Have you done it yourself ? Did you have to drop the tranny if you used a flexible band? Any tricks while removing the old one and installing the new one? Any input is much appreciated as I am about to proceed and replace my front band for the first time, all by myself. A new adventure for me.....and my truck....

 

There are some who can change it with the trans assembled/in the truck.
I can't get it done with the trans on the bench without grinding enough on the band to weaken it.
Do a search.

 

I did it and it was super easy.

I bought the band that has a thinner connection point and is made to slide right in place. I put a piece of thin wire or braided string on the old one (it only comes out in one direction as one end is bigger) and pulled it out while it pulled the wire through behind it.

Then I put the new band on the wire and pulled it through with the wire.

Piece of cake.

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Thank you for your input Lost Lake. Today I received the 22022AS flexible front band from WIT. Hopefully I will find the time this weekend to crawl under the truck and replace the old one. I did a lot of research on this subject and I found enough comments on other forums to convince me that it can be done without having to remove the tranny. I will update this thread with my results and pictures and hopefully I can put to rest this myth, there are many out there who say it can't be done but I want to see that for myself.

 

Last weekend I had the time to take the valve body down and look at my bands. The strut on the front one was on top of the valve so I've put it back together and torqued to specifications, both bands. Initially I wanted to replace the front band but I still have plenty of lining material on the original one. Instead I've observed the clearance and it became clear to me that you can change the front band without having to remove the transmission and just a little bit of grinding is required on the passenger side end of the band without affecting its performance. You will need to grind on the old and the new band, to remove and then install. I would recommend to use guiding wire when inserting the new band and of course it needs to be a flexible band. No more mystery anymore.

 

the valve body has to be removed to gain access to the front band? how difficult is this to do? what are the watch outs when removing the VB? is there a gasket that needs to be replaced on the VB after removal?
i'm going to try this procedure while i'm replacing the govenor solenoid and filter.
thanks in advance for the assistance

 

I don't remember but I think the front band is replaceable with the VB in place.

When dropping the VB, if you ever do, no gasket is required. It has reusable gaskets.

But if you drop the VB, allow yourself a full day. Those things drip fluid forever. Talk about messy. I did my first one in an hour or so and was covered with trans fluid. The next time I let the VB drain over night and it was so much nicer.

You can buy a band that slides right in. The original will come out in one direction, I believe it is toward the driver's side, and then the replacement will go back in the same direction. I don't remember cutting the old band, but maybe I did snip it with a tin snips.

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Anyone have any pics of this?