5R44E Planetary, new other (see details) and ready to install. Fits the 5R44E. Ships fast from the USA.
If your 2.3L or 3.0L Ranger or Mazda B-Series with the 5R44E automatic has started to whine at highway speed, or the teardown turned up a blackened front planet, this is the part you are after. It is a new old stock overdrive planetary, interchange number A56580C (also cross-referenced as 56580C and 5R5225BN). It is unused but not in its original box, and it ships as the planetary only, exactly as pictured, without drums, bearings or thrust washers.
The 5R44E traces back to the A4LD, which Ford built by bolting an overdrive unit to the front of the three-speed C3. That front unit is a single planetary gearset, and this carrier is its heart. Sonnax explains that the 4R44E arrived in 1995 behind the 2.3L and 3.0L engines, and that in 1997 the family became a five-speed by applying the front servo to get an overdriven first as well as fifth. You can see it in the ratios published by The Ranger Station: the 5R44E's second gear is 1.86, which is first gear (2.47) multiplied by the 0.75 overdrive ratio. So in a 5R44E this planetary works in second and fifth, not just on the highway, and it sees more load than it did in the older four-speeds.
Many 5R44E shift complaints come from the valve body, not the gears. Sonnax ties flares, delayed reverse and even broken bands to leakage in the EPC circuit, so run a line pressure test and read codes before you tear the unit down. Our 5R55 harsh or delayed shift walkthrough lays out that order. A gear whine that changes with road speed and not engine speed, plus metal in the pan, points to a hard part. Once the front unit is out, check pinion end play and look for heat color and pitting.
This planetary is listed for the whole small Ford rear-drive family: A4LDE, 4R44E, 4R55E, 5R44E and 5R55E, in Ford and Mazda trucks. For the 5R44E that means the five-speed 2.3L and 3.0L Ranger and the matching Mazda B-Series. The Ranger Station's chart lists the 5R44E in 2001-2009 2.3L and 3.0L Rangers. Ford made running changes in this family over the years, so lay your old carrier next to the photo and match the pinion count, splines and overall height, or send us your year and VIN and we will check it. A remanufactured choice is our 1997-2014 5R44E planetary, and the full range is on the 5R55 family parts page.
Since the carrier comes bare, plan on new thrust washers and bearings and inspect every bushing in the overdrive section. Set end play to spec before the pump goes back on. While the unit is apart, a 1997-2005 overhaul kit covers the seals and gaskets, and a Sonnax Zip Kit corrects the valve body leaks that cause flares and broken bands. Clean the cooler and lines, fill with Mercon V, and let the computer relearn shifts with a few gentle drive cycles.
| Fits | 5R44E |
| Part type | Planetary |
| Condition | New Other (See Details) |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It is the overdrive planetary carrier only, exactly as pictured. Drums, bearings and thrust washers are not included.
It is new old stock: unused, but not in its original box.
It is listed for the 5R44E used behind the 2.3L and 3.0L engines, and for the 4R44E, 4R55E, A4LDE and 5R55E. Compare it to your old carrier or send us your year and VIN.
In the five-speed units the overdrive planetary is working in second as well as fifth, so a worn front planet can be heard in second. Rule out valve body and pressure problems first.
Mercon V. Clean the cooler and lines during the rebuild so old debris does not reach the new gears.
