I've read a couple posts on here about hard shifts between first and second gear. My truck ('99 F-150 4X4 4R70W) has been doing pretty much the same thing. It's usualy happens after I come to a complete stop and take off. When it is time to shift, the engine keeps reving and then it makes a hard shift into second. I can usualy controll this by my driving style but I would like to fix the problem before something else goes wrong. When I change the trans fluid, the shifts are a little better but still not where I feel they should be.

So, how the hell would I go about fixing the broken spring if that is the case?

 

Here is a step-by-step with pictures for the 4R70W (Mk VIII and F150 4R70W are the same trans)

https://www.f150online.com/forums/li...ator_paper.htm

Good luck.

 

Thanks a ton, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for. This project doesn't sound too difficult and I may try it this week!

A few questions before I jump into it.

First off, I would like to confirm that this sounds like a broken spring. I will probably head off to the trans shop just to make sure.

Second off, where can I get the parts needed for this repair? Napa, Auto Zone?

 

You can get the parts from your ford dealer. Th trans shop is likely going to tell you you need a transmission.
Alan

 

Sounds like I will be heading to the local Ford dealership today to see how much the parts are going to be. I sure hope this fixes my hard 1-2 shift

 

I did mine in early Feb. The springs (two lowers) cost around $10 total. Made the 1-2 shift much smoother.

Stu

 

Did you get your parts from the dealership? I tried to pick up some springs today but no one was at the desk so after a while we just walked out.

 

Yes, I got them at the dealership. They didn't understand what I wanted at first, so they let me look at an exploded view of the 4R70W on their computer, and I showed them the springs I needed.
There was originally 1 lower spring in my 1-2 accumulator, but there were 2 (inner and outer) specified for my truck. I have some pictures in my gallery of the remains of the spring I pulled out of my tranny...it was in 3 pieces, which apparently is not uncommon.

Here's some pics of mine if you are interested.

My 1-2 accumulator spring (lower)

Stu

 

dye7barrel,

Glad you got 'er fixed.

 

In that first picture,I see the accumulator itself,correct? Is it all rubber? Is this the accumulator that is metal,in my 97 4R70W,that wears out? If so,what part numbers do I need to replace mine,along with the springs?

 

Got my parts from Fairbanks ( Superior )
The shift improver kit comes with springs and better 2-3 and overdrive parts !
I'll give more info If anyone wants to hear .
I love the way it works now !

 

The accumulator piston is the piece on the right in that picture. I have heard that earlier ones were all metal; mine is metal, but with rubber seals.

I'll see tonight if I still have the part numbers at home someplace for the springs and the piston. My springs were for a SCrew; not sure if they are different for different models?

Stu

 

I went to the dealership asking for 1-2 accumulator springs. The guy at the service desk went to get a picture of what I needed along with some other stuff. Since I knew what the parts I needed looked like, I circled the parts and he rang them up for me.

For my truck they had two uppper springs listed. I had no idea which one was for my truck so I bought them both. They are around $5.00 so it wasn't a huge loss but it would have been nice to know before hand.

One more side not, I went the cheap way and replaced the piston and upper spring. Since you have everything taken apart, you might as well replace the lower spring and the bottom cap. It might be more expensive but it's a lot easier to do it once.

 

Dye7barrel,could you please post the parts and part # for each item? I want to do this work on mine this weekend.Thanx!

 

My truck is a 1999 5.4 with the 4R70W trans. Not sure what your situation is but here are the part numbers.

Piston- F7AZ7F251AA $17.38
Spring- F75Z7F284AA $5.90
Spring- F75Z7F254BA $5.90

Parts total= $29.18 plus some trans fluid

Keep in mind that I had to buy two of the upper springs because I did not know which was in my truck at the time. The parts were at the dealership in less than 24 hrs.

EDIT: I will probably be replacing the bottom spring and cap like I should have done to begin with. Truck shifts much nicer and doesn't drop into second. The trans is still slugish shifting into all gears but thats why Troyer sells the Xcal