Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual page 2227

21 - 592 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 46RE
REAR CLUTCH (Continued)
OPERATION
To apply the clutch, pressure is applied between
the clutch retainer and piston. The fluid pressure is
provided by the oil pump, transferred through the
control valves and passageways, and enters the
clutch through the hub of the reaction shaft support.
With pressure applied between the clutch retainer
and piston, the piston moves away from the clutch
retainer and compresses the clutch pack. This action
applies the clutch pack, allowing torque to flow
through the input shaft into the driving discs, and
into the clutch plates and pressure plate that are
lugged to the clutch retainer. The waved spring is
used to cushion the application of the clutch pack.
The snap-ring is selective and used to adjust clutch
pack clearance.
When pressure is released from the piston, the
spring returns the piston to its fully released position
and disengages the clutch. The release spring also
helps to cushion the application of the clutch assem-
bly. When the clutch is in the process of being
released by the release spring, fluid flows through a
vent and one-way ball-check-valve located in the pis-
1 - REAR CLUTCH RETAINER
2 - TORLON™ SEAL RINGS
3 - INPUT SHAFT
4 - PISTON RETAINER
5 - OUTPUT SHAFT THRUST WASHER
6 - INNER PISTON SEAL
7 - PISTON SPRING
8 - PRESSURE PLATE
9 - CLUTCH DISCS
10 - SNAP-RING (SELECTIVE)
ton. The check-valve is needed to eliminate the pos-
sibility of plate drag caused by centrifugal force
acting on the residual fluid trapped in the clutch pis-
ton retainer.
DISASSEMBLY
(1) Remove fiber thrust washer from forward side
of clutch retainer.
(2) Remove input shaft front and rear seal rings.
(3) Remove selective clutch pack snap-ring (Fig.
223).
(4) Remove the reaction plate, clutch discs, steel
plates, pressure plate, wave spring, spacer ring, and
piston spring (Fig. 223).
(5) Remove clutch piston with rotating motion.
(6) Remove and discard piston seals.
(7) Remove input shaft retaining ring. It may be
necessary to press the input shaft in slightly to
relieve tension on the retaining 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.
Fig. 223 Rear Clutch Components
11 - REACTION PLATE
12 - CLUTCH PLATES
13 - WAVE SPRING
14 - SPACER RING
15 - PISTON
16 - OUTER PISTON SEAL
17 - REAR SEAL RING
18 - FIBER THRUST WASHER
19 - RETAINING RING
BR/BE