mazda 5 spd Good tranny?

[92 green sport]

I saw a post asking if the 4.0 is a good motor. Every agrees that it is but I have seen people say that the tranny's are ford's weekness. Are they speeking of the auto tranny's or both the auto and the 5 spds?

I just sold a 90 Bronco II with 180k. It had the original motor (2.9) which ran mint and a A4LD tranny that shifted like new. The original owner changed the tranny fluid and filter every 30k miles and so did I. I bleive this to be the reason that the tranny lasted so long.

I really want to know that if the tranny fluid is watched in the mazda 5spd and it is driven normally will it last?

 

[Creager]

It is better, as in more reliable and cheaper to replace. It might actually be physically weaker (cant handle as much hp/tq), not sure on that.

My 5-speed lasted 176k miles. Big tires with small gears was the problem.

 

[92 green sport]

Thanks. Good to know.

 

[briwayjones]

They're not very strong transmissions. If you tow with it or something like that it's not going to hold up well. If you just drive it and don't abuse it, it should last fine. My family has had five explorers all of them manuals three of them with over 100,000 miles and no problems.

 

[Rick]

I love my Mazda 5 speed. I've put it through hell and back... several times.

 

[Jason94sport]

It's not bad..... it's not great, but alot better then the auto.

 

[410Fortune]

Amzda 5 speed also went through alot of changes so alot depends on what year you are talking about.

They are a good good transmission, however they do have some shortcomings.
It is common for them to have synchro issues and you can lose a gear or have a very tough time getting into gear. they are no speed shifting 5 speed that is for sure.

The internal slave cyclinder and plastic throw out bearing can cause problems and be a real PITA to get to work right once rebuilt.


All in all they are good transmissions, but there have been plenty of lemons...

 

[Rick]

The difficult shifting is usually due to a bad slave not fully disengaging the clutch. When you drive the truck like that for a long time you wear out the syncros from having to force gear selection. If you notice it difficult to shift into reverse or start "catching a tooth" when you shift, it's time for a new slave cylinder asap.

 

[410Fortune]

ah good tip

With that said I know of a 93 version that has had no 2nd gear for like 4 years, still going! haha

I had a ton of problems with these transmissions, but that is because I tried to find a cheapo rebuild and then was stuck using their warranty repalcements.
I suspect they were also older 2.9L Mazda 5 speeds.

The 88 Mistubishi 5 speed I had was fantastic, I even know a guy runnig the Mistu from a 86 Ranger behind a turbo 4.0L in a ranger used for camping, towing a pop up. Still going strong.

 

[briwayjones]

It depends a lot on the driver.

 

[410Fortune]

driver? You mean as far as clutch wear and shifting?

Listen there are 5 speeds out there in compreable trucks that will last forever no matter how many times you short shift or grind the gears, the Mazda 5 speed is sub par IMO, but the best choice for a transmission in Ranger based trucks, when you had to choose between A4LD and Mazda 5 speed, go 5 speed.

Thankfully much of this has been improved by Ford as of late, but it will take them a long time to live downt he LIGHT DUTY transmissions used in 4500# 4x4 trucks.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Too bad we can't use like a T5.

When I got my Explorer GT with the M5OD, the overdrive gear was bad and would pop out. According to posts here, it was due to bad syncros. It had like 140k miles on it, but I got it from a used car lot for $300 so it probably didn't have good care, and I don't know how long it was like that.

Through car-part.com I had a tranny shipped from out east with about the same amount of miles and put that in (along with a new slave cylinder, pressure plate, clutch, etc for good luck) and its been working fine. Shifts smooth and all. I like idolize this transmission so I don't grind and keep the oil in it changed often (maybe every 10k miles) with some good grade oil (like Mobil 1 ATF). I guess they had a tendancy to heat up in overdrive and fry the syncros but otherwise i haven't had any trouble.

It's a long throw but I've got used to it enough to be able to move it pretty slick-ly. There's supposed to be a Hurst short throw somewhere.

 

[410Fortune]

the WC-T5 behind a 4.0L has been done, I believe Advance Adapters used to make an adapter, but no longer do.

 

[Rick]

They made a bellhousing for the 2.8, but they said it wouldn't work with the 4.0. That's what Vic told me at least.

 

[410Fortune]

2.8, 2.9L and 4.0l have the same bellhousing and I have seen a T5 behind a 4.0L.

 

[briwayjones]

Don't get me wrong, I would take a 5 Speed over an automatic any day even the Mazada 5 speed. I'm just saying in a sub par 5 speed the difference between it going bad or not can very well be the driver. I'm not speaking of other manual transmissions. Manuals are superior to automatics IMO.

driver? You mean as far as clutch wear and shifting?

Listen there are 5 speeds out there in compreable trucks that will last forever no matter how many times you short shift or grind the gears, the Mazda 5 speed is sub par IMO, but the best choice for a transmission in Ranger based trucks, when you had to choose between A4LD and Mazda 5 speed, go 5 speed.

Thankfully much of this has been improved by Ford as of late, but it will take them a long time to live downt he LIGHT DUTY transmissions used in 4500# 4x4 trucks.

 

[briwayjones]

Out of curiosity does anyone know off the top of your head through adapters or however if there's a way to get a 6 speed manual into an Explorer?

 

[410Fortune]

anything is possible with enough $$$ and time
But no there is no adapter that I am aware of to mate up any sort of 6 speed.

Best approach would likely be a completel v8 with 6 speed drivetrain conversion, and if you are 4x4 then you have to find a transfer case for that.