Lpb kit 3 d right no shadow small Lpbk parts flat

Sonnax Line Pressure Booster Kits

Crisp, Clean Shifts Without Harshness

Sonnax line pressure booster kits deliver precision pressure control you can count on, with a shift feel that will keep your customers happy.

  • Classic large-ratio boost valve action from both hydraulic valve kits & RFE electronic booster
  • Easy, effective upgrade for heavy-duty & modified vehicles or hard-working daily drivers
  • Improved shift feel & durability reduce comebacks & complaints
  • No special installation tools required
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Sonnax Line Pressure Booster Kits

Crisp, Clean Shifts Without Harshness

Lpb kit 3 d right no shadow small Lpbk parts flat

Sonnax line pressure booster kits deliver precision pressure control you can count on, with a shift feel that will keep your customers happy.

  • Classic large-ratio boost valve action from both hydraulic valve kits & RFE electronic booster
  • Easy, effective upgrade for heavy-duty & modified vehicles or hard-working daily drivers
  • Improved shift feel & durability reduce comebacks & complaints
  • No special installation tools required
Search Kits
 

Watch this video to learn more about Sonnax line pressure booster kits.

TD_Top_10_Products

A Transmission Digest Top Ten Product

See what people are saying about Sonnax Line Pressure Booster Kits:

We used the 4T65E-LB1 in several applications...it doesn't give harsh shifts, just a little something extra. Very nice product and I highly recommend it.

D. Tucker
Tucker's Transmission
Pine Bluff, AZ

Use the Sonnax 4L60E-LB1 progressive boost valve...it will put a smile on your customer's face.

D. Stewart
Dan's Service Center
Cliff, NM

I just received my line pressure booster for my 2012 Ram and wow! The CPU gets the new pressure signal very fast...30 seconds of slow-medium driving...and when I floor it....yihaaa! It shifts aggressively and I can feel the tranny grab the clutches with more power when it changes gear...great product! Thumbs up!!!

J. Martel
Senneterre, Québec, Canada

Search Line Pressure Booster Kits

TD_Top_10_Products

A Transmission Digest Top Ten Product

See what people are saying about Sonnax Line Pressure Booster Kits:

We used the 4T65E-LB1 in several applications...it doesn't give harsh shifts, just a little something extra. Very nice product and I highly recommend it.

D. Tucker
Tucker's Transmission
Pine Bluff, AZ

Use the Sonnax 4L60E-LB1 progressive boost valve...it will put a smile on your customer's face.

D. Stewart
Dan's Service Center
Cliff, NM

I just received my line pressure booster for my 2012 Ram and wow! The CPU gets the new pressure signal very fast...30 seconds of slow-medium driving...and when I floor it....yihaaa! It shifts aggressively and I can feel the tranny grab the clutches with more power when it changes gear...great product! Thumbs up!!!

J. Martel
Senneterre, Québec, Canada
Throttle vs Line Pressure for Large-Ratio Boost Valve vs Other Pressure Regulator Springs

Larger Boost Valves & Stronger Springs =
Precision Pressure Control You Can Count On

At low-end pressures, Sonnax booster kits deliver normal engagements, normal light throttle shifts and smooth coastdown shifts.

When vehicles are pushed harder, kit components progressively increase pressure for improved clutch holding capacity and increased durability.


Sonnax large-ratio boost valve assembly changes the rate of line pressure increase in response to driving conditions.
6L80 Line Pressure Booster Kit Valve
Sonnax spring is about 10% stronger than OE and more conservative in impact than other aftermarket performance springs.
6L80 Line Pressure Booster Kit Spring

Raise Line Pressure in Chrysler RFE’s – No Tuning Needed!

No transmission removal or tuning is required to improve the performance and durability of 45/545RFE and 65/66/68RFE units when you install Sonnax line pressure booster kit RFE-LB1.

