A4LD Decision time...

[exbass94]

No, I'm not too familiar with the inner guts. I've never tried to repair one myself either, then again I've never had to. I've only dropped the pan to change the fluid and filter before. I'd say they're kind of average when it comes to reliability. The key to making them last is change the fluid often and keep it cool.

 

[wildbill23c]

No, I'm not too familiar with the inner guts. I've never tried to repair one myself either, then again I've never had to. I've only dropped the pan to change the fluid and filter before. I'd say they're kind of average when it comes to reliability. The key to making them last is change the fluid often and keep it cool.

That's what I didn't understand with the 93 ranger, it had an auxiliary transmission cooler, and it didn't seem to help. After the failure though the fluid went from the standard red color to a brownish color immediately.

I may try and get my neighbor to let me have his ranger as they rolled it a couple weeks ago and not its just sitting they haven't touched it sense. So I think I may have a talk with them, it definitely needs some body work now, but it has the A4LD so it may give me another experience with that transmission. I think the 95 explorer my parents had, had the A4LD in it and it was fine, just the 4WD system in it never worked right LOL. Just left a bad taste for that transmission after that failure so soon in the ranger, then reading everyone's negativity around TRS on these transmissions.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've seen well over 200K original miles on A4LDs w/external aux coolers.

I agree, the shop likely botched your rebuild.

 

[wildbill23c]

I've seen well over 200K original miles on A4LDs w/external aux coolers.

I agree, the shop likely botched your rebuild.

I'm guessing so. Just extremely pissed off at the $2500 down the drain to get only another 13k out of it. Oh well truck is long gone now.

 

[PetesPonies]

A proper rebuild should last longer than 13K miles. But . . as far as A4LDs go, it's not if , it's when it will die. They are poor choice for a Bronco II ( just as the 2.8 was as well ). Pinto engine and Pinto transmission shouldn't be in a 4x4 truck

 

[wildbill23c]

A proper rebuild should last longer than 13K miles. But . . as far as A4LDs go, it's not if , it's when it will die. They are poor choice for a Bronco II ( just as the 2.8 was as well ). Pinto engine and Pinto transmission shouldn't be in a 4x4 truck

Maybe the 2.8L wasn't everyone's choice, however I've had 2 trucks with them and I have no complaints, my 84 Ranger pulled a 16' travel trailer all over the US and never had a problem until the local Ford Garage messed with it, never ran right after that and ultimately ended in the truck's sell. Wish I knew of TRS back then.

 

[PetesPonies]

My 2.8 only had 54K miles when I got it. It would hardly break itself out of a wet paper bag. Too little power for a vehicle that weighs that much. The 2.9 with FI was reasonable. The 2.8 was a carryover from the 70s, smog laden and huffing for every breath with the emission garbage. It moved Pintos OK, even the first few Fox Mustangs. But put it in a heavy truck, 4x4 and it is a dog. I even out headers on mine, carb and ignition upgrade . . weak little engine

 

[wildbill23c]

^^Yep wasn't built for racing LOL. Never really cared, that engine has got me through a lot, and even in my ranger on its worst days at least it never left me stranded anywhere which is far more important than how fast it will go how much HP and torque it has, etc.

You want something worse than the 2.8L V6, try the 4 cylinder automatic ranger you'll really like the 2.8L after driving one of those 4 cylinder trucks LOL.

Still want to try a ranger with a 302 someday though but I'm gonna leave the V6 badges on it LOL. It will also be a 2WD, manual transmission and some sort of posi-trac rear differential as well. The NADA blue book lists the 460 as an optional engine for the Ranger and the Bronco 2 WTF, I want one LOL.

 

[PetesPonies]

I have logged over 150 K miles on 4 cylinder Rangers. I have no problems with them, actually like them. My '89 Ranger would run circles around my BII when the 2.8 was still in there.

 

[Lost Bushman]

Ok, now do any of you guys know anything about which year Explorer I can pull a trans from?

 

[wildbill23c]

I think any Explorer with the automatic transmission up to 1994, 1995 I think they went to a different transmission after that, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Can't remember which year they finally decided the A4LD wasn't the greatest of their transmissions.

 

[BLOODBANE]

I have 220,000 on the A4LD in my 94 Explorer. Yes I wheel it (4:88's, locked front and rear on 35's). first thing I did when i bought it in '06 was take and have the tranny flushed. Get all the old fluid out. it has the external cooler and yes it is starting to get a little weak in the shifts (not bad, just a little less than when I got it). It still does its job though. I dont stand solid on the A4LD, just mine (I seem to be one of the lucky ones). It cant take the beating like the C-6 in my Ranger does, and I know this. No towing, just wheeling. Abuse it and it will fail.

 

[Lost Bushman]

I have 220,000 on the A4LD in my 94 Explorer. Yes I wheel it (4:88's, locked front and rear on 35's). first thing I did when i bought it in '06 was take and have the tranny flushed. Get all the old fluid out. it has the external cooler and yes it is starting to get a little weak in the shifts (not bad, just a little less than when I got it). It still does its job though. I dont stand solid on the A4LD, just mine (I seem to be one of the lucky ones). It cant take the beating like the C-6 in my Ranger does, and I know this. No towing, just wheeling. Abuse it and it will fail.

That's solid. Like I said, I just want it to work, I don't get crazy, and only put it 4WD when I'm stuck, or at serious risk of getting stuck. That's what got me in this mess in the first place, I went over a sandbank, it gave way, buried the frame, tried hard to get out, and couldn't. I had to call in the cavalry to pull me out. Now, I've got to hammer it to get it to move at all. So here I am, with a nice little Eddie Bauer B2, that won't move.

 

[BLOODBANE]

Didnt the C4/C5 work on those bell housing pattern? I remember something on that. Its been a while but maybe search the forum. the C4 is a solid tranny that will take some abuse. It doesnt have the overdrive, but would move your BII nicely. I might be drinking my bathwater on this, but there was a swap something like that...

 

[wildbill23c]

Can't remember on the bellhousings either, my 84 Ranger if I remember right had the C5 transmission in it and it pulled a 16' travel trailer all over the country and never had an issue, had an auxiliary transmission cooler installed the day the truck was purchased, and never had an issue with it. If you can get one to work I'd definitely look at the C4 or C5.