UA80E torque converter repair features

First, let’s disassemble the torque converter down to the lockup unit.

In order to open the torque converter lockup unit, it is necessary to carefully cut off the crimp on the piston along the outer diameter of the safety washer, preserving the outer diameter of the safety washer as much as possible.

After we’ve removed the crimp, we remove the safety washer.

To remove the retaining ring, we need to compress the piston using the pneumatic press or the lockup preload tester.

A hardened thrust washer will be installed behind the retaining ring. Using thrust washers of varying thicknesses allows for adjustment of the clearance in the lockup unit.

Let’s remove the piston. Once we removed the piston, we gained access to the internal components of the lockup unit: spring clutch, friction plates & steel plate.

On the internal parts of the torque converter body (engine side), two rubber rings are installed in annular grooves & in piston groove. They must be replaced during repairs.

We begin assembly by installing the O-rings: small, medium and large.

Install the small and medium O-rings into the lower and uooer grooves on the piston hub.

Install the pressure steel plate with internal teeth.

Then new friction plates are installed in the following order:

1. Friction plate with external teeth
2. Friction plate with internal teeth
3. Friction plate with external teeth
4. Friction plate with internal teeth

Please note that the friction material side of all four plates must face the torque converter body.

Install the spring clutch, install the piston, aligning the protrusions with the corresponding recesses, install a hardened thrust washer. Secure the piston with a retaining ring.

After assembling the lockup unit, it is necessary to check the clearance in it.

Recommended clearance in the lockup unit: 0.5–0.75 mm.

To prevent the retaining ring from opening spontaneously when the torque converter rotates, the previously removed safety washer is installed.

It can be secured in one of the following two ways:

1. Using punching on the piston body at the indicated points.
2. Fixing at three points using argon welding.

Once we’ve assembled the lockup unit, we can begin assembling the torque converter and welding its body.

Before welding, the clearance in the lockup unit must be adjusted.