Help with A4LD Installation

[genejock]

After exploring my options in regards to replacing my A4LD in my 92 EB 4x4 (130, x.. miles) I have decided to install a rebuilt tranny from ATK North America. The tranny should be here some time next week. I have a few questions before I start crawling around under my truck.
I plan on putting the front end up on ramps. After reading the Haynes manual the entire procedure does not seem too difficult, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to manipulate the transmission without a transmission jack. How hard is it to do with a regular floor jack? And is this something I should be able to do in one weekend? I’ve done all the other necessary maintenance on the truck myself (lift, brakes, hubs, plugs, fluids, alternator, …..etc) I know this will be more difficult, but HOW MUCH MORE???
Any tips/input from other people out there that have done this before would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance guys, this site is the greatest.

 

[genejock]

T-minus 2 days and counting until installation. Does ANYONE out there do their own tranny work???????

 

[kilroy]

Rent a tranny jack, it will make the work MUCH easier. As for the R & R, shouldn't take more than a few hours providing you have the right tools. You should use jack stands and get it up as high as you can so the bell housing and transfer case clears the frame. First drain the tranny and transfer case, then pull your drive shafts, put those end covers over the shaft openings so that leftover fliud doesn't make a mess. Of course before you start all this you have disconnected the battery. Pull the starter, remove the flywheel to torque converter nuts, put the jack under the trans, this is where the trans jack comes in handy, there are pins and a chain to secure the trans to the jack, and also there are 2 cranks for front to back and side to side angles for manuevering the trans, lift the trans up to take some of the pressure off of the rear trans mount, remove that mount, then remove the cross brace. Get some refreshments now, because after this next one you will be quite busy. Lower the trans down, cranking the trans jack
to follow the angle of the trans, until you can see the 2 top trans to engine mounting bolts, also check to see if there is any thing that may get damaged by the engine as your doing this. Look at the firewall and everywhere else that the engine can contact. Once you can see those bolts use a long (30") extension and u-joint socket to remove the bolts holding the trans to the engine. I haven't looked at an Explorer underneath so I don't know where the exhaust is, but you may need to remove part of that also before you lower the trans. Now that all the bolts have been removed, check your clearance all around to see if you can pull the trans out, you may need to support the engine a bit with a block of wood. Also check your fan to radiator clearance as you go along. If everything looks cool at this point, use a screwdriver between the engine and trans and work it loose from the guide pins, once its loose you can wrestle the tranny out from under there. Now all thats left is to swap parts like the transfer case if needed, and anything else that wasn't included with the new tranny. When your ready to put it back in, just remember how it came out, and do it all over again in reverse.


P.S. Mark your driveshafts at the differential before you remove them so that they are put back on at the same location to maintain their balance. A simple center punch mark at a bolt hole on both flanges would work. There will also be some steps I left out like linkages and wire harnesses, which you will see once you get started.

I have done many a trans replacement, including one in an EAGLE 4WD station wagon! This kind of job would take about 4 hours to get out working on the ground and 90 minutes working on a lift, and about the same or a little more putting back in.

Plan on a 2 day job if you haven't done one before.

AND DON'T FORGET TO FLUSH THE TRANS COOLER LINES COMPLETELY OR YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY!

Hope this helps

 

[genejock]

kilroy,
Thanks for all the information. It always helps to hear from someone that has done this type of thing first hand. The swap starts friday.... I'll let you know how things go.

 

[kilroy]

Good luck!

 

[Mudbug]

Hey me and my buddy did it in about 2 days without a tranny jack. I just laid on the ground put my hands up on the front of the tranny and my feet on the back and pushed it up in there. The space is very tight but the tranny only weighs about 170lbs.

 

[kilroy]

been there done that, but the pain in my back a few days later told me to use a tranny jack next time!

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

You will have to remove your Y-pipe to your Exhaust. I have removed the tranny in my manual trans navajo. The one thing you might want is a second hand. Other than that the Explorer trans comes out very easy.

 

[genejock]

Help

Aligned and bolted A4LD back into place but cannot move flywheel after bolting bell housing back to engine. W/O the ability to turn flywheel cannot bolt torque convertor back to flywheel. Please help!!!!!! Did not have any difficulity turning flywheel via cranshaft nut in front of engine while removing old trans.

 

[genejock]

Fixed........ Kinda????

OK, we got the new trans on sort of. It drives great, better than it ever has before (good thing!!) but there are 2 minor problems:

1) The reverse lights don't come on when I'm in reverse.
2) 4x4 low won't engage. No clunking or anything.

I think (hope) these are minor electrical problems. Too late now, I'll check in the morning. Any suggestions would be helpful......

 

[genejock]

Problem Solved......

Just to keep yall updated.... The problem ended up being the neutral start safety switch. In addition to inhibiting in-gear starts this switch controls the reverse lights and it lets the transfer case "know" when the tranny is in neutral so it can switch to 4wd low. Damn expensive switch..... about $55.00 Oh well, the thing drives like it is new. I can't complain (too much).