How to: 5R55E Valve Body Rebuild Diary

[BrooklynBay]

A PDF would be a good idea, but it could only be posted if either you get an elite membership, or if you post it on another site, and link it here. How many kilobytes is the PDF? This site has a low 97.7 kb limit which I hope they would increase.

 

[awh4992]

A PDF would be a good idea, but it could only be posted if either you get an elite membership, or if you post it on another site, and link it here. How many kilobytes is the PDF? This site has a low 97.7 kb limit which I hope they would increase.

I dunno, I haven't made it yet . I was mostly curious to see if it might actually be helpful to someone. I can post it on my webserver for now, but there's no guarantee as to its availability and whatnot. So it would be better if it was posted here (and now knowing I can't do it @ this point in time, someone else would have to). I'll make the pdf tonight when I get home and I'll try and get it less than the 97.7KB, or maybe I could break it up a little.

Andy

 

[ellis11]

Someone also posted that Ford Parts Network (a site sponsor and good place to get FORD parts) had the kit for about $14 and the sep plate for a like amount. Didn't mention gaskets...

I am a little confused on these parts. What is the difference between the different seperator plates for the model years and engines? I am still trying to find out from my local dealer if the 97 seperator plate has the bonded gaskets. They don't seem to know. Are all the 5R55E valve bodies the same?

 

[Glacier991]

I don't believe that the 97 had bonded gaskets. For all practical purposes the castings are the same. Calibrations may have varied between models. The TSB should help guide you to order gaskets if they are needed.

 

[ellis11]

I don't believe that the 97 had bonded gaskets. For all practical purposes the castings are the same. Calibrations may have varied between models. The TSB should help guide you to order gaskets if they are needed.

I purchased gaskets from transmissionpartsusa. The reason I am asking these questions is because I purchased a valve body thinking I can install the transgo kit on this one and making a simple swap on my trans to reduce down time. It also gives me a backup in case I screw something up. So I think my question boils down to the valve bodies being the same with the exception of the seperator plates. If so, I can just order a new seperator plate for a my 97.

 

[Glacier991]

IF you are doing the FORD MOD, you MUST USE THE NEW SEPARATOR PLATE. I do not recommend you purchase gaskets from anyone but FORD. If you do not need to do the FORD MOD in the TSB, your old separator plate and the proper gaskets for it from FORD will be fine. I like TrasnsmissionpartsUSA, but I do not buy VB gaskets from them.

 

[ellis11]

I have the Transgo kit but am thinking more and more that maybe I should just do the Ford TSB fix with the reverse servo D-Ring kit.

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm still good with my 99 5R55E and the TransGo kit. I'm still wishing we could get solid shifts like the AOD's, but this is as good as my 93 A4LD, and it would have lasted a long time. I'll get a flasher later this Spring and do what can be done with it, plus change fluid again, maybe add another cooler/filter.

 

[awh4992]

Here's the pdfs:

http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body.pdf <-- this is the full pdf
http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body1.pdf <--pages 1-2
http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body2.pdf <--pages 3-4
http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body3.pdf <--pages 5-6
http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body4.pdf <--pages 7-8
http://batman.homelinux.com/images/valve_body5.pdf <--pages 9-10

I hope someone finds these helpful.

Andy

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for taking the time to upload those diagrams!

 

[ellis11]

Found an excellent description of the Ford TSB mod on the Ford forum. Pretty much what we all read here. Has some good photos.

Dead Link Removed

 

[ellis11]

IF you are doing the FORD MOD, you MUST USE THE NEW SEPARATOR PLATE. I do not recommend you purchase gaskets from anyone but FORD. If you do not need to do the FORD MOD in the TSB, your old separator plate and the proper gaskets for it from FORD will be fine. I like TrasnsmissionpartsUSA, but I do not buy VB gaskets from them.

I plan to do the mod this weekend. I have a valve body from a 98 Explorer that appears to be in great shape. My Explorer is a 97. Can I do the mod (Transgo or Ford TSB) on the 98 VB with a new 97 seperator plate I bought from Ford or is their a difference in the VB themselves?

 

[CDW6212R]

The valve body is the key component in an automatic. If it is compatible, I'd bet so(the rest of the trans is likely the same year to year 97-01), then consider it to be basically a 98 model trans. Use the 1998 model separator plate for the 98 valve body.

I like Transgo in their ability to correct factory issues without various different versions. Good luck,

 

[ellis11]

If it is compatible, I'd bet so(the rest of the trans is likely the same year to year 97-01), then consider it to be basically a 98 model trans. Use the 1998 model separator plate for the 98 valve body.

You may be right but I'm going to make some phone calls to be sure. I don't want to make any mistakes. I compared the new 97 seperator plate to the 98 and they are exactly the same except for a hole that is slightly offset from each other over an open slot and the 98 has an extra hole which is the one that is eliminated in the tsb. In any event I have everything I need to do the transgo or the Ford change.

 

[ellis11]

I've completed the transgo kit and reinstalled the VB. I used the Reverse Servo D-Ring Kit and I'm not sure how far I need to press the reverse serv back up in to the valve body. When I removed it, it was very loose and just fell out so now I'm confused on just how far to push it in. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Glacier991]

Just push it in enough to get the cover on.... there is no right or wrong.

 

[ellis11]

Well the Transgo kit is done. Shifting is definately much better with no slipping. It's like driving a different car. When I jump on the gas it kicks into a lower gear and does what I expect it to do. Prior to installing the Transgo kit, it just seemed to mush along and I couldn't hardly tell if it shifted gears. I doubt that the weather will get cold enough again to check the delayed shift into Reverse and especially Drive. I'd be willing to bet that the reverse servo D-ring kit would have fixed that issue by itself.

I used the 98 VB and just used the Transgo kit with the original seperator plate so it looks like I have an extra new seperator plate and the Ford TSB kit left over. I also installed a new EPC solenoid and the reverse servo D-Ring kit. The D-Ring kit is a very tight fit when reinstalled in the VB. Even after buying all the extras I still saved a bundle from the dealer cost of the Ford mod.

Thanks to all of you that answered my guestions. Your help has been invaluable.

 

[whoathere]

Well guys, it's about time I checked back into this thread... Today is the day! I'm gonna eat breakfast and head to the garage to begin tearing my 5R55E down, and fix my flare. Just in case nobody remembers, I'm doing the Ford TSB and the Superior Shift Kit, I'm not going to replace the EPC, so we'll see how it goes. I'll report back in a few hours, hopefully with good news

 

[whoathere]

Well, so far so good... We got the pan out and the VB dropped... "Baths" 1&2 were enjoyable to say the least... I don't consider it much of a bath, it's more like someone pissing ATF on you throughout the entire process... There were three or four occasions in which I was spitting it out... Anyway, the good- The gasket was blown almost identically to someone else's post...around page 7... The piece that was blown by the TCC and shift solenoid was bad.. I'll post the pics later. The Ford Mod has been done, as well as the superior shift kit. Reassembly slated for tomorrow as I have to go to work now. I'll post my pics later.

PS the smell of really old ATF is nausiating and it's become my natural scent for the time being.

 

[whoathere]

OK, so here's where we got today...

I'll let you guys know tomorrow how it turns out after I take it for a spin..