4R44E Sun Shell, new and ready to install. Fits the 4R44E. Ships fast from the USA.
If you have a Ford Ranger, Mazda B-Series, Explorer or Aerostar automatic apart on the bench and the needle bearing between the sun shell and the rear planetary carrier came out flat, rough, missing rollers or blued from heat, this is the replacement. Despite the short listing name, this item is not the sun shell itself. It is the new thrust bearing that rides between the sun shell and the rear planet, interchange number 56244C, listed against the Ford service number F7ZZ-7M151BA. It fits the 4R44E and its siblings the 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E from 1995 up, so one bearing covers the whole electronic A4LD family.
The 4R44E is the electronic descendant of the A4LD, which itself is the old C3 three-speed with an overdrive section bolted to the front. Behind the overdrive unit sits a Simpson-style gear train: a front planetary set, a rear planetary set and one long sun gear shared by both. The sun shell is the bell-shaped steel piece that connects that sun gear to the reverse/high clutch drum. Because the shell and the rear planet carrier turn at different speeds in almost every gear, something has to take the end thrust between them without rubbing metal on metal. That is this bearing. When Ford updated the A4LD design, most of the old flat thrust washers in the gear train were replaced with Torrington-style needle bearings, and that change is a big reason the later units hold up better than the early ones. A healthy bearing keeps the shell, sun gear and rear carrier spaced correctly, so the gear teeth mesh where they were designed to and the bushings are not side-loaded.
Gear-train noise has a few look-alikes in this family, including a dry pump bushing, a worn output shaft bearing and a converter problem. Pull the pan first: needle rollers or a glitter layer on the magnet point straight at a thrust bearing. During disassembly, measure end play before you take the gear train apart and compare it to the spec in your manual, then inspect every bearing face. Our thrust washer and end play guide walks through what worn bearings and washers look like and why end play matters. If the noise is not clearly mechanical, rule out slipping with the transmission slipping diagnosis guide.
This bearing is listed for the 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E from 1995 up. In practice that covers the 4R44E behind the 2.3L and 3.0L in the Ranger and Mazda B-Series, the 4R55E behind the 4.0L, and the five-speed 5R44E and 5R55E that followed in the Ranger, B-Series and Explorer. It is a flat thrust bearing, so the things to match are the inside and outside diameter and the style of the bearing you removed, not the vehicle name. Lay your old bearing next to the photo and measure it before installing. The 5R55N, 5R55W and 5R55S are different transmissions and do not use this part. If you are unsure, send us your year and VIN. Every part we carry for this family is on the 5R55 transmission page.
If the bearing failed and scored the shell, replace the shell too: the 5R55E sun gear and shell assembly is the matching piece for later units. Because this bearing is usually changed during a teardown, pair it with the 4R44E overhaul gasket and seal kit or a full 4R44E master rebuild kit.
| Fits | 4R44E |
| Part type | Sun Shell |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
It is the thrust bearing that sits between the sun shell and the rear planetary carrier, interchange 56244C, listed against Ford F7ZZ-7M151BA. The shell itself is sold separately.
It is listed for the 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E from 1995 up. Measure the inside and outside diameter of your old bearing and compare before installing. It does not fit the 5R55N, 5R55W or 5R55S.
Usually a whine or growl that follows road speed, most noticeable in the lower gears and reverse. A collapsed bearing also leaves needle rollers and bright metal in the pan.
Inspect the sun shell, the sun gear bushings and the rear planet carrier while you are in there. Most people install it with an overhaul seal kit or a master rebuild kit since the gear train is already apart.
Install it in the same orientation as the one you removed. Note the direction before pulling the old bearing and hold the new one in place with assembly gel or petroleum jelly.
Mercon V automatic transmission fluid. Check the level with the engine running at operating temperature after the rebuild.
