Guys,

I've got a 2005 4X4 with 100k miles on it that has a front transmission seal leaking pretty badly. So I'm pulling it out to replace the seal. I've got a couple questions for the guys who have pulled their transmissions. First of all, the official instructions say to use a special ford tool to retain the torque convertor in the bell housing and keep it from falling out. Do you have to use that tool or can you just improvise and bolt a wrench to the bell housing to keep the torque converter from falling out.

Also, can you pull the transmission while leaving the exhaust in place? I found some instructions online that don't mention anything about pulling the exhaust but when I look at it I don't really see any way to pull the transmission without removing the exhaust.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

Just make sure when you go back in that the convertor tabs are fully seated back where they belong (ALL the way back). I have known more than one who bolted the tranny up without it slipping ALL the way back on the convertor tabs and wipped the tranny out big time. (No, it wasn't me, but I did have a terrible time getting the convertor seated all the way back on my DIL's Lexus RX and if it hadn't been for specific measurements in the factory manual, MIGHT have concluded that it MUST be all the way back, and wiped the tyranny out. Worked a few more minutes and finally got it to drop that last 1/2 in. in). Had a friend (who is mechanically talented) make the mistake and wipe his out on his Mustang. OUCH!

Don't see why it would matter what you used to keep it from falling out since you have to take it out to replace the seal.

Kind of doubt you can get it out without pulling the exhaust down.

 

Thanks code58! And thanks for the tip about the torque converter. I was pretty sure that the exhaust had to come out but I wanted to check to see if anyone had any tricks to get the transmission out without pulling the exhaust.

And if anyone has any other tips or tricks for pulling the transmission out feel free to let me know them too! Thanks!