How Much for '98 AWD Tranny Rebuild?

[Fiberford]

I posted a thread looking for help on a U-Joint. Turns out its not the U-Joint, but rather the transmission chain. I was informed that these chains were faulty and have a reputation for stretching. My brother works for Ford and once admitted they suck at building transmissions. Now I wish he was wrong.

I'm looking at a rebuild job starting tomorrow. If anyone has had this done on a similar tranny, please help me by posting what you paid. This industry isn't the most trust worthy, and I need to get this truck back soon. I've got 99,000 miles on it, trany fluid was changed 5 months ago.

Also, if anyone has any input on Redline fluid, I'd like to know how this stuff performs in Explorers and if its worth the extra cost.

 

[Jason_25]

You need to have him be nore specific. What chain exactly? Are you sure he's not talking about the transfer case?

 

[Opera House]

Never taken apart an AWD transfer case

but the transfer cases have a chain and the transmission does not. Chains are expensive (about $250) and you can get a rebuilt transfer case from www.kdsperformance.com for about $650 exchange for example. So you are probably looking at $1000 depending if they exchange it or rebuild it.

Others have a different opinion, but a transmission will easily go 200K with just standard fluid. This of course requires fluid/filter changes about every 50K. There of course will be mechanical failures which have nothing to do with the fluid. Seals and gaskets are damaged by heat and changing your fluid every month won't help those. Just because the fluid doesn't smell burnt doesn't mean it didn't get hot. Best thing you can do to extend life is to add an additional cooler, external filter, and if possible an oversize pan or tank that adds an additional fluid.

 

[SHUMAX]

too funny....

Ha!

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93804

 

[98svt]

i have a 98 awd transfer case for sale for 200 if you are interested...it has 30,000 miles on it and never gave me a problem...let me know if it will help you out.

 

[VtecGSR952000]

the only trannies with chains are front wheel drive so that clears that up. the transfer case has a chain, and those tranfer cases have a viscous coupling, unlike most transfer cases. anywho, there is some problems with these viscous couplings, but i am not sure what your concern is....a clunking, binding, or what? also, ford does NOT make the transfer cases......BORG WARNER does, so flame them. they make about all transfer cases for all the big 3!!

 

[Fiberford]

UPDATE

Everyone,

Sorry for taking so long to update. I had two shops quote me on a t-case rebuild. The off-road shop here in Charlotte quoted me $1400. The highly respected tranny shop(yes, I understand that respect and tranny shop do not belong in the same sentence) here in Charlotte quoted $800. They rebuilt the t-case, installed several upgrades, and everything is great. I highly recommend these guys for anyone in the Charlotte area. My clunk/tick is gone for good and they were much cheaper then the off-road center.

The tranny shop head mechanic said the chain inside these t-cases stretch all the time. The only way to fix is to replace the internal chain.

 

[John_Rock]

$800 bucks! Damn dude, I would have been hitting the junkyards. Plenty of wrecked v8 AWD trucks with low miles out there.
Well, as long as you are happy.

 

[SHUMAX]

^^^Well, let's keep in mind that not everyone has space or the time to source a part, remove the old and replace with the new. Nevermind the fact that what he bought comes with a parts warranty AND a labor warranty. The part from the junkyard MIGHT come with a limited warranty, but nothing for the labor.

Also, in this case, he lives in an apartment where space is limited and he really doesn't have ALL the tools he would need. Having said that $800 is acceptable; especially when you consider he got 100,000 miles of use out of it.

Motor on...

Curt