A518 / A618 / 48RE Transmission Guide: 46RE, 47RE, 48RE ID, Fluid & Parts
A518 (46RH / 46RE) | A618 (47RH / 47RE) | 48RE: Dodge, Ram and Jeep 4-speed automatics
The A518, A618 and 48RE are Chrysler's rear-drive 4-speed automatics for V8, V10 and Cummins diesel trucks. Each one is a 3-speed A727 TorqueFlite with an overdrive unit bolted to the back. All three share many parts, but some important ones are not interchangeable: clutch packs, pumps, valve bodies and overhaul kits. Confirm which unit you have before you order.
Check first: the smaller A500 (42RE/44RE) looks similar from the outside. To rule it out, see our A500 vs A518/A618 guide, which compares the pan gasket, filter and governor sensor.
Names, Years and Applications
Around 1992 Chrysler switched to four-character names. The first digit is the number of speeds and the second is a strength rating. "R" means rear-wheel drive. "H" means a hydraulic governor and "E" means an electronic governor. The years below are approximate because changeovers happened partway through model years.
| Unit | Years (approx.) | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| A518 / 46RH | 1990 – mid-1990s | Dodge D/W 150–350 pickups, Ramcharger and B-series vans with gas V8s. Some 1991–1993 D/W250 and D/W350 trucks with the 5.9 Cummins. |
| 46RE | mid-1990s – 2003 | Ram 1500 with the 5.2L or 5.9L V8, Ram vans, Durango 5.9L, Dakota V8, Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L/5.9L |
| A618 / 47RH | 1994 – 1995 | Ram 2500/3500 with the 5.9 Cummins diesel or the 8.0L V10 |
| 47RE | 1996 – 2002 (some 2003) | Ram 2500/3500 with the 5.9 Cummins diesel or the 8.0L V10 |
| 48RE | 2003 – 2007 | Ram 2500/3500 with the 5.9 High Output Cummins. Also the 2005–2006 Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab. |
2003 Ram diesel? Both the 47RE and the 48RE were used in 2003. Check the 8th digit of the VIN. A "6" means the standard-output Cummins with a 47RE. A "C" means the High Output Cummins with a 48RE.
Gear Ratios
All A518, A618 and 48RE units share the same forward gears.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th (overdrive) | Reverse (47RE / 48RE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.45:1 | 1.45:1 | 1.00:1 | 0.69:1 | 2.21:1 |
Published 46RE reverse figures disagree, so we do not list one.
How to Tell a 46RE, 47RE and 48RE Apart
These units look very much alike from the outside. Start with the vehicle: model, engine and model year, or simply your VIN. Then use the checks below to confirm.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| RH or RE? | RE units have an electronic governor: a governor pressure solenoid and a pressure sensor on the valve body. RH units use a hydraulic governor on the output shaft. The changeover came in the mid-1990s and varies by model, so check before ordering governor or valve body parts. |
| 46RE or 47RE? | The 47RE (and 47RH) is the heavy-duty version, used behind the Cummins diesel and the V10 in 2500/3500 trucks. The 46RE went behind the gas V8s in the Ram 1500, Durango, Dakota and Grand Cherokee. |
| 47RE or 48RE? | The 48RE uses a 6-pinion steel planetary. Most 2004½–2007 48REs use an electronic throttle valve actuator (TTVA) instead of a TV cable, though some 2004 units still had the cable. For 2003 trucks, use the VIN check above. |
| 48RE valve body | The 48RE valve body looks almost the same as a 46RE/47RE body, but its pressure regulator and converter clutch circuits are different (Sonnax tech article). A 46RE/47RE valve body in a 48RE can cause early converter clutch and overdrive clutch failure. Use a 48RE valve body or one of the 46/47RE-to-48RE conversion kits. |
| 48RE-only parts | Several 48RE parts are listed separately from the 46RE/47RE: the pump (2003 on), the forward clutch frictions, the steel module, the thrust washer kit and the overhaul kit. |
Fluid
Use Mopar ATF+4 in all of these units. ATF+4 replaces the earlier ATF+, ATF+2 and ATF+3 (MS-7176) fluids and is backward compatible with them. Set the level on the dipstick with the transmission at operating temperature.
Common Kits, Wear Parts and Upgrades We Stock
Rebuild and overhaul kits
- Custom rebuild kits where you pick the options: A518/A618 Super Master (1990–2002), 48RE Super Master (2003 on), A518/A618 Banner (1990–2002), 48RE Banner (2003–2007)
- Gasket and seal overhaul kits: A518/A618 (1990–2003) and 48RE (2003–2007)
- Master bushing kit; thrust washer kits for the A518/A618 and the 48RE
Service parts
- Oil pan gaskets: cork, Farpak, and the molded rubber upgrade
- Filters: 3-bolt and 2-bolt. Both styles appear around 1996–1997, so see the filter guide.
- Overdrive housing gasket, 4x4 extension housing seal kit, output bearing cover gasket
Bands, clutches and overdrive
- Front (kickdown) bands: Raybestos ProSeries, BorgWarner. Rear bands: A618/48RE multi-wrap (1996 on), A727/A518 6.25"
- Friction modules: A518/A618 (1998–2002). Steel modules: A518/A618 (1990–1997), A518/A618 (1998–2002), 48RE, 48RE Kolene
- Single plates: GPZ forward/direct frictions, GPZ overdrive brake frictions, overdrive brake steels
- Overdrive unit: overdrive roller sprag, 6-ring overdrive snap ring kit, bearing kit, overdrive shim kit, and outer and inner overdrive piston seals
- Low roller clutch (sprag) and rebuilt reverse drum
Pump, electronics and valve body
- Pumps: 46RE/47RE rebuilt pump, 48RE rebuilt pump, master pump repair kit, pump bushing and seal kit
- Electronics: governor pressure solenoid, governor pressure sensor, lock-up/overdrive solenoid (2000 on), output speed sensor, solenoid and filter repair kit
- Valve bodies: rebuilt 46RE/47RE and rebuilt 48RE
- Shift kits: TransGo SK TFOD (1988–2003) and SK 48RE; the Sonnax Zip Kit; the Superior shift correction kit (1999 on)
Heavy-duty upgrades
- Servos: the low/reverse Super Servo, the Magnum 2nd-gear Super Servo and the billet kickdown servo. Also the Sonnax accumulator piston and an upgraded 3-4 accumulator spring.
- 47RE/48RE billet combo kit, 48RE overdrive housing saver shim, HD billet governor solenoid conversion
- Torque converters for the 46RE, 47RE and 48RE
The A518 is built on the A727. Many of its bands, front and rear clutch parts and pump parts also fit the A727. See our A727 TorqueFlite guide.
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Not sure which unit or kit you need? Send us your VIN or call us at (844) 298-6404, Monday–Friday 8–5 Eastern, or email sales@globaltransmissionparts.com.