4R44E Overhaul Kit 1997-2011, new and ready to install. Fits the 4R44E. Ships fast from the USA.
If your 1997-2011 Ford Ranger, Explorer, Mountaineer or Mazda B-Series automatic is leaking at the pan, dripping from the front pump, engaging late on cold mornings, or you already have the case split on the bench, this is the soft-parts seal set that goes back into it. It is a gasket and seal overhaul kit for the 4R44E and its five-speed descendants, the 5R44E and 5R55E. Inside are the gaskets, the metal-clad seals, the rubber seals and the O-rings needed to reseal a unit during a teardown. It is priced for the shop or owner who is reusing good hard parts and buying only what has to be replaced.
If your clutches are burnt or the bands are glazed, you need more than seals. Our 4R44E master rebuild kit for 1997-2011 adds the friction material, and a 1997-2011 clutch module covers the plates on their own.
The 4R44E started life as the electronic version of the old A4LD and was rated at roughly 440 lb-ft after converter multiplication. From 1997 Ford began applying the front servo to get an overdriven first and a fifth gear, which created the 5R44E and 5R55E. All of them make every gear by clamping clutch packs and bands with oil pressure, and the computer raises or lowers that pressure through the EPC solenoid. Every piston seal, sealing ring and gasket in the unit is part of that pressure path. When rubber hardens with age and heat, apply oil bleeds away before it reaches the piston, so the clutch slips, the shift drags out, and the fluid gets hot. Replacing every seal in one pass restores the pressure the computer is asking for.
Check the fluid level and condition first; dark fluid with lining in the pan means clutches are worn and you should plan on a full rebuild kit. If the fluid looks clean, put a gauge on the line pressure port and compare idle and stall readings with the factory chart using our line pressure checking guide. Low pressure in every range points to the pump or a leak common to all circuits, while low pressure in one range points to that circuit's seals. Our 5R55 harsh and delayed shift walkthrough covers the electrical causes to rule out first, since a sticking EPC solenoid can mimic a seal leak.
This kit is catalogued for 1997-2011 4R44E, 5R44E and 5R55E transmissions in Ford, Lincoln, Mazda and Mercury rear-drive and four-wheel-drive trucks. In Rangers, the 4R44E ran behind the 2.3L and 3.0L through 2000, the 5R44E replaced it from 2001, and the 5R55E served the 4.0L. Do not confuse this unit with the 5R55W, 5R55S or 5R55N, which are different transmissions and use different seals. Confirm the transmission code on your door tag or the case ID tag before ordering, and if you are unsure, send us the year and VIN. Browse every part for this family on our 5R55 and 4R44E collection page.
Soak lip seals and rubber seals in clean ATF before assembly, use assembly gel on sealing rings so they do not roll or cut going into their bores, and drive the metal-clad pump and extension seals in square with a proper driver. Air-check each clutch and servo circuit once the pump is on; Sonnax recommends a 50-70 psi air test of the EPC circuit with the valve body bolted to the case to find leaks before the pan goes on. Refill with MERCON-family ATF as shown on your dipstick, and check the level hot in Park. If the old solenoid pack was part of the problem, the 1997-2011 solenoid kit is the time-saver to install while the valve body is out.
| Fits | 4R44E 1997-2011 |
| Part type | Overhaul Kit |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. It is the gasket and seal set only: gaskets, metal-clad seals, rubber seals and O-rings. Frictions, steels, bands, the filter, bushings and the converter are not included, so order a master rebuild kit if those parts are worn.
Yes, it is catalogued for the 4R44E, 5R44E and 5R55E from 1997 to 2011. It does not fit the 5R55W, 5R55S or 5R55N used in later Explorers, Mustangs and Lincolns, which are different designs.
No. The 1995-1996 units use an earlier seal set, which is why it is sold separately. Match your year range, and check the transmission code on the door tag if the truck was built near a model-year change.
Use the MERCON-family automatic transmission fluid shown on your dipstick or in the owner guide. Ford's guidance for these trucks is not to mix MERCON and MERCON V unless the fluid is labeled for both.
Clear the codes and disconnect the battery or reset the adaptive values with a scan tool, then drive through all gears gently so the computer relearns shift timing. Expect shifts to firm up over the first few drives.
