5R55E likely damage?

[EB4X]

DUDE, that's one good free-hand gasket you made there! I think you might want to get into gasket business on the side..

 

[C420sailor]

drdoom nailed it, it’s the magnetic field that does it.

It’s the same kind of gray sludge that accumulates in a rear end. Fine powder mixed with oils.

It’s ferritic and attracted to the magnet.

 

[Wrath]

Update, didn't wanna leave y'all hanging. Trans is back in, full of MercV (10 quarts!), new torque converter, and aside from a bad alternator everything works! New alt went in this evening, tomorrow I'm dumping and replacing the rear diff oil. Previous owner said he'd changed it, but he said the same of the trans fluid and it looked like weak coffee.

 

[Wrath]

Aaaaand this just came in. Woot.

 

[EB4X]

/\ Cool.... Limited grille ...I like these grilles better than the rest being they have the sharp angled corners versus the rounded corners. This is going
on the Sport ...correct?

 

[Wrath]

/\ Cool.... Limited grille ...I like these grilles better than the rest being they have the sharp angled corners versus the rounded corners. This is going
on the Sport ...correct?
View attachment 426430

Nope, going on my '99 Limited that I just put hella work into. I also noticed that the center split bar is flush to the front and not recessed like the xlt and sport grilles. They stopped using this style on the Limited in 96-97 or so, not really sure when. But I've always liked the split-bar look and was a bit put out that I finally got a Limited and it didn't have the grille. Gonna be a bit yet because I still need to get my upgrade headlights and a factory paint kit or two to shoot the grille and light interiors (just the black parts) to match the body.

 

[Wrath]

Well, things were working great, lasted all weekend. But coming home from the first trip of the morning Tuesday, I put it in reverse to back in to my spot and there's a soft 'whump' then no reverse. All forward gears seem to be working, but veeeeeeery weak reverse, hardly enough to back it on level pavement. I've a few ideas on where to look, but would like to hear some thoughts on possible points of failure. I'll be pulling the pan anyway to get to the servo, so what else should I look for while I'm in there?

 

[Wrath]

So, finally dropped the transmission again and ordered the ATSG manual, a master rebuild kit, and another torque converter. B@[[s deep into the tear down and I find the problem: Reverse band snapped! Also see some pitting on the end of the reverse servo pin, not sure if related to band failure.

Other than those two parts, the internals look great! Even the clutch rings look new aside from being a reddish brown.

 

[Wrath]

Proceeding with rebuild anyway, seeing as I'm already in here. Debating on ordering another reverse servo. Would the pitting be a problem? These seem to be rare-ish and pricey ($105!).

 

[Wrath]

These things are canned dynamite! Wear eye protection if you have to open one. 15-20 springs in there under considerable pressure. When it went it exploded in my face! Fortunately I found all the bits. But they are a pain to get back together. Anyone got any tricks for reassembling these?

 

[Wrath]

Got the reverse clutch pack rebuilt. Doing the intermediate and it seems the new rings are a little thicker? I took 5 friction and 5 steel rings out, but can only fit 4 friction and 5 steel back in. The ATSG says to use 4 and 4 for the OHV 4.0, 5 and 5 with the SOHC. Would it hurt to use 4/5? Thinking I'll try again tomorrow with the original steel rings since they're in such great shape.

 

[Wrath]

Update: the old steel rings went back in with the new friction rings, new TC bolted up and everything works like a charm! I ended up going through the original valve body too since I didn't trust the replacement VB that came in (used and partially modified it looked like).

 

[C420sailor]

Nice! If you haven’t, flush your cooler. I installed an external filter on my trans—highly recommended.

Change that fluid every 30k like clockwork and don’t beat on her and she will last forever. My 5R55E started to eat itself around 120k, had it rebuilt at 140k. I didn’t do a great job maintaining her until then. 190k since rebuild now, zero problems. I attribute it to fresh fluid every 30k, keeping her cool, and installing an external filter.

 

[donalds]

Nice! If you haven’t, flush your cooler. I installed an external filter on my trans—highly recommended.

Change that fluid every 30k like clockwork and don’t beat on her and she will last forever. My 5R55E started to eat itself around 120k, had it rebuilt at 140k. I didn’t do a great job maintaining her until then. 190k since rebuild now, zero problems. I attribute it to fresh fluid every 30k, keeping her cool, and installing an external filter.

Exactly how I do mine

 

[410Fortune]

FYI for you guys trying to stab an engine to a trans that is already in the truck, remove the engine aide
Mount plates…. It allows you to hang the engine lower on the hoist and line up to the trans perfectly, then stab the converter and bellhousing, bolt together, now finally raise engine back up and install side plates.

Can help avoid this whole mess!! Never never never force auto trans to engine with longer bolts lol lol we all have learned the hard way