GAT

Is it a pretty easy task to change my own tranny fluid? Truck has 103000 miles and has not been touched.

Ape0r

Its a real PITA. I worked at a Chevy dealer last summer and man, this was my least favorite thing to do. Drain plugs are impossible to remove, and you get a bath when you take the pan down.

If you don't mind a bath, go for it. Personally... I'm going to pay someone else to do it when the time comes =).

At 103k there may not be any point though.. I've heard that if you don't do it by 50k, to leave it alone. I'm sure others have different opinions.

The process is simple enough:

1. Bend shift linkage out of the way (some remove it, but its easier just to bend it out of the way)
2. Remove pan (~15-20 bolts)
3. Change filter (easy, pulls right off)
4. Clean off old gasket
5. Install new gasket, reinstall pan, dump in 4-5 quarts
6. Hope your trans doesn't 'splode instantly =)

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'04 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3L 3.73 G80

GAT

Gee you make it sound so inviting ha. I will talk to my mechanic and let him do it. Thank for the reply

firedawg81

Ah it isnt that bad. And your looking at $60 dollars or so and an hour or two of your time compared to $150-300

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99 Silverado z71 LT

6" tough country lift, 35" cooper discoverer tires with 18" amp flathead rims, K&N series 77 cool air intake

GAT

Wow is this your rig??? Nice darn truck! I thought mine looked good, yours is right on, not over done...Only thing I will add to mine is running lights on the cap.

MT-2500

Some harder than others.
I do not think yours is real hard.
But you have to watch and not knock off the electrical solenoids plug on wires.
The back of the pan is a tight fit against crossmember on some.
Some will need the transmission raised up or crossmember slid back a little.
Reuse the reusable hard rubber molded pan gasket if it has it.
It should have been done sooner but do it now.
If you do not do it your transmission will fail later.
People that keep them serviced have a lot less trqansmission trouble.
MT

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

firedawg81

Hey thanks bud, I really love my truck..I dont love the mpg with the gas prices now days though but i can deal with it. Im about to drop a heavier duty Rear Dif really soon. Those bigger tires are a little rough for the small stock dif.

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99 Silverado z71 LT

6" tough country lift, 35" cooper discoverer tires with 18" amp flathead rims, K&N series 77 cool air intake

MT-2500

Good grief.
Why bend linkage?
Why throw away a 25$ good re usable oil pan gasket?
We are not working on a old junker here.
This is a late model GM be nice to it and let it have a new filter and some fresh fluid and it will be your buddie for life.
MT

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

Ape0r

1. Faster to bend it than to mess around with the torx bolts holding it on.
2. Gasket is definitely NOT reusable on a 4L60-E - if it were, then why would it be included with the filter?

/Funny how junky old Lumina's have reusable gaskets, but the new trucks don't.
//You definitely don't have to use a wire wheel or grinder to get off reusable gaskets
///Slashy

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'04 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3L 3.73 G80

MT-2500

Ther is no need to fool with the shift linkage.
Most OEM 4L60E transmissions have the resuable molded hard rubber gasket un less some dummie has throwed it away the last time it was serviced.
The cheap aftermarket kits throw a cheap pan gasket in with there oil filter kit.
But do not even use it unless you have to. They are crap.
Go to the dealer and get the OEM good stuff.
MT

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

Ape0r

I worked at a dealer last summer. I am speaking of the OEM stuff. AC Delco. Filter and gasket come shrink wrapped against a piece of cardboard. Did trans fluid changes on three or four NBS trucks/SUVs.. didn't see a single reusable gasket. One only had 35k on it. Its possible they changed for '05.. but I doubt it..? All of the cars I worked on definitely did have the reusable gasket.. man that was NICE!! Such a PITA to shave off the old gasket...

Next thing that you're doing to tell me is that the diff gasket I spent 2 hrs grinding off with a dremel two months ago was reusable! Sure do miss the air driven wire wheel we had at that dealer when I get to doing this crap..

..and if you still don't believe me, see

http://gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/229/25/

and



and



/Really wish I had something better to do
//Gave the gf my cold.. now she doesn't want to go out tonight
///Slashy

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'04 Silverado 1500 4x4 5.3L 3.73 G80

MT-2500

If they do not have one git one and put one on there and it will be there for the next time.
Mt

__________________
Remember proper testing gives us the answer to many problems.
MT

guumbah

I've heard the same thing. My question is, do you do it around 50K even if the fluid looks and smells perfect?

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Blue Bowtie

The drain plugs are not that bad if you plan ahead and apply some penetrating oil to the plug and area a few days before you plan to drain it. It's certainly worth working on a bit to avoid the mess of dropping an edge of the pan without having a very large drain pan.

pshadwick

I tried to do mine a couple of weeks ago. I gave up and reinstalled the pan as I couldnt get it past the shift linkage, couldnt get to the torx bolts to remove the linkage, and was unsure about bending it.
So is it safe to bend the linkage? No concern about cracking the case?
...Paul