well I'm debating the next step in making this trans much more reliable. the shift kit I can do myself the torque converter on the other hand i can't. should i just save and bring it to a shop and do both at once along with new clutches and everything or just call it a day with the shift kit.

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daily driver:06 midnight blue jeep liberty CRD sport.
mods: CRD frakenlift, 245/75R16 grabbers on Soft 8's,All J interior rack,front hitch,custom intake,ORM, EHM GDE hot tune
141k miles

I've not had mine done yet, but I'd be inclined to have them both done at once (assuming you can afford it). Better to have a major tranny overhaul once, then the new parts breaking in together, rather than having a new TC broken in with stock springs/hydraulic pressure, only to be replaced with a different set up down the road.

From what I'm gathering, you're debating two scenarios -

1 - Get the shift kit and put it in yourself now, then later on have a tranny shop put in a Suncoast TC and other hardware.

2 - Get the shift kit and keep it on the shelf until you get the funds/time/etc to take your vehicle to a tranny shop and let the shop install it along with the Suncoast TC and other items.

It depends. If you have definitely made the decision to go with a Suncoast TC in the near future, might as well let the tranny shop put it in while they're installing everything else. They're going to have to pull the tranny out of the vehicle anyway to change the TC and disassemble it to some extent to install any other items you desire - far easier to do it on a bench than underneath the vehicle. If you decide on new clutch packs, that's going to involve a complete disassembly of the tranny. As far as parts and labor, the shift kit will be a minor part of the bill if you let the shop do it.

Also, my personal preference when it comes to auto trannys is that the more times you go digging into their guts, the more chances that something else can go wrong. I'd rather only open it up once and be done with it, than go opening it up multiple times.

On the other hand, if you haven't made a final decision on the Suncoast TC, or don't have a good idea yet of when down the road you'll have the time and funds to get it put in, then no harm in going ahead and putting the shift kit in yourself. At least you'll have that part of it done.

As far as new clutch packs - that's going to significantly add to the expense. For putting in a Suncoast TC, shift kit, and new oil pump locally, the bill was roughly $1800. Parts and labor for putting in new clutch packs will jack that probably into the $2500 range. My local tranny guru, who has had plenty of experience with Chrysler trannys and is a former CJD service tech, actually talked me out of the idea of installing a set of racing or heavy duty clutch packs. He said that the stock clutch packs were more than adequate, and unless you had reason to suspect they had been damaged in some way, there was no reason to change them out - it wouldn't offer any improvement in reliability or performance. OTOH, he definitely felt that the Suncoast TC, shift kit, and new design oil pump offered qualitative improvements over the stock configuration.

In his words, the 545RFE is a bloody tough tranny, and when set up correctly it shouldn't give you any problems for the life of the vehicle. He also echoed our sentiments, that the weak link in our present setup is the stock TC that DC originally put in the vehicle.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

Just do the torque converter.

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2005 CRD Limited Flame Red w/ Renegade rock rails & light bar, AirLift 1000. 225/75R16 MT/R's on cheap black steel wheels, dual MOPAR subwoofers, Ipod kit & seat covers, Samco hoses - totaled and gone. 2008 WK Laredo 3.0L diesel - AirLift 1000, wife won't let me mess with it much. 2013 JK Sahara on order.

Mine don't need a torque convertor, will the shift kit make the tranny perform better??

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2006 Black Jeep Liberty CRD Limited
K&N, Samco Hoses, Michelin 245/70-16 LTX A/T2, Fumoto F-102, V-Force Muffler, Mopar, Hitch, Trailer Wiring, Skid Plates, Slush Mats, Rear Shelf, Predator Stage 1, Transgo, ORM & CodeReader, Facet 40109 Pump
"IT'S A DIESEL THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND"
Certified Services Auto & Truck Repair

I get people all riled up when I say this, but in my opinion, no. As has been stated before by others the 545RFE is a decently strong transmission. As others also state, the firm shifts of the kit smooth out over time. I believe this is because transmission attempts to compensate and get back to it's programming. There's also the question of pump pressure. The 545RFE was designed with variable pump pressure for fuel economy reasons, less pressure generated, less drag on engine. Many shift kits fool the controller into delivering higher than programmed pressure. This is good for clutch durability but if we've agreed that the transmission is decently strong enough, why waste fuel?

The torque converter has already been recalled. I wasn't happy with my original or the replacement. I want a Suncoast or equivalent but I'm waiting (hoping I'll make it) until it's paid off, then I'll start putting that monthly money into a converter, lift kit, bumpers, winch, etc.

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2005 CRD Limited Flame Red w/ Renegade rock rails & light bar, AirLift 1000. 225/75R16 MT/R's on cheap black steel wheels, dual MOPAR subwoofers, Ipod kit & seat covers, Samco hoses - totaled and gone. 2008 WK Laredo 3.0L diesel - AirLift 1000, wife won't let me mess with it much. 2013 JK Sahara on order.

I'm in agreement that this tranny is really tough. It's basically the same unit that is in my GC behind the HEMI and I've really pushed it hard while towing our 5800 lb TT thru mountains in the western states for ~ 14,000 miles. While I don't have any experience with TC's, it's possible that DCX helped create this problem with "creative programming" trying to match a sub-standard TC to the Diesel engine torque curve. If mine ever takes a dump, I'll try to get the dealer to install a TC of my choice (and $) with their labor.

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2006 Libery Sport CRD, Lt Kakhi, nicely equipped
*****GDE Hot Tune at 38,879 miles
*****Stock TC.....for the time being!!