92 LeBaron transmission question

I've noticed in the maintenance chart of my 92 LeBaron's owner's
manual that it suggests to 'adjust bands every 15,000 miles' in severe
driving conditions.

What exactly do these bands do in a 92 Chrysler transmission?

Thanks

 

The bands are a metal band with a layer of friction material bonded to it,
anchored at one end and attached to a servo piston and linkage at the other
end. These bands go around drums or hubs which house the planetary gear
sets that provide the various speeds in the transmission. Gears are changed
by releasing and applying the various bands which act as clutches. Out of
adjustment bands can create shift lag and in a worst case scenario slip
burning them out.

 

Only the 3-speed automatics even have bands. One band applies second
gear (the "front" band), and one applies reverse (the "rear" band) and
parallels the overruning clutch to provide engine braking when you
select manual low gear. This is the same as all Chrysler 3-speed
automatics going back the the first Torqueflite in ~1957.

 

Thanks for the reply. So, if I have a transmission that does not
always shift into Drive or Reverse quickly in most mornings....more
than likely adjusting these 'bands' will help that?

 

I've never seen where you stated precisely which transmission is in your
car. Is it a 4-speed automatic (behind 3.0 and 3.3L engines, shifter
usually marked P-R-N-D-3-1) or a 3-speed (behind 3.0 and 4-cylinder
engines, shifter usually marked P-R-N-D-2-1)? If its a 3-speed, a
fluid/filter and band adjustment might very well fix the problem. If its
a 4-speed, a fluid/filter change and a check of the solenoid pack might
do the trick (no bands to adjust in the 4-speed).