Planetary gearboxes, like all gearboxes, are designed to help shift both the speed and torque of your vehicle. They’re an essential part of an automatic transmission, allowing for speed reductions and increases in a small space. These epicyclic gears are used in everything from electric screwdrivers to 3D printers, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on how they work in vehicles.
In this article, we’ll discuss why the planetary gear system (or other gearbox) is important for your automatic transmission, as well as some of the common problems that need to be fixed. In the end, we’ll let you know where you can go if you’re having problems with your planetary gearset.
How Do Planetary Gearsets Work?
As the name suggests, there are multiple “planet gears” that work together to fulfill the planetary gearset’s function. There are three major components: the sun gear, the planetary gears which surround it, and then the outer ring gears. There are a few different structures they may have: meshed-planet, multi-stage, and so on. These are usually placed parallel to each other, which allows them to manipulate speed and torque with their gearhead ratio and contact ratio.
What are Planetary Gears Used For?
The planet carrier, ring gear, and bevel gear are all complicated pieces of machinery, which are put together in a way that allows them to manipulate the speed and torque of a vehicle. Essentially, they’re useful for automatic transmissions because they allow the car to determine what gear it needs to be in.
What are Some Common Transmission Problems Caused By Planetary Gears?
Ultimately, if you’re thinking about planetary gears, there’s a good chance there’s something wrong with yours. One of the most common problems are involved when there isn’t any noise being made by the planetary gear. Sometimes, a gear set won’t turn properly: this occurs because the whole planetary gearset is turning, as opposed to the individual gears.
If the individual gears rotates in concert with the rest of the gears — everything moving in the same direction, instead of properly manipulating speed and torque — the planetary gearset won’t be able to function properly. It’s as if the individual gears have been held stationary.
Of course, the planetary gearset is just one of the many things that can go wrong if you suspect you’re having transmission difficulties. This is why it’s so important to go to an expert: it can sometimes be near-impossible to spot a transmission problem. Without the proper level of experience or education, you won’t be able to determine which of the many moving parts are causing problems for your vehicle.
Planetary Gear Problems in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
You need a transmission expert. Someone who’s handled a variety of transmission problems, someone who’s repaired and rebuilt a broad variety of transmissions. At Jet Auto Transmissions, we offer just that.
Being one of the best automotive performance shops in Florida, we’re proudly serving our customers. Our expertise allows us to offer the best, most cost-effective transmission solutions that you’ll find in Fort Lauderdale. To get a free quote on your auto transmission repair services, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (954) 581-0390.