What are these square bolts on the transmission?

[tcbarney]

4R55E. Just ahead of the shift linkage (on the driver's side) there are two bolts with square heads.

They appear to thread into a hex nut.

What are they? They look like a much smaller version of the fill plug on my manual trans car...

TIA

 

[dogfriend]

not positive but

I think that might be where you adjust the bands.

I was looking at the Ford CD Dead Link Removed and they describe how to do it.

Don't mess with it unless you know what youre doing.

I'll look at the CD again and let you know for sure.

 

[tcbarney]

thanks

the reason I'm asking is because I was just under there checking for leaks after doing a fluid/filter change last week. The pan is nice and dry. But those two bolts are shiny with something.

Not dripping, but I cleaned everything under there pretty good a week ago, so it's new fluid.

Just trying to determine if there's something to tighten, if it's normal, or if I should be worried.

Thanks for any info (and anyone else who wants to chime in.) It's midnight-thirty here on the east coast. I'm gonna go check the Braves/Dodgers score and go to bed. I'll check back in tomorrow.

Thanks,

 

[dogfriend]

yup

That is how you perform a band adjustment. The front one is called (amazingly enough) the front band. The one behind it is called the intermediate band.

You adjust them by removing the locknut and then using a torque wrench to adjust to the specified torque (35 - 45 ft-lbs). You cannot reuse the locknut, you must throw it away and replace it with a new one. It has a seal that you are supposed to lube using petroleum jelly before installation.

They show adjusting intermediate band first, then front but it isn't clear if you have to follow this order.

I think you would probably need to do this after first assembling the trans after an overhaul because I haven't seen this called out as a maintenance item anywhere. They don't even mention it in Haynes or Chilton.

I would just look at them with reverence and hope that you never have to mess with them

 

[dogfriend]

go braves

I want to see the Giants as the wild card not the Dodgers.

Course if they strike I won't watch for another five years or so like the last time they went on strike.

 

[dogfriend]

sounds like yours could be leaking.

you could probably replace the locknut with the seal if you are careful not to turn the square nut at all while youre doing it.

 

[tcbarney]

It does seem as if they're leaking. But not much. I may pick up the lock nuts to have handy in case it gets worse, and then try not to turn the square bolts when I change them. (or be sure and properly torque them...)

Can anybody tell me the consequences of a mis-adjusted torque band? I'm not at all familiar with auto transmissions, this is the first I've ever owned (in 7 vehicles). I'll also do a search, I seem to remember some threads discussing them in the past.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[dogfriend]

Potentially your transmission could slip in some gears if they are loose. The bands hold the ring gear in the planetary gear set when pressure is applied to tighten them.

I'm not sure of the consequences of having them too tight. I can speculate that you might run the risk of one breaking or wearing out quickly by not releasing fully when it is suppose to.

They do warn in the procedure not to back the screw out because it could come out of the band and then you would have to take the trans apart to get it back in properly. That would suck.