2020 Gladiator Transmission issue really a brake problem?

[aldunn77]

My wife's Gladiator with 90k miles started shifting hard (failing to shift) between 2nd and 3rd, then 3rd to 4th. It would happen after diving for 5-15 miles. You could manually shift it. So, I read some threads on here about possible fixes. The least costly ($500-ish), was changing, but not flushing, the fluid and filter. The mechanic drove it 15 miles after the change and said it was fine, but if it started doing it again, then we would need a transmission. We picked it up and started home (40 miles away). At 20 miles it started doing it again, so she pulled over and we switched vehicles. I noticed that when I went to take off, it acted like the parking brake was on, but I thought that was a transmission issue. We took it back to the shop and $3500 later, we had a new transmission. Once again, we got about 40 miles away and it did the same thing. On the way back to the shop, I almost didn't get stopped, the brake pedal going to the floor. I explained that to the mechanic. I searched this forum for brake issues and told the mechanic about the front brake hoses collapsing prematurely, making the brakes drag. I suggested that the sensed "load" on the vehicle may keep the transmission from shifting from 2nd to 3rd, then 3rd to 4th. He replaced the master cylinder and the front brake hoses. Problem solved. Did I buy a transmission I didn't need? Probably. But, the mechanic did say the fluid from the first service was "burnt". So, maybe the brake issue ruined my OE transmission.

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[Stan H]

My wife's Gladiator with 90k miles started shifting hard (failing to shift) between 2nd and 3rd, then 3rd to 4th. It would happen after diving for 5-15 miles. You could manually shift it. So, I read some threads on here about possible fixes. The least costly ($500-ish), was changing, but not flushing, the fluid and filter. The mechanic drove it 15 miles after the change and said it was fine, but if it started doing it again, then we would need a transmission. We picked it up and started home (40 miles away). At 20 miles it started doing it again, so she pulled over and we switched vehicles. I noticed that when I went to take off, it acted like the parking brake was on, but I thought that was a transmission issue. We took it back to the shop and $3500 later, we had a new transmission. Once again, we got about 40 miles away and it did the same thing. On the way back to the shop, I almost didn't get stopped, the brake pedal going to the floor. I explained that to the mechanic. I searched this forum for brake issues and told the mechanic about the front brake hoses collapsing prematurely, making the brakes drag. I suggested that the sensed "load" on the vehicle may keep the transmission from shifting from 2nd to 3rd, then 3rd to 4th. He replaced the master cylinder and the front brake hoses. Problem solved. Did I buy a transmission I didn't need? Probably. But, the mechanic did say the fluid from the first service was "burnt". So, maybe the brake issue ruined my OE transmission.

Never heard of that issue with the brakes

 

[ShadowsPapa]

On the way back to the shop, I almost didn't get stopped, the brake pedal going to the floor. I explained that to the mechanic. I searched this forum for brake issues and told the mechanic about the front brake hoses collapsing prematurely, making the brakes drag. I suggested that the sensed "load" on the vehicle may keep the transmission from shifting from 2nd to 3rd, then 3rd to 4th. He replaced the master cylinder and the front brake hoses. Problem solved.

Don't get me wrong - I could be incorrect about this, but some of it doesn't make any sense.
If the brakes were dragging enough to make the transmission "sense a load" -
They would be applied enough to get hot.
Rotors might even be blue, pads glazed or iffy.
You should have "felt it" driving. It would feel like a parking brake partially applied.
My Jeep will "roll" if I let off the brakes, and when I put it in park and shut it off, if the park pawl isn't engaged, you can feel it roll a fraction of an inch and engage.
It takes a lot to make the transmission shift differently - a fair load on it and to have the brakes dragging that much to cause it to sense a need for added torque, there should have been other signs.

Brake hoses collapsing will typically make for a pull. RARE as heck to have BOTH brake hoses go bad in the same way at the same time. One, yes, but both?
When a front hose goes bad, you get a pull when applying the brakes, or even when driving as one may be partially applied while driving.

It is what it is - but I'd sure want to see those front brakes!

 

[Stan H]

Don't get me wrong - I could be incorrect about this, but some of it doesn't make any sense.
If the brakes were dragging enough to make the transmission "sense a load" -
They would be applied enough to get hot.
Rotors might even be blue, pads glazed or iffy.
You should have "felt it" driving. It would feel like a parking brake partially applied.
My Jeep will "roll" if I let off the brakes, and when I put it in park and shut it off, if the park pawl isn't engaged, you can feel it roll a fraction of an inch and engage.
It takes a lot to make the transmission shift differently - a fair load on it and to have the brakes dragging that much to cause it to sense a need for added torque, there should have been other signs.

Brake hoses collapsing will typically make for a pull. RARE as heck to have BOTH brake hoses go bad in the same way at the same time. One, yes, but both?
When a front hose goes bad, you get a pull when applying the brakes, or even when driving as one may be partially applied while driving.

It is what it is - but I'd sure want to see those front brakes!

The steering would have felt heavy also

 

[aldunn77]

They did very hot. Excessive brake dust on the front wheels. My wife drives this vehicle and runs it through the car wash, so I never noticed the brake dust until the shop repaired it.

I agree, the odds of both brake hoses collapsing at the same time is very low.

 

[Stan H]

They did very hot. Excessive brake dust on the front wheels. My wife drives this vehicle and runs it through the car wash, so I never noticed the brake dust until the shop repaired it.

I agree, the odds of both brake hoses collapsing at the same time is very low.

Yeah like 1 in a Bazillion. That has to be the 1 and only time I ever heard of this not just on a jeep I mean any type vehicle. I had one occurs on a ford truck years and years ago . But 2 ..Never. ultra rare .

 

[aldunn77]

The transmission shop owner told me that neither the master cylinder nor brake hoses were available to the Jeep dealers, which he said possibly infers that they are having issues with them. I owned and operated a tire/repair shop for over twenty years back in the 80's through early 2000's, and like y'all, I don't ever remember two brake hoses collapsing at the same time. We always replaced them in pairs, though. I seldom drove the Jeep, but I may remember a slight brake pull a few times, but I wouldn't swear to it.

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