91 explorer with 5 speed

[rboyer]

That's odd that you would go through two M5OD's in a period of four months. They are fairly durable and the main cause of failure with them is lack of lubrication. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the one that you installed had went through a set of shifter bushings sometime in it's life (most likely) and the previous owner of the transmission never thought that those little plastic chunks would hurt anything. What most people don't realize is that the little plastic chunks pose a serious threat to the proper lubrication of your transmission and it's one thing to watch for when buying a used one.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Are you talking about the plastic on the shifter itself? If so, everything is very tight. This one already had the metal plugs installed on the shift rail also. I'm thinking my friend whom put the tranny in bent or messed up the top cover installing it. I still don't know what is squeaking though. Just started when the tranny started going out.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'm gonna pull the top cover off and see if something didn't get bent when they put the top cover back on.

That'a what I would do. Just to clarify, does it feel like there are still gears where 1-4 are when you move the stick around, or is there a "void" where it feels like there is nothing in the 1-4 position (felt a FM146 in a parts rig where it had 5th and reverse but it felt like nothing was there when you moved the stick over the 1-4)?

 

[AKBroncoII]

No void at all in the gears, just doesn't want to go into those gears without a LOT of force. As soon as I can get this other explorer out of my garage I will pull it in and pop the top cover off. It's cool if I have to pull the tranny, as I have to change the rear main out anyways. Just can't find a usable tranny for a reasonable price.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Okay, talking with a ford guru today, he seems to think my pilot bearing may have seized. Explains the squeak and bearing sound, along with not wanting to go into gear.