I have a bolt on a4 car with a yank ss3600. i remember reading a while ago how shift kits were not a good idea on the 4l60e. my transmission is stock other than the converter/cooler. what are the pros and cons of a shift kit?

 

a properly installed shift kit set up moderatley in a good trans can exstend its life , The reason you hear about them killing a trans is either they were installed wrong.Set up too agressivly,Or installed in and attempt to fix and already failing trans -(This one happens alot)

 

i know i have always been told to use one washer when using the Transgo shift kits. anything else might be to aggressive and cause damage.

 

I dont use any.

 

I do not use any washers on any 4L60E I build. Not necessary, and only make the part throttle shifts firmer, which is harder on the entire gear train, dangerous in the rain, etc., and the biggest reason, when a women rides along, they hate it. TransGo added the washers years ago when they were getting complaints that the 1-2 part throttle shifts were too smooth. Instead of sticking to what they knew worked, they gave in and added them. But if you talk to anyone in the tech dept of TransGo, they will tell you to avoid them. The idea of accumulation is to get the "best of both worlds", smooth part throttle shifts and the shifts getting firmer with more throttle. Whenever GM, Ford, or Mopar offered a HD or Hi-Performance transmission, they "always" worked with accumulation to achieve this the "best of both worlds". TransGo gets blamed a lot for their kit not saving a transmission that is almost gone, having problems to start with, install incorrectly, etc. The transmission must be in good shape to start with. By the way I have seen many 4L60E's go over 200,000 miles, and if smooth part throttle shifts were damaging.......

 

The only shift kit that I have used to date was an SLP shift module that I had to wire into the computer. It shifted nice a firm in every gear, always harder when the tranny hadn't warmed up yet but smoothed out to where it was perfect once it did. As long as you have tires with good tread and your not jumping on the throttle too hard you won't have problems in the rain. Anyone who wasn't into cars that went for a ride in my car always would ask me if there was something wrong with it because it shifted so firm. I said no... there is something definitly right with it!