Towing wobble

[Geotrash]

I’m pretty sure I have the 4l60 in mine. I haven’t looked to be sure. So u don’t have to take the whole axle out? Just the internals outta the axle? I will try to find one. Is there a weak link in the 4l60?

You're right, you have a 4L60E.

Regarding the axle upgrade: No - you need to take the whole unit, differential, brakes, and all from a 2WD Escalade or 2WD Denali.

 

[Foggy]

Well, Your 4L60E IS a weak link... they are not built for heavy towing...
and never in 4th gear (towing).. You'll have to slow down and do 3rd gear for
towing : it's your 1:1 gear ratio in the trans..
That being said, that trans CAN be built to hold lots of power and weight...
But in stock form they are pretty weak....
I'd worry about it before the rear axle biting the dust. Just make sure to service the rear
axle and be smart about it

 

[Geotrash]

Well, Your 4L60E IS a weak link... they are not built for heavy towing...
and never in 4th gear (towing).. You'll have to slow down and do 3rd gear for
towing : it's your 1:1 gear ratio in the trans..
That being said, that trans CAN be built to hold lots of power and weight...
But in stock form they are pretty weak....
I'd worry about it before the rear axle biting the dust. Just make sure to service the rear
axle and be smart about it

+1

 

[steveoe]

Gotcha I was reading somewhere else about towing in 3rd gear with a 4l60. If I swapped to a 6l80 would I be able too? Or would I have to replace half the wiring harness. I figured the trans module would have to be replaced as well. I’m gonna start looking for a 14 bolt rear end now. Do they have 373s in the Escalade or denalis?

 

[Foggy]

It would be very cost prohibitive to switch transmissions...very $$$.... not worth it.
You won't find a bolt in rear assembly with 3.73.. It'll be 3.42 is all i've ever found.
Remember, you have to match front and rear gear ratios.
Just have your 4L60E "built" for your application. You'll be able to tow in 4th
if it's built correctly.

 

[intheburbs]

Damn I didn’t know they could tow that much weight.

They can't.

Still have weak semifloater axles, weak transmission, weak frame and weak half-ton brakes. All the engine and cooling mods don't change those facts.

Personally, I think the semifloater rear is the weakest link. The 2001 in my sig has 320k miles, original engine and 4l60, but is wearing rear axle number 4 because I was towing heavy things and broke it. Multiple times.

The 10.5" free floater rear axle in my 2500 Suburban is rated to 8600 lbs by American Axle. That's DOUBLE the rating of a half-ton axle. My 2500 has a 9900-lb hyrdroboost braking system. The half-tons have inadequate 7200-lb brakes.

I tow an 8600-lb trailer with my 2500. And that puts me at my max weight ratings. Towing anything near that with a half-ton SUV is insanity.

 

[Geotrash]

This guy really pushed the limits of the half-ton platform:

Info: - My Upfit Build Story

www.dieselplace.com

 

[steveoe]

This guy really pushed the limits of the half-ton platform:

Info: - My Upfit Build Story

www.dieselplace.com

That’s awesome! It would be cool if they did put the old duramax in these suvs. Hey did a lot of work though that’s still awesome.

 

[steveoe]

It would be very cost prohibitive to switch transmissions...very $$$.... not worth it.
You won't find a bolt in rear assembly with 3.73.. It'll be 3.42 is all i've ever found.
Remember, you have to match front and rear gear ratios.
Just have your 4L60E "built" for your application. You'll be able to tow in 4th
if it's built correctly.

Damn I was hoping it was just a control module I would have to switch out with the bigger trans. So the rear only came in 3.42?

 

[intheburbs]

Just have your 4L60E "built" for your application. You'll be able to tow in 4th
if it's built correctly.

Why would you want to tow in 4th? Especially if you're towing super-heavy?

Look at the construction of the transmission. Trace back its predecessors and you'll see it was originally a 3-speed and then evolved to a 4-speed when GM added overdrive by putting in a small planetary gearset. 3rd gear is a 1:1 drive ratio. 4th gear is a 0.69 drive ratio.

If you're towing in 3rd, the transmission has minimal stress; it's simply acting as a pass-through. The power is being transmitted through the strongest part of the transmission.

If you're towing in 4th, now you're transmitting all the power/torque through that small set of planetaries, AND they're having to multiply that torque as well because of the reduced drive ratio.

Personally, I'd rather send the power through the strongest part of a stock transmission than the weakest part of a built transmission.

But, then again, what do I know? I only have 325k miles on my weak, POS 4L60.