Fresh rebuilt 4l60e question
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Installing the pump can rip a teflon ring, especially if the builder did not keep the rings "resized" until the last minute.
Another possibility, is that the area inside the reverse drum where the teflon rings run was very worn and the reverse drum was not replaced.
When rough, a few hundred miles could wear out the teflon rings.
Do you know if the reverse drum was replaced?
Did you or a shop rebuild the trans?
Installing the pump can rip a teflon ring, especially if the builder did not keep the rings "resized" until the last minute.
Another possibility, is that the area inside the reverse drum where the teflon rings run was very worn and the reverse drum was not replaced.
When rough, a few hundred miles could wear out the teflon rings.
Do you know if the reverse drum was replaced?
Did you or a shop rebuild the trans?
I did the rebuild and didnt replace the drum so looks like ill be replacing it
(I bought this trans off CL for $75 because it had no reverse. No surprise.)

Notice that not only is the bushing extremely worn, but the silver area between the bushings is worn too; this is where the teflon seals run and that area needs to be smooth as glass.
Assuming this is the problem and you replace the reverse drum, you might consider getting a wide band too.
To confirm the problem:
As you remove the pump, input drum and reverse drum, reassemble them upside down for an air test. I suspect the reverse test will leak air big time.
(This assumes the teflon rings are not obviously ruined.)
Then retest after making any fixes.
Other reasons reverse might fail:
1. Reverse piston seal leak.
2. Bellville plate installed upside down.
3. Leaking or mis-assembled boost valve (as Vince mentioned).
Since you had reverse at first, and then it died during normal driving, I suspect it is the reverse drum and/or teflon seals.
It is expensive at the local auto stores ($8/quart); my (very) friendly local trans shop sold me a case of 12 quarts at their cost of $48.
Since I experiment a lot and want to reuse nearly-new fluid as much as possible, I first pump out the existing fluid through the dipstick with a cheap hand pump into a spotlessly clean 1 gallon jug. (e.g. windshield washer fluid or even milk jug). I get about 3-1/2 quarts out that way. I have a drain plug on my pan; I drain into a very clean pan and get another 3-4 quarts out that way. I immediately pour that into another jug. This way no bugs or dirt get into the the fluid to be reused.
Its hard to save the remaining fluid; I'm happy when I don't spill the converter's fluid on my head.
It is expensive at the local auto stores ($8/quart); my (very) friendly local trans shop sold me a case of 12 quarts at their cost of $48.
Since I experiment a lot and want to reuse nearly-new fluid as much as possible, I first pump out the existing fluid through the dipstick with a cheap hand pump into a spotlessly clean 1 gallon jug. (e.g. windshield washer fluid or even milk jug). I get about 3-1/2 quarts out that way. I have a drain plug on my pan; I drain into a very clean pan and get another 3-4 quarts out that way. I immediately pour that into another jug. This way no bugs or dirt get into the the fluid to be reused.
Its hard to save the remaining fluid; I'm happy when I don't spill the converter's fluid on my head.









