first truck with an auto trans its a 90 f150 5.8 and e4od.
with a manual when trying to slow down in snow or mud id just downshift.
with the e4od will shifting to 2nd or 1st to slow down damage the transmission?

im not trying to save breaks or be cheap just want to keep wheels from locking up down slick hills.
if downshifing is bad i could use chains on the front with light breaking.
thanks everyone.

 

The back wheels already have minimum traction for braking especially downhill. Downshifting all the time isn't going to be good for your trans. A rebuild on an automatic can cost 1500 to 2000 and presumably yours isn't freshly rebuilt. So not the best idea, no.

 

you can turn over drive off for cruising down hills that are about 45mph or so, or if theres a situation where the truck keeps shifting in and out of od.
when i had a f150 with the e4od it was handy driving at slow speeds in 2 as it would take off in that, and had no wheelspin. i wouldnt keep shifting it around tho...sounds like you should have bought a manual

 

ya not sure what i think of the auto. when im up logging roads in the winter im with a group last year i was the only fella with a manual. may run chains on all four to avoid down shifting.
thanks for the replies.

 

Yeah. Never chains on the front and not the back though. That would be disastrous.

 

sound advice i ordered another set.