trans serviced they said if I want it done it cost more $$$ for adjusting the bands. Oh one last thing if the person doing the band adjustment is not good at doing it he can screw up your bands and cost you $$$ for repairs.]

 

I don't think I have any shifting problems. I did notice that going from a 6K travel trailer to 10K fifth wheel it shifts firmer. I think I've read that this is normal.

 

So why does the service manual say to adjust the bands at 30k? I would like a little more info from all the NON-band adjusters out there, other than you will run out of adjustment room. Just curious as to why people say to go against what the service manual recommends.

 

Unfortunately like most products the guy/gal who wrote the service manual has never seen the inside of tranny, dealerships make money servicing your vehicle. There have been several tranny experts of which I'm not that have stated adjusting the bands is not required unless you are having shifting problems. now that does not mean you shouldn't do it, but if done correctly the bands will be right where they were before adjustment. if done wrong well you may end up with the wrong smoke show. As with most stuff if ain't broke why fix it Also I tend to trust more people with life experience, than just book smart, but thats just me.

 

I serviced mine at 34k(when I bought it), just changed the fluid/filter, 55k on it now and still hasnt slipped, when I do my 60k serivce ill probably just do fluid/filter again(unless it starts slipping), and probably around 80-90k ill adjust the bands, just to make sure theyre still in spec...

I do believe in plenty of mantainence, but not when its overdoing it, kind of like if its not broke, dont fix it

 

I have to agree with you on the letting other people do the work and not doing it right. I did mine myself at 34k and double checked all my work so I know with some certainty that it was done right. I guess time will tell if adjusting my bands is going to shorten the life of my tranny.

BTW what do you tell the service writer when he asks if you had the bands adjusted?

"Yes-thats why my tranny took a dump" or
"No-thats why my tranny took a dump"

 

[QUOTE=BTW what do you tell the service writer when he asks if you had the bands adjusted?

"Yes-thats why my tranny took a dump" or
"No-thats why my tranny took a dump"[/QUOTE]

Actually answering NO would be the safer answer. that way they can not say you adjusted the bands wrong and caused the problem. The tranny will not take a dump with loose bands but will shift terrible. Bands adjusted wrong can burn the tranny.

 

Yea I hear you on that one. According to them, nobody else in the world can adjust them the right way, only the dealerships can...they never screw anything up..

 

I just called a local tranny shop and they said if the bands need adjusted then they probably are going bad. He said the are so thin that there isn't a lot of adjusting they can take. He said they inspect them when doing a service.

 

It's a #25 if I remember right. No adapter needed. You'll need an inch-pound wrench, which is kind of pricey if you can't borrow one (~$100).

It's not rocket science though, just follow the manual and git'rdone.

 

Yes you need to adjust the bands. As the bands get loose the wear rate accelerates. When you run out of threads on KD band adjustment, the band is worn out. Contined operation in the worn out condition causes drum wear. That is quite expensive hard part. Non adjustment allows link to fall out or breakage.
I am dumbfounded that a person would not recomend periodic band adjustment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I got my in-torque wrench at harbor freight for under 20 bones. I adjusted my own bands at 70,000 and didn't find that they were out of spec. JMO

 

i did my 99 a coupla yrs ago, improved the shift.....just take your time and u will do it right.