  • Electronic harness plugs in quickly and easily on outside of transmission case
  • Works just like a large-ratio boost valve for a progressive pressure increase of about 10 to 25 psi
  • Optional spring installed in the valve body helps optimize performance
  • Ideal for all heavy-duty work/sport vehicles and around-town daily drivers

Watch this video to learn how the booster kit works, see it installed and better understand how line pressure is controlled in the RFE transmission.

RFE Electronic Line Pressure Booster Kit

Note: This kit is not recommended for use with transmission tuning mods. If you are unsure of the vehicle’s programming, use a scan tool to check whether desired transmission line pressure under different driving conditions meets stock levels.

Take a deeper dive into line pressure with these two articles from the Sonnax tech resource library.

The Prescription for Optimum Pressure

Sometimes a little more pressure is just what the doctor ordered. Raising line pressure is the most basic change you can make to your transmission. It can breath new life into old transmissions with sagging pressure regulator springs, or provide extra clutch and band apply pressure in hard-working units. Raising line pressure is typically done by using a stronger pressure regulator spring, installing a larger boost valve or doing both.

Sonnax offers several products which raise line pressure and, more importantly, vary the rate of pressure increase. Our lineup of pressure regulator springs and larger ratio boost valves is continuously growing, providing more and more options when you want to tweak a unit above stock pressures.




Stronger Springs vs. Larger Boost Valves

A stronger spring and larger boost valve will both increase pressure, just not in the same way, so it's important to understand the differences before making any changes.

Stronger springs have a "linear" effect on pressure. This means you get the same amount of pressure increase at the low and high ends of the pressure range ('A' on Figure 1). While a stronger pressure regulator spring will raise line pressure, there is a limit to how much you can get away with before troubles surface. A significant pressure increase that tightens upshifts under heavy load can be too much of an increase when shifting into reverse in the garage. This increase also puts extra load on the pump at idle and can result in the TCC clutch dragging due to reduced cooler flow.



Larger boost valves have a "progressive" effect on pressure: they change the rate of pressure increase. Using larger boost valves ('B' on Figure 1), it's possible to have a very small pressure increase at the low end of the pressure range and a far greater increase at the high end. This creates an ideal situation: smooth engagements and lower load on the pump at idle, plus a greater increase in pressure as the transmission is worked harder. The significance of changing the rate of pressure increase with larger valves – rather than simply increasing pressure by the same amount with springs – is that higher pressure is created when it is needed most.

Sonnax hydraulic line pressure booster kits contain pressure regulator springs and boost valves designed to work together. Our pressure regulator springs are about 10% stronger than the OEM springs, but far more conservative than other aftermarket "kit" springs. When the Sonnax springs and larger ratio boost valves are combined, you get the best of both worlds: a modest pressure increase at the low end, with a high end pressure that is equal to or greater than that of "kit" springs. Driving a vehicle with this combination of Sonnax parts will result in normal engagements, normal light throttle shifts and smooth coast-down shifts. When pushed harder or driven aggressively, pressure increase becomes progressively greater, ensuring that shifts are not too soft. You may not need this for great-grandma's grocery-getter, but for most other vehicles, Sonnax hydraulic line pressure booster kits will add just the right touch to make sure the pressure is there when needed.




How Does a Boost Valve Work? 

The pressure regulator spring sets the base line pressure. The job of the boost valve is to help the pressure regulator spring increase line pressure as needed. In typical applications, oil pressure from the EPC solenoid, vacuum modulator or TV valve is directed to the end of the boost valve ('A' on Figure 2). As this oil pressure changes, so does the force assisting the pressure regulator spring, causing line pressure to increase. This variable pressure allows higher pressure under loads and during acceleration when it is needed most. When the diameter or reaction area on the boost valve is made larger, more force will be created to help the pressure regulator spring.

Many boost valves feature an additional reaction area where reverse oil reacts to increase pressure in reverse ('B' on Figure 2). Sonnax boost valves are designed to get the right combination of pressures through tuning these two reaction areas. The larger-ratio Sonnax 4L80-E valve in booster kit 4L80E-LB1 is an example of "tuning out" some of the reverse pressure so that the majority of the pressure increase is in the forward ranges.




