Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny?

93ChevyTBI · 06-28-2008, 06:41 AM

Pretty much what the title says. I recently got my truck tuned again and tranny settings were changed from neck-breaking to smooth as a baby's butt. I personally love it but I have read that this causes some premature wear on your tranny. So...what's ya'll opinions on this?

BTW...on WOT shifts, it's performance oriented so that's fine. The smooth shifts are only when cruising.

Thanx

oldred95 · 06-28-2008, 02:51 PM

So smooth you don't even know its shifted other then seeing the tach drop is not good. Smooth = slippage. You don't want neck breaker shifts at light throttle either. As long as your smooth shifts are happening at say 1/4 throttle and below where you have relatively low power output from the engine it will probably be OK but its still slipping during those super soft shifts. Anything past 1/4 throttle and I'd be wanting some firmness, just a gentle nudge at each shift and up past 2/3's throttle it better be firming up pretty nicely. Thats what I would want and thats what would be best for the transmission IMO.

93ChevyTBI · 06-28-2008, 06:40 PM

I'll drive it around tomorrow and try to pay attention to throttle vs firmness and see if I need line pressure increased a tad.
thanx

93ChevyTBI · 06-30-2008, 07:24 AM

never got a chance to drive it.

Anyone else have any input?

AlpineTahoeSS · 07-01-2008, 07:29 PM

I had my 460le rebuilt in my tahoe and I thought it shifted to hard and I took it back to the shop and the mechanic checked it out and said it was fine and that it shifted firm because they had increased line pressure to engage the clutches better to keep the trans form prematurely dieing.

PBA · 07-02-2008, 08:14 AM

A good smooth shift is fine. I have seen these units with over 250K miles on them (1996 & up) and the 2-4 band still looked good, and if smooth shifts were "bad" then there is no way that the transmission could get this kind of mileage. What you don't want is long shifts.... As long as the shifts get quicker with more throttle, you are fine. I build all of my units to shift smooth at part throttle and firmer with more throttle. This will give you the best in terms of durability. A good quality shift is almost imperceptible.

94Blazer383 · 07-09-2008, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93ChevyTBI

Pretty much what the title says. I recently got my truck tuned again and tranny settings were changed from neck-breaking to smooth as a baby's butt. I personally love it but I have read that this causes some premature wear on your tranny. So...what's ya'll opinions on this?

BTW...on WOT shifts, it's performance oriented so that's fine. The smooth shifts are only when cruising.

Thanx

Can you tell any difference since I raised the line pressure a little?

93ChevyTBI · 07-09-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94Blazer383

Can you tell any difference since I raised the line pressure a little?

Yeah....it's right where it needs to be. I'm very happy with it.

Put the PCM in, started it up, nothing acted up so Yeah!!!! Put it in drive, speedo jumped to 80 mph. Sigh...back to the drawing board. I'll drop it by today on the way home.

thebigcheez · 07-14-2008, 08:50 PM

good questions and legit answers

06-28-2008, 06:41 AM	#1
93ChevyTBI Registered User Status: Offline Join Date: Oct 2005 Member ID: 35932 Pics: My Gallery Location: Kentucky Age: 34 Posts: 483	Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? Pretty much what the title says. I recently got my truck tuned again and tranny settings were changed from neck-breaking to smooth as a baby's butt. I personally love it but I have read that this causes some premature wear on your tranny. So...what's ya'll opinions on this? BTW...on WOT shifts, it's performance oriented so that's fine. The smooth shifts are only when cruising. Thanx 1993 Chevy 5.7 tbi Z71, vortec heads, GMPP tbi vortec intake, 2" TBI and intake, TBI spacer, Comp Cams 08-409-8 XTREME 4x4 roller cam conversion, S10 stall, Hedman full length headers, true duals, 3" body lift, 33" tires, Paxton Performance tune (aka 94Blazer383), 4.10's, Hypertech powercharger.

