<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-08-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033619</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377581</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>First Pacific Advisors, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001462898</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FPA Hawkeye-7 Fund</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001161993</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FPA HAWKEYE FUND</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192887</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ATWOOD J RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186259</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROMICK STEVEN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001450268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Selmo Brian A.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001475492</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Landecker Mark</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11601 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option (obligation to sell)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>117</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>642.09</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-08-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11700</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>117</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option (obligation to sell)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-08-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>84</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>642.09</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-08-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>84</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On August 16, 2016, FPA Hawkeye-7 Fund, a series of FPA Hawkeye Fund, LLC (&quot;FPA Hawkeye-7&quot;) sold options to purchase an aggregate of 11,700 shares of common stock of Esterline Technologies Corporation (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) with a strike price of $70 per share.   FPA Hawkeye-7 received a premium of $6.4209 for each option to purchase one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On August 16, 2016, FPA Hawkeye Fund, a series of FPA Hawkeye Fund, LLC (&quot;FPA Hawkeye&quot;, and together with FPA Hawkeye-7, the &quot;Private Investment Funds&quot;) sold options to purchase an aggregate of 8,400 shares of common stock of the Issuer with a strike price of $70 per share.  FPA Hawkeye received a premium of $6.4209 for each option to purchase one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">First Pacific Advisors, LLC (&quot;FPA&quot;) serves as manager of and investment adviser to the Private Investment Funds.  FPA may be deemed to share voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by each of the Private Investment Funds as the manager of and investment adviser to each of the Private Investment Funds. In addition, Mr. J. Richard Atwood may be deemed to share voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by the Private Investment Funds as a Managing Partner of FPA. Mr. Steven T. Romick may be deemed to share voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by the Private Investment Funds, as Portfolio Manager of such funds, and over the securities of the Issuer held by the Private Investment Funds as a Managing Partner of FPA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">(Continued from Footnote 3) Mr. Brian A. Selmo may be deemed to share voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by the Private Investment Funds as a Partner of FPA.  Mr. Mark Landecker may be deemed to share voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by the Private Investment Funds as a Partner of FPA.  FPA and Messrs. Atwood, Romick, Selmo and Landecker may be deemed to have a pecuniary interest in a portion of the securities held directly by the Private Investment Funds due to FPA's right to receive performance-based allocations.  In addition, Messrs. Romick, Selmo and Landecker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in a portion of the securities held directly FPA Hawkeye due to their respective ownership interests in such Private Investment Fund.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">(Continued from Footnote 4) Mr. Romick may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in a portion of the securities held directly by FPA Hawkeye-7 due to his ownership interest in such Private Investment Fund.  Each of FPA and Messrs. Atwood, Romick, Selmo and Landecker disclaims beneficial ownership of securities of the Issuer held directly by the Private Investment Funds except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of FPA or Messrs. Atwood, Romick, Selmo or Landecker is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FIRST PACIFIC ADVISORS, LLC, Name: /s/ J. Richard Atwood, Title: Managing Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FPA HAWKEYE-7 FUND, a series of FPA HAWKEYE FUND, LLC, By: First Pacific Advisors, LLC, its investment adviser, Name: /s/ J. Richard Atwood, Title: Managing Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FPA HAWKEYE FUND, a series of FPA HAWKEYE FUND, LLC, By: First Pacific Advisors, LLC, its investment adviser, Name: /s/ J. Richard Atwood, Title: Managing Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. RICHARD ATWOOD, Name: /s/ J. Richard Atwood</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>STEVEN T. ROMICK, Name: /s/ Steven T. Romick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>BRIAN A. SELMO, Name: /s/ Brian A. Selmo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARK LANDECKER, Name: /s/ Mark Landecker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
