5R110W Planetary 2005

A 2005 or later Ford Super Duty, Excursion or E-Series with the 5R110W TorqShift that has started to howl at cruise, lost a gear, or left steel flakes on the pan magnet often needs planetary work. This listing is a remanufactured 5R110W planetary set for the 2005 design. The set pictured includes a planet carrier, a ring gear assembly and the thrust washers that go with it, so you are not left reusing a worn washer against a fresh carrier.

What the planetary does in a 5R110W

Behind the center support, the 5R110W uses a front and a rear planetary set. The clutches and one-way clutches hold or drive the sun gear, ring gear or carrier of each set, and every gear ratio comes from those combinations. On a diesel or V10 truck that tows, the pinion gears, their needle bearings and the thrust surfaces between the carriers carry a lot of torque, and they wear faster when the fluid runs hot or the lube supply is weak.

The 2005 model year matters for this part. Transmission Digest documented that Ford changed the front planetary that year: planet pinion teeth went from 18 to 23, the front ring gear and hub went from 78 to 101 teeth, the front sun gear went from 42 to 55 teeth, and the thrust washer and lube dam grew in diameter. Ford also included a new rear planet in the 2005 service package because of earlier failures. The result is that a 2003-04 front planetary and a 2005-up front planetary are not the same part, and mixing an early rear planet with the later sun shell can cause interference.

Symptoms of a worn 5R110W planetary

• A whine or growl that follows road speed rather than engine speed, often louder in one gear.
• A gear that is missing or slips, while the clutches tested good.
• Gear ratio error codes that keep coming back after solenoid and clutch work.
• Steel flakes or chips on the pan magnet, as opposed to the fine friction dust of a slipping clutch.
• Pinion gears with excess end play or rough rotation when the unit is apart.

Keep in mind that the 5R110W is better known for solenoid body faults and coast and intermediate clutch wear. Those cause flares and harsh shifts, not a speed-related howl, so separate the two before you order hard parts.

How to confirm it is the planetary

Start with a scan tool. If commanded and actual gear disagree and line pressure looks right, the problem is mechanical. Drop the pan and check what is on the magnet. Fine gray paste is normal wear; chunks of steel or pieces of washer point to a gear set or bearing. Our 5R110 rebuild guide on known wear points covers the design changes and what to inspect, and the 5R110 shift solenoid symptoms guide helps you rule out an electrical cause first. Once the unit is apart, spin each pinion: any roughness, pitting or play means the carrier is done.

Fitment

This set is listed for the 2005 5R110W, which means the second-design front planetary used in 2005 and later trucks. Before you buy, count the teeth on your old parts. A 2005-up front set has 23-tooth pinions and a 101-tooth ring gear; a 2003-04 set has 18 and 78. Gas and diesel units also use different front planets and lube dams (gas lube dams have six tabs, diesels have four), and from late 2008 the rear planet was bonded to the low one-way clutch. If you are not sure which build you have, send us the year, engine and VIN and we will check it before it ships. You can see every TorqShift part we carry on the 5R110W collection page, including the other 5R110W planetary listing.

Install notes

• Check pinion end play and replace any worn thrust washers, thrust bearings and bushings in the gear train.
• Check total end play through the stack-up from the rear ring gear and thrust bearing forward to the center support, as Transmission Digest describes, especially if you are mixing design levels.
• Inspect the low/reverse retaining ring; the original design tends to pop out, and an updated ring is available.
• Flush the cooler and lines. Debris left in the cooler will go straight back into the new gears.
• Refill with Mercon SP and check the level hot.

If the transmission is apart this far, an 5R110W overhaul kit for 2003-2010 gives you the gaskets, seals and frictions to finish the job in one pass.

Will this planetary fit my 2004 F-250 with a 5R110W?

Not as a direct swap. Ford changed the front planetary in 2005, including pinion, ring gear and sun gear tooth counts and a larger thrust washer. A 2003-04 unit needs 2003-04 parts or the full later package. Send us your year and VIN if you are unsure.

Does it matter if my truck is a gas V10 or a 6.0L diesel?

Yes. Transmission Digest notes that gas and diesel 5R110W units use different front planets and lube dams, and the 5.4L gas unit uses a five-plate low/reverse clutch while the 6.8L and diesel use six. Match your old parts before installing.

What should I replace with a new planetary set?

Replace thrust washers, thrust bearings and any worn bushings in the gear train, check the low/reverse retaining ring, and flush the cooler and lines. Most people doing this job also install a full overhaul kit.

How do I know the noise is the planetary and not the converter or rear axle?

Planetary noise follows road speed and usually changes with the gear the transmission is in. Converter noise follows engine speed, and axle noise does not change when the transmission shifts. A scan tool showing gear ratio errors with good line pressure also points to the gear train.

What fluid does the 5R110W use?

Mercon SP automatic transmission fluid. Check the level hot after the rebuild and again after a test drive.

• 5R110 TorqShift Rebuild Guide: Known Wear Points and Upgrades
• Ford 5R110 TorqShift Service Guide: What Every Super Duty Tech Needs to Know
• 5R110 TorqShift Shift Solenoid Symptoms, Testing and Replacement