06-28-2008, 02:51 PM	#2
oldred95 needs to get a life Status: Offline Join Date: Mar 2004 Member ID: 13448 Pics: My Gallery Location: Live in Enid, OK From Kiowa, KS I'm a Jayhawker, not a sooner Age: 20 Posts: 9,091	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? So smooth you don't even know its shifted other then seeing the tach drop is not good. Smooth = slippage. You don't want neck breaker shifts at light throttle either. As long as your smooth shifts are happening at say 1/4 throttle and below where you have relatively low power output from the engine it will probably be OK but its still slipping during those super soft shifts. Anything past 1/4 throttle and I'd be wanting some firmness, just a gentle nudge at each shift and up past 2/3's throttle it better be firming up pretty nicely. Thats what I would want and thats what would be best for the transmission IMO. 1995 Silverado - Very torquey, fun to drive (see below) 1999 NBS Silverdo - Torque? Never heard of such a thing.

06-28-2008, 06:40 PM	#3
93ChevyTBI Registered User Status: Offline Join Date: Oct 2005 Member ID: 35932 Pics: My Gallery Location: Kentucky Age: 34 Posts: 483	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? I'll drive it around tomorrow and try to pay attention to throttle vs firmness and see if I need line pressure increased a tad. thanx 1993 Chevy 5.7 tbi Z71, vortec heads, GMPP tbi vortec intake, 2" TBI and intake, TBI spacer, Comp Cams 08-409-8 XTREME 4x4 roller cam conversion, S10 stall, Hedman full length headers, true duals, 3" body lift, 33" tires, Paxton Performance tune (aka 94Blazer383), 4.10's, Hypertech powercharger.

06-30-2008, 07:24 AM	#4
93ChevyTBI Registered User Status: Offline Join Date: Oct 2005 Member ID: 35932 Pics: My Gallery Location: Kentucky Age: 34 Posts: 483	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? never got a chance to drive it. Anyone else have any input? 1993 Chevy 5.7 tbi Z71, vortec heads, GMPP tbi vortec intake, 2" TBI and intake, TBI spacer, Comp Cams 08-409-8 XTREME 4x4 roller cam conversion, S10 stall, Hedman full length headers, true duals, 3" body lift, 33" tires, Paxton Performance tune (aka 94Blazer383), 4.10's, Hypertech powercharger.

07-01-2008, 07:29 PM	#5
AlpineTahoeSS Registered User Status: Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Member ID: 71030 Pics: My Gallery Location: Orlando,FL Age: 24 Posts: 96	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? I had my 460le rebuilt in my tahoe and I thought it shifted to hard and I took it back to the shop and the mechanic checked it out and said it was fine and that it shifted firm because they had increased line pressure to engage the clutches better to keep the trans form prematurely dieing. 98 Tahoe GM replacement 350 crate engine, GM Performance Parts mild Cam, Black Bear Performance 93 Tune , Flowtech mid-length Headers, Magnaflow Corvette X pipe, true dual Flowmaster super 40's, K/N FIPK II intake, rebuilt 4L60E with shift improver and Corvette Servo


Home Forum Gallery Rules Downloads Supporting Member Ebay on FSC!

07-02-2008, 08:14 AM	#6
PBA Registered User Status: Offline Join Date: Jan 2008 Member ID: 81820 Pics: My Gallery Location: Calimesa, California Age: 58 Posts: 82	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? A good smooth shift is fine. I have seen these units with over 250K miles on them (1996 & up) and the 2-4 band still looked good, and if smooth shifts were "bad" then there is no way that the transmission could get this kind of mileage. What you don't want is long shifts.... As long as the shifts get quicker with more throttle, you are fine. I build all of my units to shift smooth at part throttle and firmer with more throttle. This will give you the best in terms of durability. A good quality shift is almost imperceptible.

07-14-2008, 08:50 PM	#9
thebigcheez (E)THUG 4 LyFe Status: Offline Join Date: Jul 2008 Member ID: 92516 Pics: My Gallery Location: Leander, TX Posts: 63	Re: Are smooth shifts bad for your tranny? good questions and legit answers

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode