Re: cleaning trans filter

[jtrealty@xxxx]

Your magnets will only capture steel and cast iron particles. The 
filter is meant to keep out the big chunks and any friction materiel 
which is a natural by product of the aging of the automatic 
transmission, not metal. You should not expect to catch much metal, 
especially magnetic, although you will see flecks of brass and bronze 
from the thrust washers as they wear normally. If you find large 
amounts of friction materiel or any significant amount of magnetic 
particles the transmission is nearing the time for a rebuild. If at 
this point you continue to drive on it you will only cause more 
damage, like driving on a worn out clutch, it tends to wear much 
faster as it approaches the end of it's life. When the fluid becomes 
overburdened by particles it wears out the pump, the seals, the torque 
converter, and the thrust washers and shims. Even if you reseal they 
won't last if the fluid is full of grit (microscopic particles of 
metal and friction materiel). The only cure is complete disassembly 
and replacement of all of the wearable parts, the friction plates, the 
steel plates, seals, bushings, thrust washers, and gaskets. If you 
drive the trans to destruction then you risk of ruining hard parts 
like gears, housings, shafts, etc. These parts are not normally 
replaced and are expensive. Think of it like driving on worn out brake 
pads and ruining the rotors. If you stopped and did the pads for say 
$50 you wouldn't have to go for rotors for $500. On the Delorean you 
cannot properly flush out the trans fluid unless you dismantle it. Too 
much remains in the torque converter and you can't drain it without 
removing it. Cleaning the filter is involved but since there is no 
more stock and I cannot find a replacement this is the best I can come 
up with.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757


--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Walter" <Whalt@xxxx> wrote:
> David,
> 
> I have rebuilt my automatic transmission filter the way David T 
explains.
> It worked good but was very time consuming (and very rewarding if 
you are
> into doing things the hard way.) There is nothing about the filter 
that I
> would consider a 'wear item' -- meaning something that wears out and 
needs
> to be replaced periodically. It is all metal, and any debris that 
collects