Looking for trans tools (5r55s) and advice

[Duranged84]

So my 5r S*** all over the place a couple days ago, Still have reverse but had major slipping and banging pop up, quickly leading to loss of all forward gears. Dropped the pan last night, fluid was dark but did not see any sparkly metal fun in it. Was a few bronze/copperish looking pieces in the pan, not big but not tiny either. Magnet is pretty thick with friction material. Only code is pressure control B, etc... I'm not gonna try to bandaid it, It has 257K miles on it, and with the amount of material on the magnet and as dark as the fluid was, Im just going to attempt a full rebuild. (fluid was already dark dark when I bought it and I did a partial fluid change then, kinda knew this was coming.)

I know the servo bores will need attention, and plan to add shift kit, from searching it seems the transgo is preferred but is the Superior worth the extra money with the new pump valve design? I've never done a trans rebuild, but do pretty much everything else, and funds are extremely limited so having somebody else do it is out of the question, And for what used are going for around here, I cant see the risk being worth saving a few $$$ to end up in the same hole. What kits should I be looking at, brand wise/websites for good quality but not exactly race quality, The truck gets driven hard but it is a stock v6.... (in my defense, it will get driven easier if its shifting properly and after having to do it myself...) Does anyone here have a leftover servo bore kit with sleeves they would sell reasonable, and any other of the special tools I'll need to do this job, or can someone point me to a website with these items for a really good price? Not the list prices on fleabay....

Also plan to replace the solenoid block, so pointers to a good cheap one of those would help. What about TC, would an autozone unit be ok, or recommendations on a good one thats not $4-500? Im sure I'll have more questions, but wanted to get the post started. I have found a few things on Oklahoma transmission supply's website, in Tulsa, which is not far from me, but dont know about the quality or if the kits have everything I should be getting. I have used them before for individual parts on my old Durango, but nothing like this total rebuild. (All the Durango got was a front pump and TC).

If anybodys bored Id appreciate any input and advice. I dont currently have an air compressor but looks like I need to get ahold of one along with plenty of brake cleaner/wd40. Any other better ways to clean? Also seems like I need to get ready for broken bolts everywhere I turn pulling this thing... Already broke one pan bolt. As well as stripped the fill plug in the drain bolt, which I just replaced the bolt in March this year... Was not over-tightened and was not as deep in the big bolt as the one I replaced prior to it, that was stripped when I bought this thing. Same exact bit I used to put it in, and the one I used on my previous explorer, It was stored with the fill fitting I bought just for this the first time around.

On the plus side, I've been wanting for a while to start figuring out transmissions, so this will kick me into gear for that I guess.

 

[Duranged84]

Uploaded a pic of my pan, hard to see the bronze/copper pieces but pointed out in red. The green is where I was messing with stuff and checking for more pieces/trash, all the little bumps and stuff was just little bubbles, not chunks. As stated before, you can really see all the friction material coating everything and on the magnet pretty deep. Looking up at the trans, it was very clean inside compared to the pan, all dripping fluid was bright red still, although the filter weighs a few pounds....

Is it possible that most hard parts will be reusable after looking at that? I know something other than clutches are damaged with the bronze/copper flakes. Anybody have advice what all I should be expecting to replace based on that? I would like to order most parts before I pull this thing and tear it down so its not apart everywhere for a long time. Its freakin cold and only getting colder so Im trying to find a way to do this in the house, and not on the kitchen table... Im thinking large plastic totes from dollar store or walfart. Would cans of compressed air work to properly blow out passages that need to be blown out/dried out? Ghetto, I know, but desperate times.

 

[2000StreetRod]

check the filter

On my 5R55E that had the 1>2 upshift flare I cut open the transmission filter to check for particles since there were no large metal particles in the pan or drained fluid.

The yellow arrows identify brass particles that I think is just normal wear. The blue arrows point to gasket pieces and the red arrow is a bracket piece. I replaced the blown valve body separator plate gasket and broken solenoid bracket and have been driving for three years with no problems.