Electronic Line Boosters

Automakers possess many different systems to regulate and vary line pressure. The Chrysler 45RFE, 545RFE and 68RFE  units have a unique, full-range pressure transducer and real-time adaptive closed-loop pressure control system. Because of this, it is not possible to raise pressure in an RFE the same way you would in other transmissions. Installing a stronger pressure regulator spring or larger boost valve will not be effective because the RFE control module will simply adapt and return pressure to OE specification. An electrical booster option is necessary to raise pressure on an RFE.

Sonnax Line Pressure Booster Kit RFE-LB1Sonnax line pressure booster kit RFE-LB1 is an improved design over a simple resistor circuit. Featuring an integrated chip (IC) circuit and a stronger pressure regulator spring, this kit delivers 10 psi increase at lower pressure range and 25 psi increase at higher pressure ranges. To find out more about how the kit works and what results you can expect, see Achieving a Progressive Pressure Boost in RFEs.

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Achieving a Progressive Pressure Boost in RFEs: Chrysler 45RFE, 545RFE, 65RFE, 66RFE & 68RFE

1. Compared to other common transmissions, what is different about the RFE pressure control system?

RFE units have a full range pressure transducer and real-time adaptive closed-loop pressure control system. This system is unique to the Chrysler RFE transmissions. Because of this, it is not possible to raise pressure in an RFE the same way you would in other transmissions. Installing a stronger pressure regulator spring or larger boost valve will not be effective because the RFE control module will simply adapt and return pressure to OE specification. An electrical booster option is necessary to raise pressure on an RFE.

2. What are the differences between the Sonnax RFE-LB1 kit compared to old 44957-LB1 & -LB2 kits?

The previous Sonnax RFE Line Boosters had two versions, 44957-LB1 (diesel) and 44957-LB2 (gas). In diesel applications the Pressure Control Solenoid (PCS) duty cycle is closer to the 5% operational low-limit and pressure is generally higher than gas applications. As a consequence the 44957-LB1 (diesel) increased pressure less than the 44957-LB2 (gas). In rare instances a low pressure trouble code P0868 could set due to higher adapted pressures, or higher than typical system voltage. Higher system voltage increases current (amperage) to the PCS solenoid, causing a further reduction in PCS duty cycle as the system tries to adjust pressure. The P0868 low pressure code sets when PCS duty cycle tries to exceed the 5% operational low-limit. The [RFE-LB1] is an improved design with an integrated chip (IC) circuit and a stronger pressure regulator spring. The improved design has three benefits over the 44957-LB1 and 44957-LB2:

 a. A progressive pressure increase (approximately 10 psi) at lower pressure ranges and a greater increase (approximately 25 psi) at higher pressure ranges.
 b. Greater sensor voltage range compared to old design reduces potential for trouble codes.
 c. One kit can be used in both gas and diesel applications.

3. What results can be expected when the RFE-LB1 is installed?

Like the old 44957-LB1 and 44957-LB2, this Sonnax [RFE-LB1] can be installed with just the harness, without installing the included stronger pressure regulator spring. With this scenario, pressure will increase as described. To achieve the pressure increase, the computer lowers the PCS duty cycle operational range. In rare cases, vehicles with higher system voltages or high commanded pressures may set trouble codes as the PCS duty cycle reaches the limit of its operational range. In the rare instance this occurs, the only option is to either remove the Line Booster harness or install the pressure regulator spring. If the Line Booster kit is being installed when the transmission is removed from the vehicle, simply install the stronger pressure regulator spring in the pump, and the harness when the transmission is reinstalled. With this scenario, pressure will be increased as described, however because of the new spring load, the system will make the higher pressure while the PCS duty cycle operating range remains close to original (reference chart below).



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Looking for more than just progressive pressure? Check out these great Sonnax transmission kits: