Transmission Shudder

[Fjs0001]

Hey everyone, I’ve been reading the forum for awhile and now it’s time to join in.

I bought a 2005 Escalade AWD off craigslist to tow my other projects around town. I had it a week before the problems started. It felt like I was driving over the rumble strips on the side of the road when I was driving around 40~50 mph. It drove fine if I turned on tow mode. I checked the fluid and it looked like strawberry milk. My radiator sprung an internal leak and put water in the transmission. I replaced the radiator, added the tru cool 40k transmission cooler, new filter, and flushed the transmission. Still shuddered around 40~50 mph.

Next, I replaced the filter and torque converter with an advanced auto parts Pro King converter. I was going to buy a monster transmission converter, but advance had a 25% off online sale. Now it almost feels fixed, but I can still feel a little slipping when around 40~50 mph. I’m suspicious of the quality of the Pro King converter, but I did have water in my ATF after all. It still drives fine in tow mode.

I just ordered the corvette and superior 4th gear servos to help bump up my pressures. If that gets rid of the 40~50 mph slipping, I’m going to tow my Jeep around and see what happens.

 

[Fjs0001]

More back story. When I added the transmission cooler, I took the stock one out and let the transmission pump out the old ATF while I poured new ATF in. I did this until it stopped coming out milky. I also dropped the pan and replaced the filter. The shudder was the same.

When I replaced the torque converter, I dropped the pan again to find that it was still milky. I was hoping this time all the milk was gone. The shudder improved a lot, but still there.

This weekend I installed the corvette and superior 4th gear servos. When I pulled out the stock ones, they were gunked with white sludge. I enjoy the improved shifting, but a little shudder is still there. It never shudders when I’m giving it a lot of gas. Only when I’m holding it steady around 40~45 mph.

I’m going to have it professionally flushed since I found that white gunk. If that doesn’t get rid of the shudder, I might return the Pro King converter and buy the Monster converter.

 

[Fjs0001]

The shudder is gone! Great success! Valvoline pumped out and put back in 12 quarts. I’m thinking I used between 30~40 quarts of ATF during this whole ordeal. I drove it around for an hour and it never shuddered. It was a quart low after I got home. I put Lucas ATF conditioner in it. I definitely recommend pulling out the servos for cleaning. There was a lot of white gunk built up there.

I’ll continue driving it to work for the rest of the week and report back. If I make it through the week, then I’m going to tow my Jeep around and see what happens.

 

[Fjs0001]

Update. I was driving to work one morning and it had a small shudder. I poured some shudder stop and drove for another week without issue. My gf drove it the next day and said it did it again. I added another tube of shudder stop and drove it a week without issue. I had read on other car forms that most people use two tubes of shudder stop. Finally the day came for me to put the transmission against it's first challenge.

It did great! I drove around for about an hour going up and down hills at 70 mph. My Jeep weighs 6000lbs and I’m guessing the trailer weighs about 2000lbs. It was 60 degrees outside and the highest my transmission temperature reached was 175 degrees. I bypassed the radiator when I added the transmission cooler. I might add it back in if it gets above 200 degrees this summer.

 

[RED TAHOE LS]

Only when I’m holding it steady around 40~45 mph.

Welcome to the forum from Georgia Dawg country. Did you test it the same as your above statement ? Just curious, hope you found it.
David g...........

 

[Fjs0001]

Only when I’m holding it steady around 40~45 mph.

Welcome to the forum from Georgia Dawg country. Did you test it the same as your above statement ? Just curious, hope you found it.
David g...........

I did, but I was in tow mode. I’ve never been able to get it to shudder in tow mode.

 

[swathdiver]

Think you licked it Forrest. Just needed a good flush to get into all the nooks and crannies of the transmission.

 

[Fjs0001]

Think you licked it Forrest. Just needed a good flush to get into all the nooks and crannies of the transmission.

Well my gf just called and said it did it again. She put it in tow mode and it did it then as well. Back to the drawing board.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Well my gf just called and said it did it again. She put it in tow mode and it did it then as well. Back to the drawing board.

Maybe 3 tubes will do it..... I'm only kidding. It does seem as though you have made some progress with your methods, though.

 

[M1Gunner]

After reading all this, sounds to me like you may need to install a TCC regulator valve kit.

 

[Fjs0001]

Maybe 3 tubes will do it..... I'm only kidding. It does seem as though you have made some progress with your methods, though.

Haha, I know right? Well I’ve been driving it around a lot and can’t get it to shudder. I’m starting to think my gf is driving over bumps and freaking out. I drove over train tracks and she goes, “Right there!” At the very beginning of this when there was water in the transmission, I could put it in tow mode and it would stop shuddering. She claims it did it in tow mode, I’m thinking pot holes.

After reading all this, sounds to me like you may need to install a TCC regulator valve kit.

If I feel the shudder again, I’m going to clean the valve body and install the Transgo SK shift kit. Thank you for the tip.

 

[Fjs0001]

I’m going to take it on a weekend trip next weekend and she how it does. Crossing my fingers.

 

[Fjs0001]

I haven’t had any issues with the Caddy, so I decided to go pick up an old parts car that I had stored at my friend’s house. I drove 6 hours round trip with my 2000lb trailer. Picked up the 2800lb car without any issues. Drove 80 mph easily on the interstate. It was 78 degrees outside and I drove 55 mph on a back road up a mountain. The transmission temp never went above 180 degrees.

I’m extremely happy with how well it did.

Go Predators!

 

[Fjs0001]

Well the transmission finally bit the dust. Originally the radiator cracked and leaked water into the transmission lines. I did a few repairs and have done a lot of driving since. I’ve gone on seven long road trips and towed two cars, three hours each. I’ve also done a lot of towing around town. I drove 2 hours to go see my parents this past weekend and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I started to move until the engine rev’d high and then slammed into second hard. I stopped at another red light and the Caddy wouldn’t move at all except for reverse. Maybe I can repair it, but so far is sounds like my 1st gear clutch pack is probably toast. I did notice a whining noise coming from the transmission a week before, but it went away. Also over the last month I’ve felt like I was losing power from a dead stop, so it was probably slipping.

I’m now trying to decide if I want to swap in a 4L80e, a 6L80e, or a manual.

 

[R3cord303]

Well the transmission finally bit the dust. Originally the radiator cracked and leaked water into the transmission lines. I did a few repairs and have done a lot of driving since. I’ve gone on seven long road trips and towed two cars, three hours each. I’ve also done a lot of towing around town. I drove 2 hours to go see my parents this past weekend and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I started to move until the engine rev’d high and then slammed into second hard. I stopped at another red light and the Caddy wouldn’t move at all except for reverse. Maybe I can repair it, but so far is sounds like my 1st gear clutch pack is probably toast. I did notice a whining noise coming from the transmission a week before, but it went away. Also over the last month I’ve felt like I was losing power from a dead stop, so it was probably slipping.

I’m now trying to decide if I want to swap in a 4L80e, a 6L80e, or a manual.

I have a 4L60e in my 2007, and also had a 4L60 in my old S10, and while I really like the 4L60e, I have to admit that the 6L80e in my Grandfathers 2013 for sure makes for a quicker vehicle.