4R55E Overhaul Kit, new and ready to install. Fits the 4R55E. Ships fast from the USA.
A Ford Ranger, Explorer or Mazda B4000 with the 4.0L V6 and the four-speed 4R55E usually lands on the lift for the same reasons: it flares on the 2-3 shift, slips in fourth on a grade, takes a long breath before reverse catches, or the pan comes off full of dark fluid and lining dust. This 4R55E overhaul kit is built for that teardown. It brings new friction plates for the three multi-disc clutches, new intermediate and overdrive bands, the full gasket and seal set, a pump bushing and a two-wheel-drive filter, so the soft parts that wear out together get replaced together.
Steel clutch plates are not included. Most rebuilders reuse steels that are flat, not blued and still show their factory finish; if yours are heat-marked or warped, plan to buy steels separately, or step up to our 4R55E master rebuild kit, which adds them.
The 4R55E is the heavier-duty sister of the 4R44E. Both grew out of the old A4LD, and Ford gave the 4R55E stronger drive parts for the 4.0L, with a published rating of about 550 lb-ft after converter multiplication against 440 for the 4R44E. The gear ratios are the same: 2.47, 1.47, 1.00 and 0.75. Each gear is made by a combination of the forward, direct and overdrive clutches plus the bands, all clamped by oil pressure that the computer sets through the EPC solenoid. A worn friction plate needs more pressure to hold; a hard piston seal or a leaking gasket loses pressure before it gets there. Put both together on a high-mileage truck and you get slipping, burnt bands and a converter clutch that never quite locks. This kit addresses both halves of that problem in one order.
Pull a fluid sample and compare it against our ATF color and smell chart; a burnt smell plus lining on the magnet means the clutches have been slipping and a reseal alone will not save it. Then put a gauge on the line pressure tap and follow our line pressure guide. Low pressure in every range points at the pump, EPC or a general internal leak, while low pressure in one range points at that circuit. If the shifts are harsh or late rather than slipping, work through our harsh and delayed shift walkthrough first, because a sticking valve or EPC solenoid can mimic worn clutches.
This kit is catalogued for the 4R44E, 4R55E and 5R55E family and labeled for 1997-up units; the applications listed with it include the 1995-96 Explorer, 1995-96 Ranger, 1996-97 Aerostar and Mazda B-Series pickups. The 4R55E itself went behind the 4.0L in mid-1990s Rangers, B4000s and Explorers before the five-speed 5R55E took over. Because the filter in this box is the 2WD version, a 4x4 truck needs a 4x4 filter; our 1994-1996 4x4 overhaul kit covers that layout. Check the identification tag on the case, count your clutch plates against the list above, and if you are unsure, send us your year and VIN before ordering. You can browse the rest of this family on our 5R55 and 4R55E parts page.
| Fits | 4R55E |
| Part type | Overhaul Kit |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. It includes 15 friction plates, two bands, the gasket and seal set, a pump bushing and a 2WD filter. Reuse your steels if they are flat and not heat-blued, or choose the master rebuild kit if you need new steels.
The clutches, bands and gaskets are shared, but the filter in this kit is the 2WD version. A 4x4 truck needs the 4x4 filter, which our 1994-1996 4x4 overhaul kit includes. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to confirm.
The intermediate band and the overdrive band. If the reverse band in your unit is burnt or the lining is cracked, replace it separately during the rebuild.
These Ford units use Mercon V. Confirm against your owner manual or the dipstick, and fill to the hot mark after the first drive.
They share a basic design and many soft parts, which is why this kit covers all three. The 4R55E has heavier-duty drive parts for the 4.0L, and the 5R55E adds a fifth ratio. Match your clutch plate counts to the list on this page before installing.
