A/T - ATX Planetary Gear Design Changes
Service Information Letter # 87-12Date: April 1987
Subject: ATX
ISSUE: Design changes to the automatic transaxle planetary gear were made on late 1986 units to improve intermediate gear noise. The three basic design changes are:
^ The outer, long pinion, is divided into two short pin ions and the ring gear is extended to mesh with both of the outer pinions This arrangement effectively allows the compound planetary gear set to act as a simple planetary gear set in second gear.
^ The planet carrier assembly is "piloted" directly in the transfer housing bore to make sure of uniform meshing and gear action of the planet gears during rotation.
^ Final drive input gears were shorted to allow planet carrier to pilot into the transfer housing.
Some components used in past model years may appear to be similar, but are not interchangeable with the current split long pinion design.
NOTE:
The transaxle build date and model number on the identification tag located on the main control cover is needed to determine the correct component design level.
ACTION: The application chart lists the attached components and design level.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"
NOTE:
To service a past model with a split long pinion gear set, the final drive gears need to be updated with the proper level of 3.26 FD gears and a split long pinion input gear used.