4R70W Kevlar Overdrive and Reverse Transmission Band Set

This is the pair of bands that carry overdrive and reverse in the Ford AOD family: a flex-type overdrive band and a multi-wrap reverse band, both lined with Kevlar-based friction material instead of the standard brown lining. The overdrive band is the RPS54010, which replaces OE part F2TZ-7F196-A-HP and F2VP-7F196-BA. The reverse band replaces OE part F0AZ-7D095-A. Between them they cover AOD from 1980 up, plus AODE, 4R70W, 4R75W, 4R70E and 4R75E in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars, trucks and vans.

The stock brown-lined bands are the weak point in any 4R70W that tows, hauls, or lives behind a built motor. When they glaze or burn you get a flare on the 3-4 shift, slipping once the converter locks in overdrive, a delayed or dead reverse, and black band material in the pan at the next fluid change. Kevlar lining takes the heat and the apply shock a stock band will not, which is why it is the standard upgrade on heavy-duty and performance rebuilds.

Both bands go in with the case apart during a rebuild. Set the reverse band around the reverse drum with the anchor end seated on the anchor pin and the apply end on the servo rod, then do the same for the overdrive band on the overdrive drum. Check servo pin length and band clearance before you button the case up - if the unit was slipping long enough to burn the old band, the drum surface and the servo bore are worth inspecting at the same time. Soak new bands in clean ATF before installation so the lining is not run dry on the first apply.