10R60 Clutch Module 2020

When a 2020 or newer Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator or Bronco with the 10R60 ten-speed comes apart for slipping, flare or burnt fluid, the friction plates get the attention, but the steels they run against are just as worn. This is the Raybestos STMFORD23 steel clutch pack module for the 10R60, a complete set of the steel plates for all six clutches, made in the USA. It is the steel half of a clutch rebuild; the friction plates and seals are bought separately.

What the steel plates do in a 10R60

The 10R60 is the light-duty member of Ford's ten-speed rear-drive family, rated at 443 lb-ft. It gets ten forward gears from four planetary gear sets and six clutches lettered A through F. A and B are stationary brakes that hold parts of the gear train to the case, and C, D, E and F are rotating clutches; C, D and F share one drum. Each clutch is a stack of friction plates splined to one member, interleaved with steel plates splined to the other. When the piston squeezes the stack, the steels are the surfaces that carry the torque and soak up the heat of every shift. A ten-speed shifts constantly, so the steels see far more heat cycles than they did in older five- and six-speeds.

Per Raybestos, STMFORD23 contains 28 steels: 3 A clutch plus 1 A clutch thick bottom plate, 3 B clutch plus 1 B thick bottom plate, 5 C, 6 D, 5 E plus 1 E bottom plate, and 3 F. Raybestos also lists STMFORD26, which is identical except for a thicker .111 inch C clutch steel, so measure your original C steels before ordering.

Symptoms that point to worn clutch packs

• Slipping or flare in specific gears, worst once the fluid is hot
• Dark fluid with a burnt smell, or friction material in the pan
• Harsh or clunky 1-2 and 2-3 shifts that come back after an adaptive relearn
• Bump, neutral or slide shifts and loss of second gear, which on this family often trace to the C-D-F drum sleeve moving and starving those clutches
• Shudder on light throttle at cruise, where degraded fluid is also a suspect

Inspect the steels you pull out. Blue or black heat spots, a glazed mirror finish, warping you can see on a flat surface, or worn drive lugs all mean the plate is done. Reusing heat-damaged steels with new frictions is a common reason a fresh rebuild slips again.

How to confirm before you buy

Not every 10R60 complaint is a worn clutch. Check the fluid level hot with a scan tool, pull codes, and rule out a solenoid fault; a sticking 10R60 pressure control solenoid can feel like slipping. A harsh 7-6 downshift on 2022 Explorer, Aviator and Bronco units built on or before 9-Aug-2022 is the A clutch return spring snap ring covered by Ford TSB 22-2411, not worn plates. Our 10R80 vs 10R60 guide covers that test and how to tell the two units apart, and the 10-speed harsh or delayed shift guide covers the shared diagnostic path.

Fitment

This module is listed for the Ford 10R60 from 2020 on, which covers the 2020-up Explorer and Lincoln Aviator and 2021-up Bronco, plus later Ranger applications. It does not fit the 10R80: GEARS notes that most internal parts do not interchange between the 10R60 and 10R80 even though they share the same layout. Check the transmission tag, count your steels per clutch against the list above, and send us your year and VIN if anything does not match. More 10-speed rebuild parts are in our rebuild kits category.

Install notes

• Steels go in dry or lightly oiled; only the friction plates need a soak, at least 30 minutes in Mercon ULV.
• Keep the thick bottom plates for A, B and E in the bottom position of their stacks.
• Set each clutch clearance with a dial indicator or feeler gauge after stacking. Steel thickness changes the clearance, so never assume the old setup still applies.
• Replace the piston seals and sealing rings at the same time with the 10R60 overhaul kit, and check the C-D-F drum sleeve; a moved sleeve needs the 10R60 C-D-F clutch drum.
• Refill with Mercon ULV only, check the level at 206-215 F on a scan tool, then clear adaptives and run Ford's adaptive learning drive cycle.

Does this 10R60 clutch module include friction plates?

No. Raybestos STMFORD23 is the steel plate module only: 28 steels covering the A through F clutches. Frictions, seals and the filter are separate.

What is the difference between STMFORD23 and STMFORD26?

Raybestos lists both for the 2020-on 10R60. STMFORD26 swaps in a thicker .111 inch C clutch steel; everything else is the same. Measure your original C steels to know which one your unit uses.

Can I reuse my old steels?

Only if they are flat, the original thickness and free of heat spots and glazing. Blued, warped or lug-worn steels should be replaced, or new frictions will slip against them.

Will it fit a 10R80?

No. The 10R60 and 10R80 share a design but most internal parts do not interchange, and the clutch stacks differ. Order by transmission code.

Which vehicles use the 10R60?

The 2020-up Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator and the 2021-up Ford Bronco, plus later Ranger applications. Confirm the tag or send us your VIN.

Do I need a relearn after replacing the clutch packs?

Yes. Clear the adaptive values and complete Ford's adaptive learning drive cycle so the module relearns clutch fill on the new packs.

• 10R80 vs 10R60: Differences, Interchange, and Which Is Stronger
• 10-speed harsh or delayed shifts
• Ford 10-speed identification guide
• Adaptive relearn after a valve body or rebuild