6R80 Performance Rebuilds
6R80 Performance Rebuilds for Ranger & Everest — Engineered to Survive Queensland Heat, Load and Real-World Towing
This page is for Ford’s owners and is designed to help with 6R80 Performance Rebuilds. The Ford 6R80 is a strong transmission when it’s new, light, and driven in the climates it was designed for. It was not engineered for towing three tonnes up the Toowoomba Range in February. It wasn’t built for Queensland highway temperatures, heavy diesels with steep torque curves, or modern tuning that doubles factory output.
That is why so many Rangers and Everests develop 2–3 flares, 3–4 shudder, converter slip and overheating. The problem is not abuse. The problem is physics.
A Redorq 6R80 Performance Rebuild is engineered specifically for diesel torque, Australian heat, towing load, and the long hills that melt stock transmissions every summer. We fix the root causes, not just the symptoms.
As far as we at Brisbane Tuning & Turbo think, this is the rebuild the factory should have offered for Australia.
Symptoms for 6R80 Performance Rebuilds
2–3 or 3–4 flare
If your Ranger or Everest is starting to feel “not quite right,” the transmission is usually telling you something. The most common symptom is a 2–3 or 3–4 flare under moderate load. That flare is the E-clutch slipping because heat has glazed the friction material. It may be subtle at first – a slight rise in RPM, a hesitation before fourth gear, a soft shift when towing – but it is the beginning of clutch failure.
Converter shudder
Converter shudder is another early warning sign. It shows up as a vibration at 60–90 km/h, usually on light throttle or slight inclines. This shudder is the converter clutch losing its grip because the OEM design cannot hold diesel torque under prolonged lockup. If left untreated, it contaminates the valve body, pump and drums with friction debris.
Temperature spikes
Temperature spikes are the final warning. If you notice the transmission running 100°C+ on the highway or climbing hills, the bypass valve is restricting cooler flow and the converter outlet is overwhelming the cooling system. Once the ATF overheats, line pressure stability drops, clutches slip, and the gearbox begins a quiet, steady decline.
None of these symptoms go away on their own. They are the early stages of predictable, preventable 6R80 failure.
A Redorq rebuild is designed to stop these issues permanently.
Redorq 6R80 Rebuild Packages — Diesel + Towing Focused
Redorq Stage 1 — Towing Reliability Rebuild
For daily driven Rangers and Everests that tow caravans, trailers or boats and want to eliminate flare, shudder and overheating.
This rebuild focuses on restoring hydraulic stability and removing the thermal weaknesses that destroy 6R80s in Australian towing conditions. We install upgraded friction materials, correct clutch clearances, rebuild the valve body with revised pressure regulation, and replace the converter with a towing-rated unit that locks cleanly and holds torque without slip. The factory cooler bypass valve is deleted or upgraded to ensure constant flow, and a high-capacity cooler is fitted if temperatures dictate. This package brings the gearbox back to confident, reliable operation — even under load.
Ideal for:
Caravan touring, tradies, family towing, chipped/tuned diesels, preemptive reliability.
Redorq Stage 2 — Heavy Tow + Performance Diesel Build
For tuned 3.2 Rangers, upgraded 2.0 Bi-Turbos, and Everest owners running increased boost, weight or towing capacity.
Stage 2 reinforces the mechanical backbone of the 6R80. The intermediate shaft is upgraded to prevent torsional twist, the B-drum is replaced with a stronger unit to avoid distortion, and the converter is upgraded with improved lockup materials designed for sustained diesel torque. Friction packs are upgraded across the board and the valve body receives a deeper hydraulic correction package. This is the build for customers who tow in harsh conditions or who have modified engines producing torque the factory gearbox was never designed for.
Ideal for:
Long-distance towing, tuned diesel performance, large caravans, high-load operation.
Redorq Stage 3 — Diesel Performance & Extreme Duty
For customers demanding maximum longevity under extreme towing conditions, high-output diesel builds, or mixed-use touring and off-road workloads.
Stage 3 is a full-engineering rebuild. Billet intermediate shafts, billet B-drum, upgraded planetaries, reinforced centre supports and a heavy-duty performance converter transform the 6R80 into a torque-handling unit with massive thermal stability. This is the rebuild used in high-power 6R80 conversions and endurance towing platforms. Combined with industrial-level cooling upgrades, this gearbox stays alive in environments that routinely kill stock transmissions.
Ideal for:
Maximum towing weight, extreme heat, national touring, big-power diesel builds, fleet reliability.
Why Ranger & Everest Owners Choose Redorq
Some of our customers don’t bring us failing 6R80s because they want “just a rebuild.”
They come to us because they want the engineering answer.
Our teardown process identifies every hidden failure — converter wear, drum distortion, valve body leakage, pump damage and lubrication issues — so the rebuild solves the root cause, not just the symptoms. Every Redorq 6R80 is validated under load through a full transmission scan, road test, converter lockup analysis and temperature monitoring. It is rebuilt for how Australians actually use their vehicles, not how the OEM manuals pretend they’re used.
This is why our 6R80s survive where others don’t.
6R80 Performance Rebuilds isn’t for everyone
Book Your 6R80 Transmission Diagnosis to know the real condition of your 6R80 automatic transmission.
Flares, shudder, or temperature spikes are early warning signs.
Before damage spreads, book a Redorq 6R80 diagnostic scan and towing-load assessment.
Call Brisbane Tuning & Turbo
Or request a booking below.
We recommend checking the following articles:
Your 6R80 Manual: “Learn exactly why the 6R80 fails under towing load.”
Your Towing Guide “If your Ranger tows regularly, read our 6R80 Towing Heat Guide.”
General Transmission Services: “We service and diagnose all Ford transmission platforms.”
Dyno + Trans Check “Combine your rebuild with a dyno-backed transmission health report.”
Optional Dyno + Transmission Scan
For tuned diesels or towing rigs, we strongly recommend pairing the rebuild with a Dyno + Transmission Health Check.
This validates converter lockup behaviour, torque limits, thermal stability and real-world shift quality under controlled load.
It is the only way to confirm the new gearbox is perfectly matched to your engine tune and towing demands.
FAQ
What causes the 6R80 to flare between gears?
Most flares are caused by E-clutch glazing, hydraulic leakage in the valve body, or converter slip sending heat downstream. All three issues are common in towing and tuned diesel applications.
Why does my Ranger shudder at 60–90 km/h?
This is converter clutch shudder. The OEM clutch material cannot handle early, high-load lockup. Once shudder starts, debris enters the valve body and clutches. It is the first stage of failure.
Can I keep towing with a slight flare?
Technically yes. Mechanically no. A flare is a slipping clutch, and every slip cooks the friction material further. This accelerates failure.
Will a transmission service fix my 6R80 flare?
No. A service helps healthy transmissions. It does not reverse glazing, restore hydraulic integrity or fix converter slip.
Do I need a bigger cooler?
Preferably. If you tow, yes. Queensland ambient temp plus diesel torque overwhelms the stock cooling system. A bypass delete + external cooler is mandatory for longevity.
What’s the difference between a Redorq rebuild and a normal rebuild?
A normal rebuild repairs. A Redorq rebuild re-engineers the 6R80 for Australian towing load, diesel torque and heat. The difference is longevity under real-world conditions.
Stop the flare before it becomes a full rebuild.
Stop the shudder before it destroys the converter.
Let us stop the heat before it cooks the E-clutch.
If your Ranger or Everest depends on its 6R80, a Redorq Performance Rebuild is the only engineering-led solution built for Queensland conditions.
Book your diagnostic assessment today with Brisbane Tuning & Turbo.
