Just started posting on this site. Spent 4 years at FordDiesel.com with my powerstroke... anyways, just bought a 2001 Screw and 2000 Expy. The Screw has the 4R70W and the Expy the 4R100 (same as my stroke)..... Which one has proven more reliable?

 

It is not really a fair comparison because the 4R100 is obviously stronger (up to 1000 lbs torque) vs the 4R70 (700 lbs torque).

From what I've heard and observed, however, it seems like people have fewer complaints with the 4R100. If I had a choice, I would have selected the 4R100 for my SuperCrew.

 

Over all the 4R70W is more reliable, so I'm told, but in truck only applications the 4R100 is. This is only slightly better than hearsay, I could get the actual numbers, but if I did I prolly wouldn't be allowed to say.

G

 

Statistically, the 4R70W is more reliable than the 4R100.

Transmission longevity depends on the application though. Variations of the 4R70W are used in everything from the 3.8L Mustang, to the Police Interceptor Crown Vics, F-150s & 5.0L Explorers.

The 4R100 is a heavy duty transmission and can certainly sustain more stress than the 4R70W. But, if you look around, you'll find that even though there are fewer trucks out there with the 4R100, there are many more failures reported on vehicles with less than 100,000 miles.

In a heavy vehicle (included a 5.4L F-150 S-Crew or Expedition) or a vehicle that tows, the 4R100 will usually last longer than a 4R70W.

As long as you don't tow, the 4R70W works well in an F-150. It is definitely not a heavy-duty transmission though and I'm certain Ford makes a fortune off remanufactured units because many people just assume that monster sized 5.4L S-Crew is a perfect work truck that can pull anything.... It's definitely not

 

Good info. I've ordered many a Ford truck, but I never knew one could actually pick the tranny. I figured it was dependent upon type of power train combo.... With so many wanting a hard working truck, I to assumed the 150's all had the 4R100 tranny's........wonder why Ford puts more 4R70W's in the 150?
$$?

 

Factory-Tech......"Over all the 4R70W is more reliable, so I'm told, but in truck only applications the 4R100 is. This is only slightly better than hearsay, I could get the actual numbers, but if I did I prolly wouldn't be allowed to say. "

Only way to know is, try it.. I'm curious to see those #'s

 

That's really interesting - I would have never guessed the higher probabiltiy of problems with the 4R100W.

I wonder if the greater failure rate of 4R100W's is because of the greater loads applied to them or if it is because of poorer quality control or engineering (compared to the 4R70W).

If you have 2 identical trucks, one with a 4R70W and the other with a 4R100W, and you subject both to the same use (light duty applications so as not to toast the 4R70W) and if you do this over and over again to get a decent sample, which will be the more reliable?

 

The 4R100, hands down.

G

 

Factory-Tech.

Then why would Ford continue to use the 4R70W in 1/2 ton work truck?

 

Simple answer, it costs less. Someone made a decision that the 4R70W was enough, for what it's worth, it's been upgraded this year, it's now the 4R75, a little more beef. I've heard that part of the reason was we couldn't build enogh 4R100s to put them in all the F150s, I don't know how true that is, but at the time we were building them almost as fast as they could be built. For a year we ran 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, you have to work on the equipment sometime. We also added a line to build more, but then the economy slowed down, teh mechanincal diode happened and we had to use the new line for that, and then it became time to switch over to the Torqshift and the new line is where they build that now.
4R100 is down to one shift now and goes away all together next year sometime.


G

 

Factory-Tech

Thanks for the reply. One more, based on your experience, should I be worried about trailering with my 4R70W (4-5k lbs) or use my Expy (4R100) for the bulk of the trailering work? I've got Flowmasters and Superchip in the 4R70W (F150)....

 

Greg,

You say the 4R100 goes away sometime next year. Does that mean the V10 Superduty gets the Tq Shift?? That would be way cool cuz I will probably order a 04.

 

I'm not usre what model year, but the V-10 is going to the Torqshift, as is the 5.4L Superduty.

G

 

Hey factory_tech,


My work/hunting buddy just got a f350 6.0 with the torqshift in it. On first impressions it seems to be quite a tranny. Have you heard of any problems so far with any of them? Just currious is all.
By the way, still love that Monsterbox Wife doesn't but that means she doesn't drive my truck now..Yeha..lol She doesn't want to drive it now anyway..way too much power for her liking...She passed a semi the other day on wet pavement, and she cant just slowly spead up to pass, and when it down shifted the rear end went sideways on her..lol boy did I get a call about that one..lol when she got to work