68RFE shifting feel

[WXman]

Question for you guys with 68RFEs...

My truck has 46k miles on it. The trans shifts VERY firm. As in, it feels like the old days when guys would put "shift kits" in their transmissions. If I leave a red light, and apply 50-60% throttle and hold it there, the truck will actually bark the tires between shifts.

My question is, is this normal? Do your trucks shift really firm and snappy like that? If it's normal I'm fine with it, but I've just never experienced a modern automatic that shifts like this.

 

[Units]

Mines not real firm at all, it kinda lazy shifts with a flair at the end and is very quick to get to 6th. Supposedly it’s like that to “protect” the transmission with a partial converter lock shift strategy. I do get firm down shift shifts with the EB on and the shift points are a little later in the rpm range in tow/haul mode.

 

[Trash Panda]

Yeah, my 68 without a tune is an absolute slush box when it’s not in tow/haul.

 

[WXman]

Very interesting.

This truck was only in service for roughly 18 months before I got it. So it's fairly new. I can't imagine that the PO would have tuned it. Everything under the hood is 100% stock.

Well, if these should be slushy between shifts then either mine is having problems, OR they could have updated the valve body/programming for 2024 I guess.

 

[ZF.Transmission.Guy]

I'm no RFE expert, but a transmission chirping tires on shifts is never how it should operate stock. If you live in an area that gets snow and ice, you could be in for a bad time. If it's tuned it's not a great tune unless the person was just having fun.

If it's under warranty that should be looked at and fixed. It should never leave the factory like that.

 

[WXman]

Well at my next oil change I guess I'll have them inspect it for driveability concerns and see what they say.