Every year, Transmission Digest accepts nominations for the top products and tools in the powertrain aftermarket. Readers vote for their favorites to determine the winners. The results are in: we won 13 top product awards! Thank you all for your trust and support of Sonnax and Rostra products – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Take a look at the winning products here:

• Chrysler 845RE, ZF8HP45/55/70 Solenoid Test Manifold Kit  
• GM 4L60-E, 4L65-E ('96–'08) Heavy Duty Remanufactured Valve Bodies  
• GM 4L80-E ('95-Earlier), TH400 Adjustable Rear Servo Pin Kit  
• GM 4L80-E ('95-Earlier), TH400 Heavy Duty Low/Reverse Servo Piston  
• GM 6L80 Extreme Duty 4-5-6 Clutch Hub & Intermediate Shaft  
• GM 6L80, 6L90 Bearing Kit  
• GM 6L80, 6L90 Output Planetary Lube Dam  
• GM 8L45, 8L90 Zip Kits  
• GM TH400 Heavy Duty Forward Drum  
• GM TH400 Smart-Tech® Drum Module  
• ZF8HP55/70/75 Heavy Duty "A" Clutch Backing Plate  
• ZF8HP70 Heavy Duty "E" Clutch Hub  
• Ford 6R80, 6R100, 6R140 Variable Bleed Solenoids

 

The automotive aftermarket has long been familiar with Torrington bearings. Although most people know that Torrington is a company that manufactures these bearings, the term “Torrington bearing” has become synonymous with needle roller thrust bearings. “Torrington bearing” has become a generic term describing a type of bearing as much as it indicates a manufacturer who produces those bearings.

The Torrington Company was established in 1898 in Torrington, Conn. It was an independent company until an acquisition by Ingersoll Rand Corp. in 1968. In 2003, Torrington Bearing was sold to the Timken Company, which produced Torrington brand bearings until 2009. In 2009, JTEKT Corporation of Japan acquired the Torrington bearing line – including the manufacturing plants and tech center along with 3,400 employees – from Timken. Torrington became part of the JTEKT’s Koyo Bearings.

Since 2013, these products formerly known as Torrington bearings were marketed solely under the Koyo brand name.

In April and November 2022, JTEKT North America provided notification regarding the unification of the Koyo bearing brand to the JTEKT brand. Be aware there is no change in ownership associated with the name change. This change is simply a consolidation of the Koyo bearing brand to the globally recognized JTEKT brand.

JTEKT Bearings — changing its name from Koyo Bearings — is the Torrington Legacy, and you can count on Sonnax providing you with the same great OE quality you've always received under the Torrington brand... only the name has now changed to JTEKT.

Every year, Transmission Digest accepts nominations for the top 10 products and tools in the powertrain aftermarket. Readers vote for their favorites to determine the winners. The results are in: we won six top product awards! Thank you all for your trust and support of Sonnax products – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Take a look at the winning products here:

• Chrysler 45/545/65/66/68RFE Lube Regulated Pressure Regulator Valve  
• Chrysler 62TE Shift Shaft Saver Kit  
• Chrysler 68RFE Smart-Tech® Overdrive Clutch Housing Kit  
• Ford 6F35 (Gen. 1 & 2) Case Saver Kit  
• GM 4L80/85-E Heavy Duty Input Shaft  
• GM 4L80/85-E Performance Pack

 

Enter to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards plus a cool Sonnax swag bag! 

Here's how to enter: You can either enter on Facebook, or you can send an email to [email protected] telling us one reason why you're a Sonnax fan. It’s that easy!

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to submit your entry. Three lucky winners will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, Jan. 7.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from all your friends at Sonnax! 

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents aged 18 and older. One entry per person. Except where prohibited, participation in the Sonnax giveaway constitutes winner's consent to Sonnax use of winner's name and comment for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide.

Sonnax Transmission Company is excited to announce a recent reorganization, integrating Rostra Powertrain Controls into the company’s Vermont- and North Carolina-based Sonnax operations. This concludes several years of internal moves aligning teams and resources to better serve the transmission aftermarket. Both the Sonnax and Rostra brands have been part of Marmon Holdings, Inc. since 2018, with Steve Boyer leading both teams as President since 2020.

“Through this integration, Rostra and Sonnax will become a single, transmission-focused organization,” said Boyer. “This new structure will synchronize our product development efforts, reduce time to market of new products and allow us to make improvements in quality and delivery to our shared customers.”

