How to Remove an Automatic Rear Wheel Drive Transmission

Removing and installing a transmission is the same for all rear-wheel-drive vehicles, with a few minor exceptions. Some, not all, early model transmissions have a kick-down cable on the right side of the transmission, that is attached to the throttle linkage. This was virtually eliminated on late-model vehicles. Late-model transmissions will have electrical connectors for the speed sensor and neutral safety switch. This is not a job for the inexperienced. It is slightly technical and the parts are heavy enough to be dangerous if not done properly.

Things You'll Need

• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Ratchet
• Set of sockets
• Extension
• Universal
• Hammer
• Set of wrenches
• Pliers
• Common screwdriver
• Drain pan

Instructions

1. Block the front wheels with blocks of wood or anything suitable. Place the transmission in neutral. Open the hood and look to see if there is a kick-down cable -- known as a TV cable -- connected to the throttle linkage. If there is, it will be a second cable below the throttle cable. Remove the transmission kick-down cable from the throttle linkage. Remove the negative battery cable from the battery using a wrench.

2. Raise the vehicle with the floor jack and place jack stands under the subframe. Make sure the vehicle is high enough to remove the transmission from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle so it rests on the stands and remove the jack.

3. Place the drain pan under the transmission pan. Remove the bolts in the pan and drain the transmission fluid. Replace the pan when finished draining. Remove the four nuts or bolts and nuts holding the driveshaft to the pinion yoke. Some pinion yokes use C-bolts with nuts and others use straps with bolts and nuts.

4. Pry the universal out of the pinion yoke and lower the rear of the driveshaft. Pull it out of the transmission tail housing and lay it aside. Remove all the wire connectors if any from the transmission. Remove the gearshift linkage from the gearshift arm on the left side of the transmission using a wrench.

5. Unscrew the speedometer cable connector on the left side tail-housing. Remove the two transmission cooler lines on the right side of the transmission with a wrench. Remove the starter bolts with a socket and ratchet, and pull the starter out. Leave the wires attached, if possible. If not, use a wrench and remove the large, red positive wire and the small S-terminal wire from the solenoid.

6. Remove the torque converter cover from between the rear of the oil pan and front lower part of the bellhousing. This will expose the torque converter bolts. Remove the three bolts and nuts securing the torque converter to the flexplate using a socket and wrench.

7. Place the floor jack under the center of the transmission oil pan and raise it enough to begin to support the weight of the transmission. Remove the two bolts securing the transmission mount to the cross-member using a socket. Remove the two bolts and nuts on both sides of the cross-member where it attaches to the frame using a socket and wrench.

8. Raise the transmission enough to twist the cross-member and remove it from the top of the frame rail. Lower the transmission enough to access all the bolts in the bellhousing. Remove the bolt in the bellhousing on the upper right side securing the dipstick to the housing. Place the screwdriver under the upper support bracket and tap it with a hammer gently to pop it out of the transmission.

9. Remove the bellhousing bolts, starting at the top and leaving the last two lowest bolts in the housing. Raise the transmission slightly so it is relatively level. Make absolutely sure that it is well supported on the floor jack. Keep in mind it is nose-heavy because of the torque converter. When you remove the last two bolts, you are going to own the transmission. When it comes loose, keep a hand on the bellhousing to balance it on the floor jack. If it starts to fall or slide off it's a good bet you won't be able to get it back on. You can't do anything but let it drop, possibly damaging the transmission or worse, yourself. It is a good idea to get a helper to lower it while you balance it. Remove the last two bolts. Pull back gently on the tail-housing to pull it off the centering studs on the engine. It may be necessary to pry it a little with a screwdriver.

10. Install the transmission by first making sure the torque converter is all the way back on the input shaft. This is a common mistake. The converter should be at least an inch farther back than the front edge of the bellhousing. If it is not back all the way because the transmission was tipped and it slid forward a little and the transmission is installed, tightening the bolts will compress the converter and surely crack the bellhousing.

11. Raise the transmission and push it on the engine over the side alignment studs. Insert the bolts and loosely tighten them. Place your fingers under the flexplate and see if you can rotate the torque converter. If so, it is all the way back so turn the converter to align the holes with the flexplate and insert the bolts and nuts and tighten securely.

12. Install the dipstick and insert a bolt in the support bracket on the bellhousing and tighten it firmly. Tighten all the bellhousing bolts. Raise the transmission. Install the cross-member and tighten the bolts. Lower the transmission and install the two transmission mount bolts and tighten them firmly.

13. Install the driveshaft by pushing the engine side yoke into the tail-housing, lifting the rear of the driveshaft and placing the universal joint into the pockets in the pinion yoke. Install the bolts and tighten them firmly. Install the gearshift linkage, the electrical wiring plugs and the speedometer cable on the left side. Install and tighten the transmission cooler lines on the right side. Feed the kick-down cable up behind the intake manifold so you can reach it from the top, under the hood.

14. Install the torque converter cover. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Install the kick-down cable to the throttle linkage. Fill the transmission with 7 quarts of transmission fluid to start with. Start the engine and run it through the gears several times. With the engine running and transmission in Park, continue to fill the transmission to the proper level.

Tips & Warnings

• Dispose of the transmission fluid in an appropriate manner. Most auto parts stores have disposal tanks for transmission fluid, oil and antifreeze.