My trans is leaking after I dropped the pan (twice). I overtightened the first gasket (paper). The second is cork - I tightened it to the factory spec 8 ft lbs. It's starting to leak. Is there a good rubber gasket, possibly with torque limiters? Where do I find it? Thanks.

 

Use the duraprene (brown or black in color) paper type gasket (best). First before you do anything, wipe off pan, and all the area above the pan with a blue shop paper towel, wait an hour go back and wipe off area above pan with a "white" paper towel and look for a leak above the pan at dip stick tube, TV cable, manual shaft lever, speedometer, etc., till you find what is leaking & fix that. The pan rarely leaks, it is what is above the pan that causes most of the problems. I hope this helps.

 

Or you can do it the easy and smart way and smear a thing film of silicone on each side of the gasket before you put it on.

I'm a "silicone happy" meachanic. The only reason is.... I HATE leaks !

 

On "automatic" transmissions I never use silicone, if I were to use any it would be the gray type for aluminum. By the way I rarely have leaks.

 

I put silicone on the first one and it slid out.

Duraprene is a paper/rubber composite? Doesn't anyone make a permadry type pan gasket?

 

I perfer using OEM paper/fiber gasket (like Pro-built uses) and the continuous raised rail pans like used on the 4L60-E transmissions. Never had a leak w/ those. I also have very few leaks when I have to use a cork gasket, providing you torque it to the correct torque (about 14 N·m)

 

I installed mine dry and I've got no leaks.

 

Since you overtightened it the first time, go back and check to see if the pan isn't distorted at the bolt holes. If it is, hammer it flat against a body dolly or something similar.

You can use a sealer, but avoid Permatex #1 and #2. An old time mechanic told me that the stuff isn't good for the trans internals, should it make its way in there.

I've found that the gaskets that come with ATP-brand filter kits are good ones. I think you can get them separate as well so you don't have to spring for the whole kit.