I have a 97 with the 4L60E also and I have been in the shop a lot to get it fixed. Also anytime I drive on the highway or interstate then stop it jumps really bad from 1st to 2nd gear. Probaly will not last very much longer, but I am extremly rough on how I drive. Eventually will swap it out for a rebuilt 4L80E, I think that is the next model up and is much better. I have 76,000 miles on my tahoe and I have only had it since 49,000 miles hopefully will last at least till 100,000.

 

That tranny lasted only 60 in a used burb we bought, mine is
at about 94 and i have my fingers crossed, but the torque converter is starting to go.

Don't tow in overdrive, by teh way

 

doesn't overdrive automatically kick in?

 

I believe the owners manual states that it is ok to tow in overdrive, but this is a sure fire way to destroy the tranny!> Everyone I talked to said tow in 3rd only, never in overdrive..

 

72000 miles and my 4760E went capooie and had to get it rebuilt. Wish I would've upgraded right then rather then get a rebuild on a POS..

 

I only got about 56,000 from with the help of a heavy right foot in a really bad headwind. I had mine built to JET tranny standards and have been happy with it. I would suggest the same (either built like a JET, or a JET tranny) for the replacement. Another important thing if I remember right, is that the 4L60E has poor fluid flow to OD, so the valve body modification is important, along with a HD cooler that can handle the new high flow. At least that's one of things the guy at the shop was telling me. I got mine built to JET spec's for about 1600 or so labor and all, with a dyno test and the shift points reset for my 33's etc., plus I got a 15 month/15,000 mile warranty which is actually pretty respectable.

 

My 4L60E has lasted almost 170,000 without any problems, I asked the previous owner. I guess you just have to be easy on them. He changed the fluid regularly, when I changed the fluid a couple days ago, it was still perfectly red, not even with a brownish tint. And my old truck had a 4L60 (not E), and it was the same way... I guess I do drive like an old man most the time though.

 

39k and counting in my Tahoe. Had fluid changed at 30k (instead of recommended 50k) was as red as the day it was poured in. Don't start these horror posts, huh?

It's not nice.

I drive nice and shift it into 3rd around town if I'm running at or below 35-40mph. Seems to help the economy when I keep it outta OD in town.

Thanks for the reassurance Mike.

PS. 400,000 and counting on my SM465.

 

Our 95' HOE tranny died at 85K... 150 miles from home!!!
It's got 145K now, seems ok... But I think the fluid SHOULD be changed.
Is it possible to swap a 4L80E into a tahoe or K1500 that had a 60e? Is it longer? Therefore needing shorter D-shafts? OR wwwhat?

 

The "miles to rebuild" bell curve for the GM overdrive automatics seems to be centered at about 100,000 miles. If you are shopping for a used vehicle, you need to take this into consideration when considering the value of the vehicle. I think if you look around, you will find that overall reliability and longevity of the GM automatics is the best in the industry.

 

My 4L60E has 186k on her right now.. Still shifting great. I change the fluids regularly. Im not the easiest on it at times either... Acuallty i know several ppl around with with chevy truck that are running into 100k+ and haven't had any problems on them.

 

coming here for supoort isnt the bewt place to go...i mean this is off-road.com.....some of the people here dont exactly drive like the GM engineers planned.

 

155k and its still alive. i haven't changed the fluids in it during the whole 82k i've had it.....not sure about the maintenance prior to that.

 

I'm at about 80,000 miles on my 98. There is a TSB on the 96 and 97 models, something about a wiring problem.

I have no complaints. I changed the filter and pan oil at 50,000 and flushed the tranny with mobile 1 at about 70,000.

I have found I get worse mileage when I drive around town in 3rd and only use OD for high speeds. My biggest gripe is the 37 mph 4th gear lockup that lugs it down to 1100 rpm.

 

My 4l60e blew out 1000 miles after I rebuilt my 350 with a hot cam, headers, etc. I got to put in a whole bunch of goodies, thanks to ya'lls advice. Billet servo, 5 gear planetary gear, new shaft, etc. Hopefully she'll last a long time. By the way any one have any experience with the tranny cooler fans, I ordered a new tranny cooler with a fan to put on but I cancelled the order when I needed the money for school. My tranny overheats pretty quick when I wheel or am driving on the highway and get on it. With this hot weather coming up, I don't want to deal with constant overheating.