How to: 5R55E Valve Body Rebuild Diary

[Lyman]

I ended up removing the front end of the fwd driveshft (supporting it w/wire) to be the simplest way to create enough space to slip the pan out.

After reading all of the diary with no mention of a similar problem, I figured I must have been missing somthing simple. Anyway, I'm set. Just suprised that I had to do this. And, the driveshaft bolts will be loctited and torqued when re-assembled.

 

[merkur1988_blue]

Pan Pull

I had to take out the left side catalytic converter.... 2 bolts on the left exhaust manifold and 2 more on the Y-pipe (over the right side of the transmission X-member).

Good Luck

 

[J-Vee]

My VB rebuild parts from FPN (and Sonnax) arrived the other day minus alignment pins which I could not cough up $100 for. How critical are they when reinstalling the VB?

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could use your valve body bolts to do the same thing.

 

[J-Vee]

Thanks for the prompt reply, Brooklyn'. And thank you Glacier et al, for this wonderful thread.

Guess what I'll be doing on my vacation next week? Yup, VB rebuild!

 

[CDW6212R]

Does the 2004 Sport Trac have the same 5R55E, or is the valve body kit at least the same?

 

[J-Vee]

Do I need to unscrew the bolts around the servo just to drop the VB on the 5R55E (2WD)? Thanks!

 

[BrooklynBay]

No, don't touch the band adjusting studs unless you plan on adjusting the bands with a torque wrench.

 

[J-Vee]

I meant just the bolts of the servo/reverse band cover. I removed them since it didn't seem the VB could be dropped without doing so. Was I wrong???

 

[BrooklynBay]

Remove those 4 bolts to get the cover, gasket, and the servo out.

 

[J-Vee]

Thanks Brooklynbay! I'm not messing with the servo itself, just dropping the VB to do the rebuild.

 

[coreman021]

A Toast...

to Glacier and BrooklynBay.. thanks for giving me the motivation and the knowledge to tackle my valve body in my ex. The hardest part was getting the tranny pan past the cat! After 150,000 the thing drives like brand new! So thanks again and now I am an Elite Explorer

 

[gerardo1601]

I have read almost any page of this post, i have no speak english very well, but i try, i have an 1997 xlt 4x4 explorer, 3 months ago, i decided to rebuild her tranny because the 2-3 issue and a 1, 2, and 4th speed slip, and.... the nightmare begins, i visit 5 diferent repair shop and all of them tell to me that the repair cost is about 4.500 Bs - 5.000 Bs (1 US$ = 2.15 Bs). One day a friend tell to me about some guy that considered a tranny expert an a cheaper in his handwork, i decided go to him but with my supervision and also offered my handwork, this guy install the entirely transtec master rebuild kit, and... after this work the tranny get worse, this 2,3,4 speed is gone and reverse is very slow and slip, i no pay nothing for this bad work and towing my car to my house, after read this post, i buy a torque wrench, and, pull out the oil pan, the valve body and reinstall this with the proper torque in each bolt, and set the correct torque that two band adjustments, the change was amazing, only 1 problem continues, in the 4th speed the tranny start to slip, for example at 90 KPH the RPM indicates 3000. This is my hystory, i hope someone help me, excuse me for my bad english! :

 

[Walldingo]

