ok I was reading my Haynes manual for 89 to 98 chevrolet siverados and ck1500s about changing my tranny fluid plus filter.

now i know how to do it 16 bolts loosent one side all the way the other a little let it drain out take the pan scrape the gasket off clean the pan repalace with new gasket put new filter in with o ring scew cover back on fill with fluid.

I got 2 questions number one the Haynes automotive manual states you have to unscew the center transmision bolt and place a block of wood under your pan and give it a little lift then place a block of wood in between the frane and center tranny.

Now i went under my truck and i cant find any reason to do any of that. it looks like there is alluminum sides to catch the pan when it is lowered though about 3 to 3.5 inches lower then the pan.

Shouldnt i be able just to loosesn all the pan bolts and take down the pan that way. Maybe with a litle manuvering around them sides?

And im guessing that the O ring for the filter will just fit arond the filter end all the way then push up into where it goes snug.?

 

I have a 93 and a 99 on one of them, i think the 93, i have to take the center transmission mount bold out to get to the bolts. my other two chevys i can just take the pan down. if you can take the pan down with out messing with it go ahead and do it. i have ran into a few instances where haynes had me do a few steps that did not need done.

 

it just makes it a little easier to get to the back bolts and to get the pan out but if you think you can get it with out it go for it i never pullen mine

 

I have personally seen a 4l60e transmission go 230+k miles without ever changing the fluid. I have always heard of just taking the bolts out and dropping the pan down. Haynes might just add a little extra for the case when someone might have to do all the steps. It's better to have too many steps and not have to do them all than to have to few steps and not know what to do.

 

I am also having an issue with my 97 chevy silverado truck, I want to change the filter and fluid in it but cannot drop the pan due to the cross bar with a center bolt. How do I get at these last few bolts? Please give some advice on this. Thanks

 

2x2's you have to lift the pan if you don't own a 1/4" wobbly; 4x4's you don't.

Allan

 

Ok I did some more checking from different mechanics and they told me that I had to reomove the engine mounting bolts to be able to lift the transmission up enough to clear the cross bar and remove the last few bolts. Has anyone ever had to do this on their truck?