8HP70 8 Speed Tranny Fluid Change - Level Truck or Level Transmission

[Curt Gobbell]

If you have the ZF 8-speed tranny in your truck and you've changed trans fluid, can you tell me if you

a) Leveled the truck ---- OR -----
b) Leveled the transmission?


Given the angle that the trans sits in the truck, I suspect you must level the trans to get all needed fluid in per the OEM procedure

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

There was an excellent write-up posted on this forum regarding the issue you have asked about. You may want to do a search.

Here is one post: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/done-a-8-speed-trans-filter-and-fluid-change.172841/

 

[crash68]

@Curt Gobbell you want the level the transmission, use the mounting flange of the pan

 

[Curt Gobbell]

If you must level the pan and not the truck, how in the world do tranny shops get the pan level on the lift? Leveling the transmission pan on a 8HP70 in a RAM requires the rear of the truck to be elevated by about 12", which can't be accomplished on a lift. It can only be accomplished on the ground with jackstands.


Given that the 8HP70 trans is used in various vehicles (BMW, Jaguar, Jeep, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Masserati, Dodge, Volkswagen, Aston Martin) each with their own driveline angle, I agree with you that the fluid fill procedure is specific to the trans not the vehicle, therefore forcing the trans to be level upon proper filling.

A few notes from around the web:

These guys kept their vehicle level:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNo9Ln5KrOE (Boosted MotorSports)
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueSenZlKm0 (JWC Motor Sports)
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6caRGWhQdk
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIZkFxmcClY
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eWnnNdoFoE (BMW leveled vehicle)
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qJ1iq0Eb-8
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPkCUfqi-gE (Chrysler 300C)



These guys raised their rear-end and leveled the trans pan:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqbLqjQvA5E
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e06ekxxZkE


I'm still confused. I'll keep looking/researching.

 

[Gero]

Level the pan. This requires the *** of the ram to be way up high.

I have a sloped drive way (sloped towards the street). So I chock the front wheels really well and then jack the rear. I think I had the tires off about 6 or 7". Then the tranny was nearly leveled.

 

[joesstripclub]

If you must level the pan and not the truck, how in the world do tranny shops get the pan level on the lift? Leveling the transmission pan on a 8HP70 in a RAM requires the rear of the truck to be elevated by about 12", which can't be accomplished on a lift. It can only be accomplished on the ground with jackstands.


Given that the 8HP70 trans is used in various vehicles (BMW, Jaguar, Jeep, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Masserati, Dodge, Volkswagen, Aston Martin) each with their own driveline angle, I agree with you that the fluid fill procedure is specific to the trans not the vehicle, therefore forcing the trans to be level upon proper filling.

A few notes from around the web:

These guys kept their vehicle level:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNo9Ln5KrOE (Boosted MotorSports)
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueSenZlKm0 (JWC Motor Sports)
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6caRGWhQdk
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIZkFxmcClY
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eWnnNdoFoE (BMW leveled vehicle)
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qJ1iq0Eb-8
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPkCUfqi-gE (Chrysler 300C)



These guys raised their rear-end and leveled the trans pan:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqbLqjQvA5E
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e06ekxxZkE


I'm still confused. I'll keep looking/researching.

Most applications the transmission is level in the vehicle, including the charger/challenger. I believe the Ram is unique to the transmission sitting at an angle. The requirement is the same for all the different ZF 8-speeds, it just depends how it sits in the vehicle.

 

[joesstripclub]

I've changed the fluid in my transmission 3 times now, second time was leaky pan gasket, third time to make sure all new fluid. I followed the green procedure picture WildOne posts all over the forum each time with no issues. I get the truck as high as I can on my jack which is not quite level but seems to be close enough. Your point about how do shops get the level correct is a good reason why I do all my own work on my vehicles.

 

[brokenarrowjbe]

Zf transmission fluid and maintenance information

I’m doing a trans service on my 2019 classic and came across this video and it covers in depth everything about types of fluids, the fluid specs, parts and a whole bunch of things I thought I would share with everybody. From working in a dealership environment (John Deere) I know the brand does...

www.ramforum.com