5R55E Clutch Module 1997, new and ready to install. Fits the 5R55E. Ships fast from the USA.
If you have a 5R55E out of a Ranger, B4000 or early Explorer torn down on the bench and the steel plates came out blue, glazed or wavy, this is the part that replaces them. Despite the clutch module name, this is a steel clutch plate module, not frictions: the flat steel plates that sit between the friction discs in the clutch packs. It is listed for 4R44E and 5R55E applications from 1997 up. Burnt steels are a common find when the unit came in slipping, flaring or slow to engage.
A clutch pack only grips if both halves are in good shape. The friction discs carry the lining, and the steels give that lining a flat, hard surface to clamp against. In the 5R55E the coast, forward and direct clutches each use a stack of alternating frictions and steels, and the bands handle the remaining ranges. When a clutch slips under load, the heat goes into the steels first. They take on a blue or straw tint, develop hard spots, or dish out of flat, and a warped steel holds the pack partly applied or lets it slip even with new frictions. That is why rebuilders replace steels that show heat damage instead of reusing them.
Burnt clutches in this family are usually a pressure problem. Sonnax reports that the EPC circuit in the 4R44E/5R55E valve body leaks at several points, which cuts line rise and leads to delayed reverse, 1-2 or 2-3 flares and broken bands, and that coast clutch valve leakage can cost 4th, 5th or engine braking. Air test the valve body and check the servo bores before you rebuild the packs. Our 5R55 harsh or delayed shift walkthrough covers the order of tests for this family.
Listed for 4R44E and 5R55E 1997-up applications. Sonnax notes the 4R44E arrived in 1995 and the line became the five-speed 5R44E and 5R55E in 1997, and the 5R55E was used behind the 4.0L in Rangers through 2011 as well as in early Explorer, Explorer Sport and Mazda B4000 models. Year coverage and plate counts can vary by application, so count and measure the steels from your own unit before ordering. The 5R55W, 5R55S and 5R55N are different transmissions and this module is not for them; our 5R55 identification guide shows how to tell the E apart. If in doubt, send us your year and VIN. More 5R55E parts are on the 5R55 parts page.
| Fits | 5R55E 1997 |
| Part type | Clutch Module |
| Condition | New |
| 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.
Steel plates. It is the steel clutch plate module for the 4R44E/5R55E family. Friction discs are not included; pair it with a friction or master rebuild kit.
Rangers with the 4.0L and the five-speed automatic use the 5R55E, which this module is listed for. Count and measure your old steels against the new ones, or send us your year and VIN to double check.
Most 2002-up Explorers use the 5R55W or 5R55S, which take different parts. Explorer Sport and some earlier Explorers used the 5R55E. Check the transmission code on the door label or the case tag.
Only if they are flat, clean and free of heat marks. Any blued, glazed or warped steel should be replaced, or the new frictions will slip or wear quickly.
Mercon V. Flush out all old fluid after a clutch failure, since Sonnax notes that the early Mercon V used before May 2005 was linked to solenoid problems in this family.
