AW4 tranny upgrades
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Elizabethtown, KY
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 92 XJ (RIP)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6
AW4 tranny upgrades
Im about to pull my engine for a rebuild, and while Im at it I thought about getting the tranny rebuilt. The tranny works fine now, just dont want to pull it in the near future for a catastrophic failure. I was curious if there were any performance upgrades or known failure points that could be beefed up on this tranny? I will install a trans cooler as a performance upgrade. Not necessarily performance just longevity. Thanks in advance.
#2
CF Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Tranny cooler is one of the biggest things you can do.
Give the flexplate bolts a good snugging with some red loctite.
Maybe a fluid/filter change.
Give the flexplate bolts a good snugging with some red loctite.
Maybe a fluid/filter change.
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 HO
i have a 2000 with the AW4 and just had to replace my torque converter at 136K miles. also adding an external tranny cooler is recommended, i have a B&M. the AW4s are know for generating a lot of heat and heat is the enemy of a tranny.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Apollo, PA
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I agree with the tranny cooler. When all said and done...a tranny cooler is probably the best thing you can do to help. I had issues with mine running too hot on the highway....didn't help how I drive sometimes. But I narrowed it down to it getting too hot. So added a small tranny cooler. Picked it up free at the shop I work at. It's a Hyundai tranny cooler. To my suprise it works great. No more super hot tranny. And like I said its rather small. Most after market coolers are bigger. But works for me. Get it rebuilt...then buy a tranny cooler. You'll be fine. And your tranny wilm be very happy.
Trending Topics
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So just like a remote filter kit? Any ideas on where you are gonna mount it?
Might be astupid question but would you need to replace the filter inside the transmission still?
Might be astupid question but would you need to replace the filter inside the transmission still?
#10
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oregon Coast
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Will likely mount it near the alternator. There is no reason to change the in pan filter as it is. It's just a screen. I will likely replace everything from the trans forward.
#11
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Louisville,KY
Posts: 8,014
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
14 Posts
Model: Cherokee
There is a shift kit out there for it but that takes almost a trans rebuild to install right.But like others have said if it works good just get a trans cooler and your good to go.
#12
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,872
Received 1,526 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
#15
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1999 4.0L
good quality B&M stacked plate cooler
Wix or Magnefine 5/16 inline magnetic filter will catch any metal dust that would block up a valve or solenoid
temp gauge sender fitting, older AW4s had a fitting in the body, newer ones don't and have to be plumbed, you could do this at the same time as you're setting up the cooler fittings
there's a shift kit for the toyota transmission, also works on the AW4, pretty simple but if the trans is out you can just take it to a shop and have them do it, won't cost much
Wix or Magnefine 5/16 inline magnetic filter will catch any metal dust that would block up a valve or solenoid
temp gauge sender fitting, older AW4s had a fitting in the body, newer ones don't and have to be plumbed, you could do this at the same time as you're setting up the cooler fittings
there's a shift kit for the toyota transmission, also works on the AW4, pretty simple but if the trans is out you can just take it to a shop and have them do it, won't cost much
Last edited by ehall; 01-25-2016 at 11:53 AM.