My 5 speed manual transmission is at 97,800 and I have read several times on this site about the rubber plugs on the transmission going out. I have the part numbers for the metal plugs to replace them with, but where do I order from ?

Chris

If you are talking about the freezer plugs to replace the rubber plugs, you can get them from NAPA.

Thank you so much! I want to get to the problem before the problem gets to me! I guess I can go to NAPA and just tell them that I need to order these part numbers and they will take it from there?

Thanks for the info!

Exactly what is involved in replacing those plugs? Do I have to drop the tranny, or can it be done on the vehicle? If you have the part #'s handy, I'ld like to write 'em down. Thanks!

would you mind posting the part numbers for the plugs. I have been meaning to replace them but everything else always gets in the way

Thanks,
Terry

Ok, I found out more info on this here (http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/manual.html). Do the same installation proceedures apply for us? simply pull back the carpet, and go in thru the inspection plate? Where exactly is the inspection plate?

I've had the carpet out of my ranger and explorer. Proceedure is slightly different for the Ex but once you have the four screw securing the rubber shift boot out you will be able to see the inspection plate. I think that's what he was talking about. You might be able to do the repair without taking out all the carpet but may get some stuff dirty that you don't want too. The Front seats on the Ex are easy to take out with only 4 bolts that are easy to get to. I would suggest removing both front seats, the kick panels and lower trim that has I believe 1 screw holding it in place by the front seat belt bracket. rc

RJC - Excellent information, that's exactly what I needed!

Does anyone have pictures of what the plugs look like inside the tranny? I suppose that once I see the replacement plugs, I won't have any problems identifying them, but I'd kinda like to have some sort of idea of what I'm getting into before I have it all torn apart. Thanks for the help.

srv,

You can get to the tranny via a metal plate that is bolted to the floor at the base of the stick. Once you have the carpet rolled back (removing the pass. seat helps) and have the stick out, remove the plate and there are the plugs. There are three made of black rubber (like little mushrooms) and are mounted to a vertical service at the base of the stick. Hope that helps.

This took all of 2 hours for me. The hardest part is hammering the freezer plugs in because you have very little room to swing a hammer.

Awesome! Thanks for the information.. I think I might do this soon. I've been wanting to change the tranny fluid for a while now, so I think i'll do it all at once.

Anyone happen to know the Napa part numbers? If I give them the Dana part #'s, can they get those for me?

I did this to my explorer about a year and a half ago. Here are the pictures i took to document it.

Seats and console and shifter tower removed: Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug1.JPG)

Comparison of old rubber plugs, a penny and new metal plugs Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug2.JPG)

Accesss cover removed, 3 freeze plugs visible (new ones already installed) Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug3.JPG)

Shifter removed exposing bushings which i recommend you replace or at least inspect. Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug4.JPG)

View of 3 shift rails where freeze plugs go Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug5.JPG)

Carpet removed, access cover removed and view of tranny Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/Transplug6.JPG)

3 screws to be removed to check the shifter bushings - indicated by grey arrows. Mine were in pieces so i had to replace them Pic (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/brian4x4/extranny.jpg)

Part numbers for the shifter bushings (not the freeze plugs) are:
E8TZ 7Z120-A --Washer
E8TZ 7E018-A --Spacer
E8TZ 7228A --Bushing

Those should be the numbers for it but not 100% sure.

Like I said while you have that much apart it is worth it to change or at least check those bushings. Mine were completly dried up and cracked into alot of pieces. I used a vacuum cleaner to suck them up being careful to not let any get inside the tranny.

Brian, that was great, those pictures really helped a lot! Also thanks for the info on the shifter bushings, I'll definately have to check that out. My shifter is really sloppy - hopefully that will fix the problem (or maybe it's that I am/was used to the shifting in a Mustang :))

No problem. Thats why i took them. I wish the quality was better but they were taken with my old digi cam which wasnt very good.

I did notice the shifter was tighter for a few days after installing those bushings but afterward it began to loosen up to normal.

Hey guys!

Here's those plug part numbers everyone is asking for.

Dana #219-3052 or Dorman #555-108

Go to this link http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/manual.html and you can read specific details about step-by-step disassemble and reassemble along with the exact tools you will need to do the job and more.

Hope this helps and thanks for the dialogue on the subject!

Chris

Brian,

You should submit those pics to:
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/manual.html

That would centralize it. I did the 4x4 Motor fix a year ago. About 2 months before I did it, someone posted pics of the motor which helped out alot, before that I was guessing at what things would look like.

Brian, I just had an idea.. What if i get a machine shop to make a metal bushing instead of using that rubber
Ford bushing for the shifter? Do you think that would cause any problems? Would it make the shifting feel a bit more definate?

I dont think metal would be very good. First of all paying a machine shop to make you one would be 2 or 3 times the cost of the one from ford. It is 2 pieces that are half domes and some really thin metal shims. The ford bushings are polyurethane and will hold up alot better than what was in there. Plus metal to metal contact i dont think would be that good as what you propose. I think overall the poly bushing from ford will do a better job than metal. It is up to you however if you want to try it and report back to us.

Triton, i may consider doing that.