A shift kit is a great way to improve the performance of your 4l60e transmission, but there are a number of things to consider before installing one. When most people think of installing a shift kit, they have the notion that their car will have violent and jarring shifts. While this can be achieved if you desired, the fact of the matter is that a shift kit in your 4l60e will not only benefit you, but improve the way the transmission works.
What Does A Shift Kit Do For A 4l60e?
Adding a shift kit to your 4l60e equipped car, truck, or SUV will help correct and improve the lazy shifting that the 4l60e is somewhat known for in factory form. Properly installed shift kits will make all shifts more firm and quick without making it feel like you got hit by a train. Similar to a corvette servo upgrade, this may help prolong your transmission’s lifespan by reducing the amount of slip between shifts. This is highly recommended in performance or towing applications.
What’s the Best Shift Kit For A 4l60e
With how common the 4l60e is and the popularity of retrofitting classic cars with modern transmissions, there are a number of 4l60e shift kit options.
The most popular 4l60e shift kits include:
TransGo 4l60eHD2
TransGo is arguably the leader in the shift kit game, and rightfully so. Their kits are extremely high quality and produce reliable results without breaking the bank. The kit includes all the parts you’ll need for a few different transmission shift improvements ranging from an upgraded stock feel to what users may call a race oriented feel.
The TransGo 4l60e HD2 has complete instructions for the DIY user that are easy to follow.
TransGo HD2 4l60e Shift Kit Reviews
Sonnax Performance Pack
The Sonnax Performance Pack (HP-4l60e-01) is more of a “shift improvement” kit as opposed to a traditional shift kit. However, this does not mean it is any less effective. The Sonnax Performance Pack is a great upgrade for any heavy duty or performance oriented vehicle. All of the components in the HP-4l60e-01 Performance Pack work in conjunction to fine tune transmission line pressures, accumulator and shift calibration.
Overall, the Sonnax Performance Pack is a great way to improve the performance of your 4l60e with quicker, more firm shifts under any load.
Sonnax Performance Pack Reviews
4l60e Shift Kit Installation
When it comes to installing a shit kit in your 4l60e, it can be tricky for someone whos never done the install before. While there are detailed instructions, things can still be confusing. However, there are plenty of guides and resources available to help you correctly install your shift kit.
There are various components that can be used to make the kit work differently depending how you set it up.
This video does a great job of going over the TransGo HD2 kit, and how to properly install it in your 4l60e.
4l60e Shift Kit Before & After
Shift Kit FAQ's
While the purpose of a shift kit is to improve how firm the shifts are, there is the potential for “harder” shifts. A high quality kit will improve the shift feel without making a harsher shift. However, there are kits out there that will make the transmission shift very hard, almost too hard. These kits may do more harm than good, so be sure to do your research before buying or installing a shift kit.
Since a shift kits purpose is to have quicker, more firm shifts, a transmission in a race oriented application may make the car quicker with a properly calibrated and installed shift kit due to the reduced delay of the shifts.
A shift kit is designed to improve the shifts your transmission makes, but there is a risk that a shift kit that’s improperly installed may hurt your transmission. However, a properly installed and calibrated shift kit will do no direct damage to your transmission. Your right foot on the other hand…that might hurt your transmission over time.
Shift kits can have various feelings, but the commonality of all shift kits is a more crisp feeling shift. Some kits may feel like you’re being hit by a train during a shift, and others just take the “laziness” out of shifts.
Installation of a shift kit in your 4l60e can vary depending on your skill level and experience. For a professional who deals with the 4l60e on a regular basis, installation can take an hour or 2. For the average DIY weekend warrior, installation can take anywhere from a few hours to all day. Depending on your mechanical ability and familiarity with transmission internals, a shift kit installation my be something you let the professionals do for for you.
If your transmission has any slipping issues before installation of a shift kit, odds are that there are other issues at hand. A shift kit will not directly fix a slipping transmission that has pre-existing issues such as work out clutches.
