The Difference Between Powerglide Bands And When To Use Each Type

What is the best powerglide band? We've used and tested just about every band available for powerglide transmissions. Here's some info on the various bands available and our experience using each type.

• Red  - This material is good for general racing applications, but specifically it is best for any powerglide that utilizes an aluminum high gear drum. The red material will not cause premature wear like the other materials on the aluminum drum surface.

• Kevlar - Our general use powerglide band material for many years. This is great for all applications and is a bit more durable than the red material.

• Carbon - Carbon bands feature a material that is more resistant to heat and wear than any other material currently available. We use this on our wide bands in higher horsepower applications.

• OEM - Many transmission builders like to use the OEM bands. The material used by GM during the powerglide transmisson's original production runs during the 1960s and 1970s is widely reported to contain asbestos (making it very durable under high temperature scenarios). A good condition OEM band can be used in cars making extreme power, but finding such a good OEM band 40 years after the last ones were produced can be difficult.

Any of the listed materials will work for most racers. Important things for band and transmission life include the band adjustment settings, the quality of the servo bore, the servo piston, controlling the transmission temperature, and the transmission line pressure.

**Finally, a quick note about wide bands - we only recommend them when using an aftermarket 10 clutch drum - there are no benefits for using most wide bands on the stock, OEM drum.