Dodge Durango (DN). Manual — part 61

(4) Remove spring retainer and clutch spring. Note

position of retainer on spring for assembly reference.

(5) Remove clutch piston from clutch retainer.

Remove piston by rotating it up and out of retainer.

(6) Remove seals from clutch piston and clutch

retainer hub. Discard both seals as they are not reus-
able.

ASSEMBLY

(1) Soak clutch discs in transmission fluid while

assembling other clutch parts.

(2) Install new seals on piston and in hub of

retainer. Be sure lip of each seal faces interior of
clutch retainer.

(3) Lubricate lips of piston and retainer seals with

liberal quantity of Mopar

t Door Ease. Then lubricate

retainer hub, bore and piston with light coat of trans-
mission fluid.

(4) Install clutch piston in retainer (Fig. 211). Use

twisting motion to seat piston in bottom of retainer.

CAUTION: Never push the clutch piston straight in.
This will fold the seals over causing leakage and
clutch slip.

(5) Position spring in clutch piston (Fig. 212).
(6) Position spring retainer on top of piston spring

(Fig.

213).

Make

sure

retainer

is

properly

installed. Small raised tabs should be facing
upward. Semicircular lugs on underside of
retainer are for positioning retainer in spring.

(7) Compress piston spring and retainer with Com-

pressor Tool C-3575-A (Fig. 210). Then install new
snap ring to secure spring retainer and spring.

(8) Install clutch plates and discs (Fig. 209).

Install steel plate then disc until all plates and discs

Fig. 210 Compressing Front Clutch Piston Spring

1 – FRONT CLUTCH SPRING
2 – COMPRESSOR TOOL C-3575–A
3 – RETAINER SNAP RING
4 – SPRING RETAINER

Fig. 211 Front Clutch Piston Installation

1 – CLUTCH PISTON
2 – FRONT CLUTCH RETAINER

Fig. 212 Clutch Piston Spring Installation

1 – RETAINER
2 – CLUTCH SPRING
3 – PISTON

Fig. 213 Correct Spring Retainer Installed Position

1 – SMALL TABS ON RETAINER FACE UPWARD

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42/44RE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

are installed. The front clutch uses 4 clutch discs and
plates in a 42RE transmission. In a 44RE transmis-
sion 5 discs and plates are used.

(9) Install pressure plate and waved snap ring

(Fig. 209).

Front clutch clearance specifications for the 42RE

and 44RE transmission are the same.

Clearance should be 1.70 to 3.40 mm (0.067 to

0.134 in.). If clearance is incorrect, clutch discs,
plates, pressure plates and snap ring may have to be
changed.

REAR CLUTCH

DISASSEMBLY

(1) Remove fiber thrust washer from forward side

of clutch retainer.

(2) Remove input shaft front/rear seal rings.

(3) Remove selective clutch pack snap ring (Fig.

214).

(4) Remove top pressure plate, clutch discs, steel

plates, bottom pressure plate and wave snap ring
and wave spring (Fig. 214).

(5) Remove clutch piston with rotating motion.
(6) Remove and discard piston seals.
(7) Remove input shaft snap-ring (Fig. 215). It

may be necessary to press the input shaft in slightly
to relieve tension on the snap-ring

(8) Press input shaft out of retainer with shop

press and suitable size press tool. Use a suitably
sized press tool to support the retainer as close to the
input shaft as possible.

ASSEMBLY

(1) Soak clutch discs in transmission fluid while

assembling other clutch parts.

Fig. 214 Rear Clutch Components

1 – PISTON SPRING
2 – REAR CLUTCH PISTON
3 – CLUTCH PISTON SEALS
4 – OUTPUT SHAFT THRUST WASHER (METAL)
5 – INPUT SHAFT SNAP RING
6 – REAR CLUTCH RETAINER
7 – INPUT SHAFT
8 – REAR CLUTCH THRUST WASHER (FIBER)
9 – CLUTCH PACK SNAP RING (SELECTIVE)

10 – TOP PRESSURE PLATE
11 – CLUTCH DISCS (4)
12 – BOTTOM PRESSURE PLATE
13 – WAVE SPRING
14 – CLUTCH PLATES (3)
15 – RETAINER SEAL RING
16 – SHAFT REAR SEAL RING (PLASTIC)
17 – SHAFT FRONT SEAL RING (TEFLON)

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42/44RE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

21 - 111

DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(2) Install new seal rings on clutch retainer hub

and input shaft if necessary (Fig. 216).