I'm not familiar with the 5R55S but want to learn more so will be following your progress. Here's a link to the manual in case you don't have it: RatioTek 5R55W&S

 

[Duranged84]

What did you use to cut it open without just tearing it all to crap? I may do that once temps get back above freezing and see whats in there, Gotta be somethin in there as heavy as it is. Either way its gotta come apart. Too much bucking and crunching to get that lucky, did yours have as much friction materials in the pan? I do have that manual as well as the atsg and a few other smaller publications I've found on several tranny sites. Progress will be slow because of available funds, but plan to keep the post updated.

Also from what I gather, the S trans uses a bonded seperator plate, which pretty much doesnt blow out, so no luck there, good and bad.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgEB1mmNguo

Saw this in some of my research on here in another thread, thought Id add it here to help others that follow or are researching this topic later on. Not a full rebuild shown, but some very good info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn-jhMVrGTM
Another video I just found showing tear down. Video messes up in a few places, but still a good visual.

 

[2000StreetRod]

tin snips?

I can't remember but I may have used tin snips to cut the top off of the filter. I didn't have much friction material in the pan.

How did you determine that you have a 5R55S instead of a 5R55W? Did you look at the door sticker or the transmission tag?

 

[Duranged84]

Honestly I'm going by the Hollander interchange. And I've seen several threads about it going to the s in mid 02. I haven't bothered to look at the tag yet.
Either way, the two are nearly identical, including the same rebuild and shift kits, etc, so unless certain hard parts are damaged than, all info applies to both. I will post what I find when I check the Id tag as well as any additional info I come up with. If you've seen my dash/heater core thread, you'll notice I'm over thorough when it comes to info. I will try to make this thread a little cleaner than that one so it's easier to follow. This will be my first trans rebuild so I'm going to take some time on it and try to document as much as I can think of. I think it is well within reach of an average mechanic, so a "walk - through", I think will be helpful for the next guy that needs or wants to give it a shot. Don't get me wrong, there are a few very good threads on here about it, but they don't explain every step and some don't break every little thing down for those of us that have never tried a transmission yet. I will try to find the best way to do things that need all the special tools without having to spend the hundreds to get them. (If I had the funds I would buy them and have them to do other transmissions for people once I'm confident and possibly rent them to forum members on a deposit/shipping only basis) More on that if I can get them bought. I did find a place selling empty s/w trans cases that are cleaned and have the servo bores already sleeved for $300. I think the benefits may be worth the cost of it being done professionally and without having to purchase kit that's about the same price. (Again, if funds allow I would like to get my hands on the kit and order a good stock of the bushings as well), but with current tight funds and being car-less, the new shell ready to reassemble sounds good.

Right now I'm looking into the master rebuild kit, all seals, frictions, all 3 bands, and any hard parts is the plan. Kinda leaning towards the superior shift kit for the flow mods/pump valve.

 

[2000StreetRod]

03 with 5R55W

There is at least one forum member with a 2003 XLT that had the 5R55W. I think the transmissions look identical but the gearing is different in 2nd and 5th.

 

[Duranged84]

Well change of plans. I have located another truck so this one will become a parts truck. In order to get the new truck I'm going to have to sell the engine from this one and come up with a small chunk more. So I will still be pulling the trans and tearing down to diagnose at least. I may try to rebuild it later to sell. The new truck is identical, with the exception of being a V8 and real tow package, and about 65k less miles. Other wise, same color and awd. Interior is pretty bad, so I will be swapping that again.... As well as my new tires and battery/anything else that's in better shape. Current truck is straight with a clean title so whatever I don't use I may try to sell as a roller. Might have to pay for membership so I can list it here or maybe part out.

I know with the tow package the axles are going to be different ratio than the current truck so no point saving those and making it a pain to move around. If I can work the details and get it home I'll have a new post up and update this one when I have time to go ahead and tear into this trans.

Going ahead and tearing down this trans will give me practice and better insight for when the next one starts acting up on the new truck lol. I just had to jump on it because I've wanted the V8 and full tow package for a while now. And it's not much more than what it was going to cost me to do this trans so what the heck. Time to play a little.