The first step after making sure you have all things needed is to raise and support the car with jack stands.
Then position the drip pan under the transmission pan in the area you want it to start dripping first. Start removing the 10mm bolts from the transmission in one area first, making your way to the other side. Once you're at the last 5 or so, and the fluid has stopped dripping, hold the pan up with your hand and remove the remaining bolts at once. Letting it hang by too few bolts may bend the pan.
Pan removed: Thank god, no metal flakes or chunks. (110k miles on possibly the original transmission fluid)
Then remove the old filter by pulling straight down. Avoid pulling it on too much of an angle because the snout is plastic and may break off.
The next step is to remove the accumulator assembly. All of the bolts are 8mm, but only 4 are holding the assembly to the transmission. The remaining 7 are to separate the two halves of the accumulator. So remove only the labeled bolts while it's in the transmission:
Once they are removed, wiggle the accumulator out of its spot, being careful not to bend the lines. Once it's out of its spot, the lines can then be removed from the accumulator. They just pull straight out; there are no clips or seals holding them in.
Accumulator removed: Fluid will continue to drip for hours after these parts are removed, so keep that pan under there.
Remove the remaining 7, 8mm bolts, and carefully separate the accumulator. The gasket is metal, and is reusable. Here is what it will look like:
It is recommended that you use a scotch brite pad to clean up the glazed bores to prevent chatter, and improve lubrication.
Before/After:
My accumulator wasn't very glazed to begin with, sometimes they are though. Clean up any dust or particles in the accumulator, and spread a thin coating of new transmission fluid in the bore.
The next step is to replace the stock springs with the new springs and shims. Use your instruction sheet to reassemble the accumulator. It should look like this afterwards: You will have 2 extra springs from the shift kit. Those belong in the 3-4 accumulator which is in a different place in the transmission. It requires the side cover and channel plate to be removed, most don't install it as part of the shift kit until/unless they go in the side pan for something else.
[ TransGo Instructions ]
Since the piston on the right (1-2) only requires 2 springs, there will be a little bit of room in between them, and it may not sit right in the middle because of it. I suggest lying that spring in the bore first, and dropping the rest of the piston assembly/spring over it. Clean the gasket and mating surfaces, reassemble the accumulator completely, and tighten the bolts up. The torque spec is 97 inch pounds.
Now it's time to clean up the trans pan mating surfaces. Remove all of the old dirt/grease. Make sure to clean the pan from all clutch material, and be sure to clean the magnet. You should use brake clean on the final wipe. You may reuse the old stock gasket as long as you clean it. Stock gaskets have an aluminum middle with ribs on the rubber surface. Aftermarket flat gaskets should be replaced.
What the magnet looks like clean. Before you could see a ribbed surface, that was the clutch material sticking to it from wear over time. The amount mine had was normal.
Now it is time to start putting everything back together; the accumulator is first. Attach the 3 lines to the accumulator and carefully wiggle it back into its place. Do not bend the lines. If you are having trouble, try inserting the lines more, and slightly twisting the accumulator only a few degrees. Also notice the mating surface is very clean. Here's how the lines are supposed to be in case you forget:
After it slides in, line up the bolt holes, and start all of them. Torque them to 97 inch pounds.
Since those lines have nothing retaining them, the one with the rubber hose section (The differential lube line) is known to pop out of the accumulator. Part #: 84532-01K prevents lines from blowing out.
Next, check your filter seal to make sure it is still pliable and wipe it clean. Put some new transmission fluid on the filter, and install it pressing straight up, twisting slightly if needed. If it isn't a tight fit, replace the seal.
Now align the gasket on the pan, and line it up with the bolt holes. Start all 20 bolts by hand first, ensuring the gasket lines up properly. I used the new gasket that came with the kit. Although the stock ribbed gasket with the aluminum inner part is reusable.