(a) Be sure clutch hub seal ring is fully seated in

groove and is not twisted.
(3) Lubricate splined end of input shaft and clutch

retainer with transmission fluid. Then press input
shaft into retainer. Use a suitably sized press tool to
support retainer as close to input shaft as possible.

(4) Install input shaft snap-ring (Fig. 215).
(5) Invert retainer and press input shaft in oppo-

site direction until snap-ring is seated.

(6) Install new seals on clutch piston. Be sure lip

of each seal faces interior of clutch retainer.

(7) Lubricate lip of piston seals with generous

quantity of Mopar

t Door Ease. Then lubricate

retainer hub and bore with light coat of transmission
fluid.

(8) Install clutch piston in retainer. Use twisting

motion to seat piston in bottom of retainer. A thin
strip of plastic (about 0.020” thick), can be used to
guide seals into place if necessary.

CAUTION: Never push the clutch piston straight in.
This will fold the seals over causing leakage and
clutch slip. In addition, never use any type of metal
tool to help ease the piston seals into place. Metal
tools will cut, shave, or score the seals.

(9) Install piston spring in retainer and on top of

piston (Fig. 219). Concave side of spring faces down-
ward (toward piston).

(10) Install wave spring in retainer (Fig. 219). Be

sure spring is completely seated in retainer groove.

(11) Install

bottom

pressure

plate

(Fig.

214).

Ridged side of plate faces downward (toward piston)
and flat side toward clutch pack.

Fig. 215 Removing/Installing Input Shaft Snap-Ring

1 – REAR CLUTCH RETAINER
2 – INPUT SHAFT SNAP RING
3 – SNAP RING PLIERS

Fig. 216 Rear Clutch Retainer And Input Shaft Seal

Ring Installation

1 – REAR CLUTCH RETAINER HUB SEAL RING
2 – INPUT SHAFT SEAL RINGS

Fig. 217 Input Shaft Seal Ring Identification

1 – PLASTIC REAR SEAL RING
2 – TEFLON FRONT SEAL RING (SQUEEZE RING TOGETHER

SLIGHTLY BEFORE INSTALLATION FOR BETTER FIT)

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)

(12) Install first clutch disc in retainer on top of

bottom pressure plate. Then install a clutch plate fol-
lowed by a clutch disc until entire clutch pack is
installed (4 discs and 3 plates are required) (Fig.
214).

(13) Install top pressure plate.
(14) Install selective snap ring. Be sure snap ring

is fully seated in retainer groove.

(15) Using a suitable gauge bar and dial indicator,

measure clutch pack clearance (Fig. 220).

(a) Position gauge bar across the clutch drum

with the dial indicator pointer on the pressure
plate (Fig. 220).

(b) Using two small screw drivers, lift the pres-

sure plate and release it.

(c) Zero the dial indicator.
(d) Lift the pressure plate until it contacts the

snap-ring and record the dial indicator reading.
Clearance should be 0.559 - 0.914 mm (0.022 -

0.036 in.). If clearance is incorrect, steel plates, discs,
selective snap ring and pressure plates may have to
be changed.

The selective snap ring thicknesses are:
• .107–.109 in.

• .098–.100 in.

• .095–.097 in.

• .083–.085 in.

• .076–.078 in.

• .071–.073 in.

• .060–.062 in.
(16) Coat rear clutch thrust washer with petro-

leum jelly and install washer over input shaft and
into clutch retainer (Fig. 221). Use enough petroleum
jelly to hold washer in place.

(17) Set rear clutch aside for installation during

final assembly.

Fig. 218 Pressing Input Shaft Into Rear Clutch

Retainer

1 – INPUT SHAFT
2 – REAR CLUTCH RETAINER
3 – PRESS RAM

Fig. 219 Piston Spring/Wave Spring Position

1 – REAR CLUTCH RETAINER
2 – PISTON SPRING
3 – WAVE SPRING
4 – CLUTCH PISTON

Fig. 220 Checking Rear Clutch Pack Clearance

1 – DIAL INDICATOR
2 – PRESSURE PLATE
3 – SNAP RING
4 – STAND
5 – REAR CLUTCH
6 – GAUGE BAR

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42/44RE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY (Continued)