Rebuilt VB still have 2-3 flare '96 4r55e

[Billinaz]

I've done ALOT of reading in this wonderful forum about 2-3 flare issues and my 96 Explorer 4.0L w/4r55e. I did the simple stuff like fluid/filters changes, new VB gaskets. When I did the gasket change during round 1, I saw no evidence of a gasket blowout in either the upper or lower VB gaskets. I came to the conclusion that a rebuilt VB might do the trick. Round 2, I installed a centralVB rebuild from Donny (a pleasure to deal with btw) yesterday. He assured me the EPC was new.

Sadly, it still seems to have a slight flare from 2-3. My test is to take off at about 2100 RPM and keep it steady there. At about 35 MPH or so, it'll jump up to 2700-2800 briefly before fulling engaging the next gear. I get about a 6-700 RPM flare if I take off at 3k RPM also, though briefly. I think it's better than it was before but I don't get a warm fuzzy with this sort of shifting. If I nail it, the flare doesn't seem to happen at all. Before the rebuilt VB it could flare 1000 RPM or more so it's better but not fixed yet I dont think.

Sage advice is welcome to this long time wrench twister gone tranny tech..

thx,
Bill

 

[Billinaz]

I'm guessing it would be a servo issue now?


Bill

 

[SensRanger]

I can't say what the problem is, but I can tell you that I had a similar experience.
My 96 Ranger also has a 4R55E and was flaring into 3rd, not by alot maybe the 600 rpms you have now. But I got scared and wanted it fixed because I drive in remote areas alot, and didn't want it to suddenly take a crap. So I first had the new separator plate kit & gaskets installed, no change in the flare (the gasket was blown, slightly, as I recall- this was 2.5 years ago).
Then I took it to another shop and got them to install a new EPC. That made no difference either! Finally they convinced me a rebuild was needed if I wanted the flare fixed, which I did, though I probably should have ran it for way longer before dropping all that cash, since it wasn't all that bad really.
But once I was driving up a slight hill just as it was about to go into 3rd and it flared bad and felt like I lost power& control. So I decided to take the plunge.
The rebuild did indeed fix it, but now I have the "reverse" - a 3-2 downshift clunk. It hasn't gotten any worse in the 2.5 years though so i am living with it. Might still be a ujoint or play in the rear anyway.