- Joined
- February 18, 1999
- Messages
- 4,144
- Reaction score
- 28
- City, State
- Montrose, CO
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '95 Bronco '80 Toy
I found this the other day and felt it was something everyone that has dealt with the front seal leak should see.
"A few words about the Ford A4LD transmission:
This common transmission has problems with pump bushing to converter hub damage that results in front seal "blow-out", short unti life and expensive comebacks. This problem occurs because the factory hole in the housing is not bored on centerline with the crankshaft. The factory corrects centerline by installing an oversize bushing and align-honing it to the crank centerline.
In service it is necessary to restore the crankshaft to bell housing bushing centerline. Failing to do this results in rapid off center wear of the pump bushing, converter hub damage and ultimatley unit failure.
Our bell housings are centerline corrected by installing an oversize bushing and align-honing to center. The necessary oil groove is machined into the new bushing to ensure adequate bushing lubercation. This will give you OEM wear characteristics and long unit life.
While you are servising the transmission be sure to remove the flexplate and inspect the pilot bushing in the back of the crankshaft. They are often found to be broken. If the unit is re-installed with this bushing damaged it will cause front pump damage. It's cheap, replace it!
The final step in a long living A4LD rebuild is choosing the correct converter. All of this effort to ensure pump bushing centerline standarsd is only of value if the torque converter is also carefully centered when it is assembled. The manufacturer calls for a maximum run-out specification of .012. We feel that a standard of .008 must be maintained to ensure the best possible wear characteristics and balance."
I left out the name of the company this info came from because I am not trying to advertise for them. I only wanted to provide my fellow X owners with a little more info as to what might be the cause of one of the more common problems we encounter.
"A few words about the Ford A4LD transmission:
This common transmission has problems with pump bushing to converter hub damage that results in front seal "blow-out", short unti life and expensive comebacks. This problem occurs because the factory hole in the housing is not bored on centerline with the crankshaft. The factory corrects centerline by installing an oversize bushing and align-honing it to the crank centerline.
In service it is necessary to restore the crankshaft to bell housing bushing centerline. Failing to do this results in rapid off center wear of the pump bushing, converter hub damage and ultimatley unit failure.
Our bell housings are centerline corrected by installing an oversize bushing and align-honing to center. The necessary oil groove is machined into the new bushing to ensure adequate bushing lubercation. This will give you OEM wear characteristics and long unit life.
While you are servising the transmission be sure to remove the flexplate and inspect the pilot bushing in the back of the crankshaft. They are often found to be broken. If the unit is re-installed with this bushing damaged it will cause front pump damage. It's cheap, replace it!
The final step in a long living A4LD rebuild is choosing the correct converter. All of this effort to ensure pump bushing centerline standarsd is only of value if the torque converter is also carefully centered when it is assembled. The manufacturer calls for a maximum run-out specification of .012. We feel that a standard of .008 must be maintained to ensure the best possible wear characteristics and balance."
I left out the name of the company this info came from because I am not trying to advertise for them. I only wanted to provide my fellow X owners with a little more info as to what might be the cause of one of the more common problems we encounter.