Long story for a short question... Was stationed in Japan and my wife purchased a 1997 Explorer 4.0L OHV 4X2 on Ebay as a surprise since we: A) needed a vehicle when we got back in the States, B) had had good luck on Ebay our first time coming back from overseas in 2002, C) Had previously owned an Explorer and 2 Bronco II's, D) were buying from a Dealership on Ebay. My Son picked up the Explorer in FL and shipped it to AZ where I was in school. I took delivery the day I graduated and was leaving to meet my family. I noticed right away the 2-3 shift was off but it was too late. Took it in to our old mechanics in SD and they couldn't figure out what was wrong as there was an additional connector. It was showing codes for speed sensor. They recommended a Xmission shop. Took it to the shop and they kept it 2 days as they were having problems determining what was going on. Their conclusion beyond the fact that the transmission needed to be fixed was that the truck has the wrong transmission in it. They said it had a 1996 4R55E vice a 1997 5R55E and wanted some ungodly amount to replace it (3,000+). I did some investigation on getting a junkyard transmission or attempting to repair it myself by reading this and other posts but ran out of time on leave and decided to chance the trip from CA to WA with a second vehicle we purchased in CA following instead of abandoning the truck in CA. The Explorer made it fine. With the exception of the 2-3 hard shift and the occasional slip (if you try to get on the gas in the 2-3 range) it seemed to run fine. I overcame the shift problem by letting off on the gas at 20MPH with momentum. The transmission would shift as it coasted. Doesn't work too well on onramps or hills so I'm stuck with forcing the hard shift. From the beginning I don't think that the truck was hitting OD (or maybe it is a 4 speed where a 5 speed should be) because the idle seemed high (around 3200 RPM at 70-75MPH). I also believe the speedometer is reading faster than the truck is actually operating to the tune of about 10MPH at the 75-80 range. I've driven the truck for about 5000 miles now (total miles are about 126K) while searching junkyards and Craigslist for a transmission. About two weeks ago the OD light started flashing (4800 mile since delivery). Since I still had no transmission located I tried changing the fluid and filter which changed nothing. That is the performance of the truck has been the same regardless of the flashing OD light or the fluid and filter change. I stopped by a transmission shop here and explained the wrong transmission story to try and get a price and they said that it was impossible that I had a 4R and that I was mislead. They quoted me 1800 for a rebuilt transmission which is still way more than I would pay. Finally, the question... The code on the door indicates it should be a 5R55E (code D). I couldn't find the tag on the transmission when I was changing the fluid and filter to determine if it is in fact a 4R or 5R. Is there another way to tell? My current plan is to drive it as is until I either locate another 5R transmission, it gets worse or I find out that what I have is a 5R that needs the mods in this blog. Open to any suggestions. Thanks, Wally

 

[OZY EXPLORER]

I have finished my gearbox over haul, I have installed a transgo upgrade, replaced a broken band and replaced as many seals and washers as I could get hold of as well as a sonnax boost valve. The gear box is ready to install but I have hit a snag. I can’t seem to get hold of a revised upgrade bracket for the solenoid XL2Z-7l491-AA, over here in Aust they are not readily available. I’ve read through the diary and have checked out these parts dealers
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/...-00056841u.htm
http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/me...roduct_Count=3
www.transmissionpartsUSA.com
but none of them list this part. Could some one please point my in the right direction so I can finish the rebuild.
Any help will be appreciated

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check WWW.RockAuto.Com or WWW.FastPartsNetwork.Com, and let us know if either of them have what you need.

 

[a320jockey]

Ecuadorian / Venezuela 2002 XLT Explorer trans problem

Check WWW.RockAuto.Com or WWW.FastPartsNetwork.Com, and let us know if either of them have what you need.

Hello all,

I am returning to the forum after having searched for my Explorer's problem which showed some months ago. I would like to know if the repair kits for this valve are applicable to foreign export versions of the Explorer. Mine is a Venezuelian-built 2002 XLT 4WD model with a 4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Also, what could be the price of a complete valve replacement unit with the gasket kit and solenoids? If this part is applicable to my car I would be buying it by Internet because it is currently not available in Ecuador, while a mechanic is offering a used one for $1,500 which I think is way too high.

Many thanks in advance for any directions which you could provide.

Carlos A. Cordova
QUITO - ECUADOR

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome Carlos, the 2002+ has the new version of the 5R trans, it's called a 5R55W. You will need a valve body from that model of trans. Those also benefit from the valve body kits, it may or may not be the same VB kit from the aftermarket. Ask the same source that is mentioned in here for rebuilt VB's for the 5R55E. They likely will rebuild and sell the vb that you need. Good luck,

 

[fher205]

how does L retainers should be located?

Hello Glacier!!

Im new at this Forum, Im fixing my ranger pickup 1998, 3.0L transmision I believe it is a 5R55E. I have identified where does the L retainers should be located in the valve body but I have a question about how each L retainer should be positioned? I mean do they prevent that the valves goes beyound it should goes or do they prevent that the spring push forward the valve, or do they keep compressed one spring through a valve. Hope I can explain my point, sorry for my bad english maybe next example can works better:

* valve-spring-valve-Lretainer- valve
* valve-spring(compressed)valve-Lreatiner-valve
* Lretainer-valve-spring(compressed)-valve

Again, hope I made clear and thanks for you help
Regards
Fher205

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! This diagram should help clear things up for you:

Here's the direct link: https://www.wittrans.com/Schematic.aspx?Transmission=A4LD/4R44E/4R55E/5R55E&Schematic=9