Hey all, I'm currently tearing down the 46RE out of my 1999 Ram. I'm following this thread along with the FSM.

I've gotten to where I need to remove the rear band and associated hardware, but I absolutely cannot get the reaction pin out. The manual says, "Remove rear band adjusting lever, reaction lever, and pin," and rocky_mtn_ram seemed to have no issue getting it out in his build. The pin for the front one just slid out and I've tried a bit of heat (not much) along with a small socket and hammer, as well as soaking it overnight in Aero Kroil. It's hard to get a good hit from the inside of the case because space is just too tight. It seems that going from the outside in would be easier, but since neither the FSM nor the build thread does it that way I'm assuming there's a reason. Does anyone know any tricks to getting this thing to budge?

Thanks!

 

Your overdrive unit has to be removed then take a couple long 1/4" drive extensions and the pin will push out easily. Push from the inside outward. If need be, lightly tap the extensions with a hammer and the pin will slide right out.

 

Is your issue removing the 1/4" drive square plug from the case?

 

That's what I was afraid of hearing. I've got the O/D off and all of the "guts" (drums, planetaries, etc.) out except for the stuff for the rear band. I just can't get it to move. A friend of mine suggested using a couple of bolts and a sleeve nut to help "press" it out. This is the picture he sent me, I can't make a trip to the hardware store until the morning.

That's going to be my next attempt, but since I don't have anything else going on tonight I'm open to suggestions that might save me a 30 minute one-way trip to Home Depot for a few nuts and bolts

 

Ok, pull the band out first. Squeeze the ends together a little bit and there is a small strut that you can wiggle out. Then spin the band slightly and pull the band out.

There is just a bunch of crap in there and the end might be slightly rusted in. Spray some pb blaster or wd-40. Then tap it out like I mentioned earlier. I usually use 2 11 inch long 1/4" extensions and tap it lightly a few times to knock it loose

 

The pin will only come out 1 way, make sure your pushing it out so that the end from your 2nd picture comes outward first.

 

That did it! I had been trying to hammer it with the case lying upside-down (going through the hole in the case where the pan bolts to). Flipping it bellhousing-up allowed me to see that there's enough room to get to the pin from the top through the bellhousing exactly as you said. It was still a tight fit but I got it out, thank you so much!