Boyer said several internal promotions were made to support the alignment of both brands under Sonnax Transmission Company:

Maura Stafford is appointed company Vice President of Transmission Products. Stafford and her team manage product groups focused on hydraulic and electronic transmission components, solenoids and remanufactured valve bodies.

Steve Jaussaud continues as company Vice President of Product Line Management, guiding development of torque converter, high performance, driveline and mechanical transmission components. Jaussaud also manages the torque converter product line, a responsibility he assumed in late 2020.

Beth Houder is appointed company Vice President of Marketing & Communications, leading marketing efforts and the continued development of both brands in the aftermarket industry.

Mark Kaplan serves as company Vice President of Sales, assuming sales management for Sonnax and Rostra. He is joined by Seth Baldasaro, Director of Strategic Accounts, and Tony Diorio, National Accounts Manager.

Through customer calls, emails, surveys, and conversations at industry events, we heard you loud and clear: some Sonnax tools have been hard to get, and the prices were too high. We brought your concerns to our distributor partners, and worked together to build the Sonnax Tool Shop.

The goal of this program is simple: help you get the tools you want, when you want them, at a fair price. The Sonnax Tool Shop includes 70+ popular F-tool  and vacuum testing products with new, lower MSRPs and greater distribution at local branches and regional distribution centers.

“At the Sonnax Tool Shop, the price you see is the price you pay,” says Mark Kaplan, Sonnax Vice President of Sales. “We’re grateful for the support of our network of distributors in offering MSRP-or-better prices and 1-2 day delivery on this selection of tools to all customers in the U.S. and Canada.”  

A key benefit for rebuilders: If a Tool Shop part or kit isn’t readily available from your regular local branch, you can call other Sonnax distributors without worrying that you’ll have to pay more.

Check out the complete list of included tools and MSRPs here: Sonnax Tool Shop

 

Need or prefer a drop-in repair for common shift problems? 

Introducing Zip Valve™ products – a new brand covering the hundreds of drop-in valves and Zip Kits rebuilders have trusted for years to overcome chronic transmission problems. These easy-to-install components deliver quality and performance that can’t be beat thanks to upgraded Sonnax design features, improved materials and precision manufacturing. 

More than 350 different products covering 200-plus transmissions are available, and it’s easy to identify these parts anywhere on the Sonnax website by the new, drop-in “ZIP” logo that accompanies each one. Just like you can narrow down search results by unit or part type, choosing to display only Zip Valves is now another option for quickly finding just the right repair. 

“At Sonnax, we strive to have the best selection of highest-quality solutions available for our customers.” says Sonnax President Steve Boyer. “When you’ve got a build on your bench, it’s our job to provide you with a wide range of options you can trust.”

Find the right Zip Valve products for your next build here: https://www.sonnax.com/zip_valve

 

Made from highly wear-resistant material to provide the ultimate in durability, these new, drop-in valves correct critical pressure loss that leads to shift complaints, codes, and apply component failure. Unique features like added seals, sleeves and modified spool designs overcome chronic hydraulic problems for a result you can trust. Click the links below to learn more!

Chrysler 45/545/65/66/68RFE

• TCC Regulator Valve Kit: #44912-11K

Chrysler 845RE, ZF8HP45/55/70

• Priming Valve & Seal Kit: #35740-37K

Ford 4R70E/W, 4R75E/W, AODE

• Converter Limit Valve Kit: #76948-56K

Ford 6F35 (Gen. 1 & 2)

• Solenoid Pressure Regulator Valve Kit: #144740-37K
• TCC Regulator Valve Kit: #144740-36K

Ford 6F50/55, GM 6T70/75 (Gen. 1 & 2), 6T80 (Gen. 2)

• TCC Regulator Valve Kit: #124740-31K

Ford 6F50/55, GM 6T70/75 (Gen. 1)

• AFL/Solenoid Pressure Regulator Valve Kit: #124740-32K

GM 6L45-6L90

• TCC Regulator Valve Kit: #104740-46K
• Actuator Feed Limit Valve Kit: #104740-47K

GM 6T30/40/45/50 (Gen. 1 & 2), 6T31/35/41/46/51, 6T40 (Gen. 3)

• TCC Regulator Valve Kit: #144740-38K
• Actuator Feed Limit Valve Kit: #144740-39K

GM 6T70/75/80 (Gen. 2)

• Actuator Feed Limit Valve Kit: #124740-33K

Toyota/Lexus U660E/F

• Solenoid Modulator Valve Kit: #47740-41K

Toyota/Lexus U760E/F

• Solenoid Modulator Valve Kit: #47740-42K

It is our sincere hope that you and your families remain safe and in good health. The unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis we find ourselves in is like nothing we could have ever imagined. 

