how noisy is YOUR transmission?

Mr. Tarkanian · Jul 17, 2014

I finished up my M5od swap about a month ago, and I've been driving it ever since. I took out the shifter floor plate to cut the hole, and removed all the foam insulation from the bottom, and sprayed it with bedliner. Against my better judgement, I rushed and re-installed it without any insulation. I reinstalled my carpet, with it's insulation layer, and put in the shifter boot (which is NOT bolted down yet).

I've noticed that the transmission seems a bit noisy. It's not really a scrape or a whine, but more of a wirrrr. It's in all gears at all speeds. I honestly do not know if this is normal M5od noise, or if I have a bearing going out.

This was pulled out of a wreck, I'm not sure how many miles. It had plenty of fluid, the fluid looked clean, the rubber plugs were a bit moist but I don't think it was ran dry. Only minimal shavings. It got flushed out with brake fluid, new seals, and synthetic ATF.

I'm also getting a slight CLUNK when I hit the throttle after coasting, but I THINK it's either a Ujoint or a carrier bearing in the rear end. At least that's what I hope.

Anybody have any advice? Am I overthinking it? My last trans was an A4LD, so I don't really know how noisy this thing is supposed to be.

Kowboy · Jul 17, 2014

Some time back I installed a Hurst floor shifter and during the install I took it for a test drive. I had not installed the boot at the time and there was a very significant sound as you've described. After buttoning everything back up, sounds went back to normal so I'd say you're just fine. You've more than likely correctly identified the clunk. If you've serviced the fluid and it shifts normal for these M5OD's, I'd keep on truckin.

4x4junkie · Jul 17, 2014

Yes, the M5OD is noisy.

If the fluid in it still looks clean after 500-1000 miles (and no change in the noise), then it's fine.

Ford puts a thick rubber noise baffle that goes on top of the floor plate to help reduce the amount of noise penetrating inside. Might see if you can find one if you didn't get one with your shifter & boot.

Mark_88 · Jul 17, 2014

I have that baffle now...didn't on my last M5OD, but haven't driven the truck since I swapped things around...I did drive it around the yard where I did the swap and it was considerably quieter than my old transmission was...and much stiffer on the shifter.

So, yeah, the noise baffle could make a difference. The one I have looks like it fits under the standard two cup holder shifter bottom plate and it is about 1/8" thick on the inner area and about 1/2" thick on the edges...I'd take a pic but it's late and dark and I'm scared...lol

adsm08 · Jul 17, 2014

Agreed, these transmissions do have a distinct "whirr" to them, on a properly assembled and insulated truck it is negligible but can be heard with the radio and fan off.

I have a setup similar to yours, a piece of sheet metal that isn't even properly sealed to the floor (I have a distinct flow of hot air coming in behind the shifter) some carpet, and a shifter boot thrown down, which is more than I had on my first run with it (open hole in the floor). I can hear the whirr, but it has been consistent and steady for more than five years now, and I have long ago chalked it up as a normal characteristic.

Mr. Tarkanian · Jul 18, 2014

Wheeew, I was hoping that's what you guys were going to say. That makes me feel quite a bit better about it.

The noise itself doesn't really even bother me itself (still WAY quieter than that tent-on-wheels Wrangler I had), I just wanted to make sure it wasn't melting down on me. I JUST got this swap buttoned up and was NOT looking forward into having to break the trans down.

Thanks again fellas.

AllanD · Jul 21, 2014

The M5OD-R1 runs thin oil which doesn't do much to damp out the noise

And to some people it sounds like the gearbox noise from a Helicopter

AgPete139 · Jul 23, 2014

Yup. Noisy as shit. I have the rubber baffle, but don't use it since my 1354-M swap doesn't fit well with my 3" body lift.

1993rangerxl · Jul 25, 2014

Replaced clutch about a year and a half ago, still haven't finished reattaching the boot yet and as said by others, much more noise this way. Push boot to floor with a couple of fingers and noise is considerablely less.

how noisy is YOUR transmission?

Mr. Tarkanian

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