4R44E Shift Kit 1994-2007, new and ready to install. Fits the 4R44E. Ships fast from the USA.
If your four-cylinder or 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger, or its Mazda B2300 or B3000 twin, has started slipping on the 2-3 shift when you step into the throttle, burning through second or overdrive bands, or rolling slowly before it decides to move, this is the hydraulic fix built for it. The kit on this page is the TransGo SK 44-55E, a valve body repair kit that covers the 4R44E along with the 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E. It goes in with the transmission still in the truck, so it suits a valve body service as well as a full rebuild.
The 4R44E is the light-duty electronic descendant of the A4LD, paired with the smaller engines and rated for less torque than the 4R55E that went behind the 4.0L. Shifts are commanded by three on/off shift solenoids, a coast clutch solenoid, a TCC solenoid and an EPC solenoid that sets line pressure. TransGo's instructions point out the weak spot in the factory calibration: clutch and band apply pressure is regulated down to about 40 psi even when line pressure is far higher. On a small truck that tows or hauls, that low apply pressure lets the forward clutch and the bands slip long enough to cook.
The kit reworks that circuit. A new forward control spring and aluminum end plug raise apply pressure, with an orange spring (and an orange-plus-yellow pair) offered when you want it firmer still. A tapered orifice goes into the second band feed, a small passage is cross-drilled in the plate, and an EPC limit valve is added where the separator plate calls for it. TransGo also changes the forward circuit so a truck with a stuck EPC solenoid can still be driven in for service instead of refusing to move at all.
A shift kit cannot rescue a transmission that already has burned frictions, so check the fluid and look at the pan first. Then test line pressure; our line pressure testing guide shows the hookup. If pressure stays low, measure the solenoids before blaming hydraulics. TransGo's chart lists the shift and coast solenoids at 22 to 48 ohms, TCC at 9 to 16 ohms, and EPC at 3.1 to 5.7 ohms, and the unit will start in third gear when it falls into limp mode. Our flare versus slip guide helps you tell a timing problem from a worn clutch.
This listing covers 1994 to 2007. TransGo catalogs the SK 44-55E for all 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E units from 1994 on, and its instructions name the 2.3L, 3.0L and 4.0L Aerostar, Explorer, Bronco and Ranger plus the Mazda B2300, B3000 and B4000. The 4R44E itself appeared in the mid-1990s when it replaced the A4LD, so a truck that still has an A4LD tag needs a different kit. Valve bodies and separator plates changed during production, which is why TransGo includes parts for both early and late plates. Read the tag on the case, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm before it ships. The same kit is also listed as our 4R44E shift kit 1994-07 for buyers who search by that range.
| Fits | 4R44E 1994-2007 |
| Part type | Shift Kit |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | TransGo |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. TransGo states the SK 44-55E installs without pulling the transmission. The valve body comes out through the pan. The clutch rings and center support parts are only used if the unit is being rebuilt.
The standard red spring firms shifts without making them brutal. The orange spring, or orange with the yellow inner spring, is for owners who want more, and TransGo notes the 3-2 coast downshift also gets firmer with each step.
Yes. TransGo uses one part number, SK 44-55E, for the 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E. This page is written for the 4R44E behind the 2.3L and 3.0L engines.
It can be either. TransGo notes that shift solenoid 2 can cause a 2-3 flare, and a weak EPC solenoid lowers pressure on every shift. Check codes and solenoid resistance before you install the kit.
MERCON V. Set the level with the engine idling and the fluid fully warm, since cooler flow does not start until the unit warms up.
