While driving at the speed of around 50-60 mph, my 97 F-150 4x4 would start to shudder like crazy. Also what was pissing me off was the transmission was starting to leak more and more. Well since I finally got tired of neglecting my poor truck, I decided to take it to the auto hobby shop and investigate this situation. Transmission fluid was everywhere so i sprayed it with brake clean to see where it was leaking. By pure luck I found a 2 inch bolt clinging on to the crossmember that i wasn't sure where it belonged. The leak was coming from between the transmission and the extension housing. This is where that one bolt worked its way out. The rest of the bolts were very loose. So the vibration and fluid leak were at this point. What I don't undrestand is why these bolts worked themselves loose? Maybe it was the dumbass who rebuilt the transmission @ 70k that left them loose.

 

well if you found the problem then thats good...if the fluid was coming out that bad i'd also change the gasket where the leak originated...soaked gaskets dont work...do yourself a favor...zap!

 

Hope you checked the extension bushing for wear.

 

Just fininished updating my post because of a similair problem with my E4OD transmission. I had two bolts on the left side of the extension loose about a half a turn or so. So with a new gasket and bolts tightened the vibration is gone.