At Sonnax, it is our goal to serve you in these uncertain times in a safe and responsible manner. We are working every day with our supplier and distributor partners to continue providing the parts and product support you need. 

Safety has and continues to be our first priority, and we have instituted additional hygiene protocols and safety measures to keep our employees as safe as possible. Our IT infrastructure has been optimized to enable employees to work from home when possible, while minimizing impact on operations and production.

Additionally, we have decided to temporarily suspend operations in our facilities on April 13, 24 and 27.  

We remain committed to the idea that this crisis will be temporary, and that we will need full capacity to meet customer needs as the market recovers. As we continue to navigate our way through this crisis, we are grateful for your support and partnership in the market we serve.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, non-essential businesses in Vermont have been ordered to shut down. Sonnax, like many aftermarket manufacturers and distributors, has been classified as an essential business.    We are currently maintaining normal business hours and operations while keeping our employees safe with heightened hygiene protocols and safety measures. It is our sincere hope that our friends and extended family in the industry remain safe and in good health, and it is our goal to serve you in these uncertain times in a safe and responsible manner.    Thank you for your support, and let’s continue working together to keep ourselves and our families safe. 

At Sonnax, safety is our #1 priority. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees enables us to fulfill our mission to be the leader in bringing innovative, high-quality drivetrain components to the automotive aftermarket. We have been actively monitoring federal, state and local guidance on COVID-19, and are 100% committed to keeping our employees safe, while supporting and serving our customers. Sonnax is currently maintaining regular business hours and operations, with the following cautionary measures in place: 

• Domestic and international business travel via commercial air is suspended. All work-related travel (other than regular commuting to work) will be avoided unless urgent or critical.
• All in-person meetings have been suspended in favor of web or phone conferences. Non-essential visitors are suspended. 
• All employees practice social distancing, and non-essential movement between buildings is suspended. 

In addition, Sonnax has provided extra cleaning/sanitizing protocols, providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and extra hand sanitizing products that are conveniently located. We have recommended that employees follow the same simple hygiene habits that protect against the seasonal flu virus in order to protect against exposure to COVID-19, including:

• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Staying at home when sick and seeking appropriate medical care.
• Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

 Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and customers. What's most important as we move forward in our daily lives is to keep calm and use common sense. Let's work together to keep ourselves and our families safe.

We created a fun video just for you! Santa stopped by Sonnax, and we captured the magic on camera so you can join in on the fun. From our team to yours, thank you for another amazing year. We are truly grateful for your support, and we wish you all the best in 2020. Enjoy the video!

We're giving away a $100 Visa gift card and prize pack full of cool Sonnax swag to three lucky fans!

Here's how to enter: You can either enter on Facebook, or you can send an email to [email protected] telling us one reason why you're a Sonnax fan. It’s that easy!

You have until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to submit your entry. Three lucky winners will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, Jan. 3. 

Good luck, and Happy Holidays from all your friends at Sonnax!

The Sonnax Technical Automotive Specialties Committee (TASC) Force recently met in Omaha, Nebraska to discuss emerging market needs, ideas for new parts and other hot-button issues. Forty trusted professionals attended this important meeting, representing 15 companies from the U.S and Canada, bringing an abundance of exciting ideas for new aftermarket solutions.

In welcoming the group, Sonnax President Steve Boyer commented on the investments Marmon has made in the year since acquiring the company, specifically on inventory and human resources. “We want to make sure Sonnax has the appropriate people in place to design, produce and deliver what you need, when you need it. We are also investing in our warehouse this year so we can get parts out even faster.”

This year’s gathering included a lot of great discussion about new product ideas and opportunities as well as a tour of Certified Transmission’s Omaha-based headquarters. More than 75 new product ideas were submitted, of which the group then votes on, based on which are most critical to develop to support the industry at-large. “The depth of knowledge of this group, and their enthusiasm for helping us develop fixes for problems is truly inspiring,” said Maura Stafford, Sonnax Transmission Specialties Product Line Manager.

Independent TASC members work for large shops, small shops, volume transmission and volume valve body rebuilders. Alongside Sonnax engineers and specialists, they are helping to develop repairs which will be used by their companies and by the rest of the transmission aftermarket. Their efforts help provide answers and repairs for the entire industry. Everybody wins.

Check out photos from the event on the Sonnax Facebook page.