Sorry for the anger but I need to vent. I just got my truck a few months ago, and already had to put a new slave cylinder and clutch in. Then yesterday after a 40 miles highway trip I head a loud rattle from underneath the car coming from the transmission. So I bring it back to the shop today, and theres the possiblity that it may be a bad bearing inside the transmission. Meaning I would need a rebuild. All of this B.S. at only 89,000 miles. I love my truck, but dealing with all the problems with this crappy transmission makes me want to push it off a cliff somtimes.

What was ford smoking when they thought of putting this lousy mazda transmisson in its trucks? Come to think of it, are there ANY M5OD drivers out there that have not had any problems? It seems there are complaints everywhere...slave cylinders, rough shifting, grinds, being locked out of gears, etc... I feel like complaining to Ford but I know that would be a complete waste of time. I should have just bought the friggin automatic.

 

I have seen these things last forever with no service work and I have seen them fail at low mileage. It eally depends how you treat them. The slave cylinder leakage is a matter of time and conditions, eventually they all leak. I got a bearing noise in mine right at 100k and had to fix it. Cost me about $100 in parts. However I have used and abused this transmission since the day I bought the truck I'd say it has held up well.
Using gm syncromesh fluid in them seems to keep these problems down the atf is junk in them.
Alan

 

Have had six and two currently. All abused hard and played rough. Not a failure yet. Price the rebuild of the M5OD and price the rebuild of the 4R70w and be glad you got the stick.

Adrianspeeder

 

Well, to be fair...I suppose how they are treated has alot to do with it. But it just sucks dealing with problems now because the ****head previous owner wailed on it or never maintained it. Maybe im wrong, but to me it seemed like the M5OD has a somewhat above-average complaint rate. I wish Ford had used the T-5 or an updated T-18 or T-19 when they designed these trucks.

 

Heres another M5OD driver with no problems at all. 205,000 miles and most of them was used to pull a 6000 lb. boat. Changed the clutch and slave cylinder at 182,000 miles and never missed a beat. Slave cylinder was still good, but decided to change it anyway seeing as how the trans. has to be pulled to replace it, just wanted to do it all in one shot. Maybe the P.O. just didnt know how to drive.

 

I would never choose a t-5 over an m5od...ever. I have seen them get broken in mustangs by missing a shift on the way out of the delaership that just rebuilt it.
The only advantage to the t-5 is ratios...for racing in lightweight cars.
Alan

 

I had posted last year what I think was the problem with the M5OD, I thought it was the input shaft bearing. Today I still believe that it is. Mine baecame loose and it allowed the gears to wander and they chipped a tooth. On the replacement tranny I pulled it after six months and the shaft was loose. I installed extra shims to tighten it up and so far it is still tollerating the abuse that I put it through. I also use GM syncromesh fluid. I am treaching my son to drive stick so I expect I will be replacing the clutch some time this year.

JMC

 

JMC, you're my hero.

Adrianspeeder

 

JMC... The only man I know that can yank, rebuild, and reinstall his manual trans before halftime on a Sunday! LOL

-Joe