5r55s band adjustment

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Dan B

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2014
Messages
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Location
Seminole, FL
So I just wanted to sort of update on my transmission woes. I finally gave the band adjustment a shot...



2007 SC 2WD 4.0 with 5R55S, almost 125KMI.



The bracket holding the shift cable has two bolts that needed to be removed in order to move the bracket out of the way of the one adjusting bolt. I put the truck on ramps so E-brake was set and blocked the wheel just in case. Painted one corner of the 4 point adjusting bolt and adjusted them to 120in/lbs, backed them off two full turns. A while ago I read somewhere there was an updated TSB saying to only go 1.5 turns but I couldn't seem to find anything on it now, so I went the full two - I can always turn them in another half a turn if needed. Anyway, two turns out, locked them down with the lock nuts, reattached the bracket.



The transmission is shifting much better than before. It is smoother, no flaring, no more of that annoying banging or bumping on downshifts. No hesitation, pauses or general feeling it is slipping for the first instant on upshifts. Everything is very smooth, crisp and noticeably different [better] than before the adjustment!



I have almost 125KMI on the transmission. The past few times I changed fluid there was always a lot of gray gunk in the bottom. I wish I would have done this sooner, maybe at 75KMI or something. The one adjuster needed at least one full turn in, the other at least a half. Hopefully running out of adjustment hasn't caused excess band wear that I could have adjusted for miles ago.



Cheers,

Dan B.
 
Good to know.



Todd Z
 
HUH ??



Everyone said the same thing I did.



Glad its better, Just hope it doesn't cause any adverse affects.



Todd Z
 
See everyone said its not something you normally do, Licensed mechanics, Ford techs and what not.



Glad it worked for you.



Its like the person that throws radiator stop leak in their rad. It may or may not work and it may or may not destroy things down the line.



We are all concerned because when things are done and it breaks the truck we hate seeing that. But heck, 14 years of owning this site I haven't see it at all happen ( sarcasm) .....SMH



Todd Z
 
Well, whether it should or should not have been done, whether it is recommended or not, I had nothing to lose since the transmission was getting bad to the point I wasn't sure I should drive it daily to work anymore.



To date, the transmission has not deviated from the smooth, crisp shifting. It is still shifting great since the adjustment and I've lost that sinking feeling when I press the gas and nothing happens thinking it's all over. I can finally be more annoyed by the numerous broken vent doors and actuators in the heat/AC box than the transmission.



I do plan to rebuild my transmission but right now I definitely do not have the time to accomplish this as I have other projects in place, so if this adjustment gets me by for another few months - great. If it blows up tomorrow, I'll just have to take it as it comes. When I do rebuild, though, I will take pictures and create a post of what the internals look like and maybe they can be used to compare to a transmission that has not been adjusted.



Adjusting the bands will not be something everyone needs or should do so whoever reads this, please don't take my post as a recommendation to go crawl under your truck with a torque wrench. This happened to make my symptoms disappear but the reasons my transmission was exhibiting symptoms and the reasons others are may be worlds apart.



Cheers,

Dan B.



 
Last edited by a moderator:
You did the right thing Dan. I'm willing to bet that your trans will run fine for much longer than a few months.



Another compelling reason to do this is the fact that as the bands wear the servos have to move further to engage the bands, This longer stroke of the servo starts to wear the servo bores.

Eventually this fix is required...







 
For all these years, people have been saying that you should not try to adjust the bands on your 5R55W tranny??? Sounds like it may have just been Ford propaganda that it was something only a Ford Tech could do. :bwahaha:



I love it when people think outside the box !! :supercool:



Probably a good How-To project to post here.



...Rich
 
One year to the day. My transmission has been working just great up until recently. Last October I had unfortunately experienced someone trying to cut across 3 lanes of traffic and slamming into my truck. I left the ST at a Ford dealership that was authorized by Ford for the repairs. After receiving the truck in January, I began having some odd shift issues (and my ST had 170 more miles than from when I dropped it off!!). I believe it is finally suffering the dreaded servo bore wear issue, I'm having some awful 1-2/2-3 shifts under any kind of load, fine if I baby it. I suspect any day now, it is going to just give up. I had JUST dumped a ton of money into this truck by putting brand new tires on it and rebuilt the front end, all new bushings and bearings, etc. So at this time, I cannot afford a reman transmission or even a rebuild kit and updated case. Once it goes, the ST will have to sit unfortunately. :(
 
Another yearly update that the ST is still on the road. It still flairs or bumps into 3rd under most circumstances. Engine needs a new EGR valve, valve covers are leaking oil like crazy, power steering pump wines like hell but it still goes!
 
Sorry about the accident, Glad your ok and the truck too !!!
 
The transmission had 151,129 miles on it and still going. The severity of the bumping on downshifts was getting slightly worse, and the shifts began feeling odd to me (not shifting at the correct times). Over 10 years of making sure everything was in working order right down to replacing the blend door actuator and broken arm on the center vent flap. I recently put in a new alternator, starter, harmonic balancer, water pump. A few years ago EGR valve, valve cover gaskets, front end bushings and ball joints. Lately I had been chasing the CEL, fixing one thing would turn it off and something else would turn it back on. Then the tire sensors started going. The engine was having a harder time starting. I just got my ST to a point where no CEL or tire lights were on.

I came to a point where I had to decide whether I wanted to keep replacing/repairing or to let her go. Unfortunately, and with great sadness, yesterday I made the decision to trade her in. I can honestly say that I miss my ST terribly.

Gents: thank you all, kindly, for all the help and advice you have given me throughout the years. Maybe one day I will get another one.
 
All good things come to an end eventually..... these things will Nickle and dime you to death.... Good luck and stay safe.
 
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