How Do You Rebuild A Transmission?

September 30, 2020 | By Mister Transmission

How Do You Rebuild A Transmission?

The decision to rebuild a transmission is not to be taken lightly. While a fascinating process, rebuilding a transmission is not a quick fix. It should only be undertaken when absolutely necessary.

The Majority Of Transmission Problems Are Relatively Minor And Do Not Require A Transmission Rebuild.

Just as you don’t require surgery for a head cold, your transmission won’t need a rebuild for most of the issues it’s likely to face. There are so many problems caused by a lack of transmission fluid that it’s almost comical. That’s all the more reason to check your transmission fluid levels every month and top them up when necessary. Newer transmissions are computerized, which makes them run more efficiently, but does add something else that can go wrong. Top of the line transmission shops have technology that can interface with a vehicle’s onboard computer which allows for quick diagnoses and fixes.

Occasionally, parts of your transmission will probably have to be replaced. But don’t fret, this is not the end of the world. Often, parts that need to be replaced can be accessed while the transmission is still in the body of the vehicle. These are referred to as accessible parts. When an inaccessible part needs to be repaired, then we get into larger transmission repair jobs. But even in these cases, if the problematic part can be easily identified it can still be a relatively quick job. Then there are transmission rebuilds.

You Only Need To Rebuild A Transmission When There Is Extensive Damage Or If The Transmission Technicians Cannot Identify The Cause Of Your Transmission Problem.

Extensive damage or a complete transmission failure can necessitate a transmission rebuild. This involves removing the transmission from the chassis and examining each and every part for damage. Depending on its condition, each part is then cleaned in a special solution or replaced with another part. Parts that have friction surfaces, such as bands and clutches, are replaced regardless, as are all seals and gaskets and the torque converter.

Is It Better To Rebuild A Transmission Or Replace It Piece-By-Piece?

If the description above makes rebuilding a transmission sound labour intensive, that’s because it is. Wouldn’t it be much quicker and easier to simply replace the transmission with another one? It would but, in most scenarios, we advise against it. You would be replacing your transmission with a used one with an unknown provenance which could create a whole new set of problems. And “new transmissions” are extremely expensive compared to a rebuilt transmission.

Mister Transmission

Want to learn more about how we rebuild a transmission? Please contact us.

Mister Transmission Team

The Mister Transmission team consists of certified transmission specialists with decades of combined experience in diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining automatic and manual transmissions.

With over 60 years of service across Canada, our experts provide trusted, accurate, and up-to-date automotive advice to help drivers make informed decisions about their vehicles.

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Customer Reviews
Did transmission and driveline oil...
Mohammad Karimi
Did transmission and driveline oil change here for my lexus. Chris was amazing and very knowledgeable! He listened to all my concerns and professionally did the job. He even gave me a ride home and offered to pick me up when the car was ready. Definitely, recommend this place.
Date: July 27, 2026
Website: Google
A huge thanks Jennifer and...
Setter N
A huge thanks Jennifer and the team for getting us fixed up the same day! We were from out of town and our vacation was saved!
Date: July 26, 2026
Website: Google
One of the best experiences...
Tooba Wali
One of the best experiences I had, the customer support was great, they were very polite and able to assist me in a timely manner. Will recommend 10/10
Date: July 24, 2026
Website: Google
Best service everRoma was very...
Khalil Belahrach
Best service everRoma was very friendly and helped a lotI took my audi a3 2017 for transmission service and i'm very happy with the service and price is really competitive
Date: July 24, 2026
Website: Google
I took my 2009 Honda...
Pamela Nelson
I took my 2009 Honda Fit to Mister Transmission on the Queensway. My car is a manual shift. Everyone that I dealt with was very knowledgeable and polite. The mechanic was very helpful. After driving my car, he said that everything was okay. He also gave me some suggestions regarding the manual transmission. No charge!
Date: July 23, 2026
Website: Google
Super professional and friendly service...
Mike Peroff
Super professional and friendly service from the team. Will be recommending to my friends and family in future.
Date: July 23, 2026
Website: Google
Amazing knowledge and honest advice...
Vanessa La
Amazing knowledge and honest advice given for the long term health of my transmission and vehicle. Wonderfully accommodating, quick turn around but done properly, highly recommend to anyone!
Date: July 22, 2026
Website: Google
Excellent service. Chris, Wes and...
Mandy Pickett
Excellent service. Chris, Wes and the rest of the team were fantastic!
Date: July 21, 2026
Website: Google
Awesome team. Transmission is now...
Yoshipark99
Awesome team. Transmission is now smoother and more responsive. 4L60E full rebuild. Great job and pretty fast. Cole from Tillsonburg
Date: July 18, 2026
Website: Google
One of the best experiences...
Wayne King
One of the best experiences I have at a repair shop. I had transmission problems that I expected would cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Ended up it was just some rust seizing a linkage - they cleaned it up and didn't even charge me anything works fine now and I couldn't be happier - will be recommending them to everyone.
Date: July 18, 2026
Website: Google
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