Key Components of Your Transmission

Key Components of Your Transmission Budget Transmission DenverDo you know the key components of your transmission? Today, Budget Transmission in Centennial shares some of the basic parts, so you know what to look for if you suspect trouble. Transmissions are sort of like the beating heart of our vehicle’s engine. Without it, we would all be at a standstill, so read on to get a better understanding of what makes your car tick.

Planetary Gear Sets: This is a mechanical system that provides various forward gear ratios, as well as reverse. A basic planetary gear set is made up of a sun gear, a ring gear and two or even more planet gears that work in sync. They connect to each other through a common carrier which allows the gears to spin on shafts called “pinions.”

Clutch Packs: Alternating discs that fit inside a clutch drum of a transmission

One Way Clutch: Allows a component such as a ring gear to turn freely in one direction, but not in the other. It is kind of like a bicycle; the pedals will turn the wheel when pedaling forward but will spin free when pedaling backward.

Bands: The band is a steel strap with a friction material bonded to it on the inside surface. One end of the band is tight against the transmission case, and the other end connects to a servo. When the time is right, the hydraulic oil is sent to the servo under pressure to tighten the band around the drum which stops the drum from turning.

Hydraulic System: This uses a particular transmission fluid under pressure by an oil pump, then goes through a valve body to control the clutches and the bands, which in turn manage planetary gear sets.

Oil Pump: The oil pump, mounted to the front of the transmission case, connects directly to the hub of the torque converter housing. This provides all the oil pressure that is needed in the transmission.

Valve Body: The control center of the automatic transmission. A maze of channels and passages that directs hydraulic fluid to the many valves that activate the relevant clutch pack and band servo to shift like butter to the appropriate gear for the different driving situations.

Seals and Gaskets: Keeps the oil where it is meant to be and from leaking out onto the engine or elsewhere. Seals are usually made of neoprene; gaskets are typically made of paper, cork, rubber, silicone and soft metal.

Torque Converter: Acts as a clutch which lets the vehicle come to a stop while still running. The principle behind a torque converter can be related to blowing air from a fan that is plugged in, into a fan which is unplugged.

Governor and Modulator: Sometimes known as throttle cable, this monitors speed and throttle position, so you know when to shift a manual transmission.

Computer: Last on our list of the key components of your transmission, the computer controls shift points on newer vehicles while directing electrical solenoids to change oil flow to the proper component at the right time.

As you can see, the key components of your transmission are quite a complex and intricate part of driving. Suspect a problem with one of these parts? Stop into Budget Transmission in Centennial for a thorough inspection of what your transmission is up to. We are here to ensure that your vehicle’s transmission is always functioning at optimum performance. We look forward to your business!

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