5R55W Banner Rebuild Kit 2008, new and ready to install. Fits the 5R55W. Ships fast from the USA.
A late Explorer or Mountaineer whose 5R55W now hesitates before it picks up Drive, slips when you lean on it from a stop, or has stopped holding engine braking on a downgrade is usually telling you the clutch packs are glazed and the piston seals are bleeding oil. This banner kit is built for the 2008-up version of that transmission. It is catalogued as Raybestos W16004GAP for 2008-up 5R55W and 5R55S units, and the box holds two things: a complete overhaul kit (gaskets, seals, O-rings, sealing rings, lip seals and the other rubber components) that includes a bonded piston, and twelve friction plates. Those are five 48-tooth double-sided high-energy direct frictions (R560107), five 89-tooth forward frictions (R560100) and two 16-tooth high-energy overrun frictions (R560020).
The 5R55W gets its five ratios from a combination of bands and multi-plate clutches. The forward clutch carries the truck off the line, the direct clutch comes in on the upper gears, and the overrun clutch provides engine braking in the manual ranges. Transmission Digest describes how the W and S control those applies with four on/off shift solenoids, a PWM converter clutch solenoid and three variable force solenoids, with the PCM adapting the pressure as the parts wear. Once the friction material is cooked, the adaptive strategy cannot add enough pressure to close the gap and the slip comes through. Replacing all three friction packs and resealing every circuit puts the clearances and sealing back where the calibration expects them. The bonded piston matters because a molded rubber lip on an old piston goes hard with heat and starts leaking apply oil long before the friction material is gone.
Know what is not included. No steel plates, bands, bushings or filter are listed. Steels can be reused only if they are flat with no blue heat marks; if they are scored, or the bands are worn through to the steel, plan on buying those separately.
Do not tear the unit down on symptoms alone. Sonnax notes that on the W and S the VFS modulator bores in the valve body wear with use, cutting clutch and servo pressure until ratio codes or slippage appear, and that the solenoid pack or servo pin bores often get blamed for what is really a pressure supply problem. GEARS Magazine documented a 2006 Explorer with severe warm delayed forward where the forward clutch was the only internal damage found, so a burnt forward pack is real, but the pressure side has to be checked first. Our 5R55 harsh or delayed shift walkthrough covers the order of tests, the 5R55W Explorer slipping guide covers the truck-specific causes, and the servo pin bore wear article explains the case problem that a rebuild has to address. If the fluid is still red and the magnet is clean, a 5R55W solenoid block pack or valve body work may fix it without a rebuild.
This listing is the 2008 version, and the kit is catalogued for 2008-up 5R55W and 5R55S transmissions. Sonnax records the W in 2002-2003 Explorers and Mountaineers giving way to the S in later models, so many 2008 trucks will be tagged S rather than W; the kit covers both codes, but read the transmission code on the door-jamb label or the case tag rather than guessing. The friction module changed from the earlier kit, so the most reliable check is to count the teeth on your old plates: 48 on the direct, 89 on the forward and 16 on the overrun should match. If they do not, or your build date is before 2008, you need the 2002-2007 5R55W banner kit instead. When in doubt, send us your year and VIN. Everything else for this family is on our 5R55 parts page.
| Fits | 5R55W 2008 |
| Part type | Banner Rebuild Kit |
| 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.
Twelve: five 48-tooth double-sided high-energy direct plates (R560107), five 89-tooth forward plates (R560100) and two 16-tooth high-energy overrun plates (R560020), plus the overhaul seal and gasket set with a bonded piston.
The kit is catalogued for 2008-up 5R55W and 5R55S units, so either code is covered. Confirm the tooth counts on your old frictions match before you assemble.
Not without checking. Earlier units use a different friction module and have their own 2002-2007 banner kit. Count the teeth on your old plates or send us your year and VIN.
None are listed in this kit. Reuse steels only if they are flat and not heat-blued, inspect both bands, and buy a new filter for the rebuild.
Mercon V. There is no dipstick, so the level is set hot through the T30 Torx check plug. Plan on roughly 11.2 quarts dry behind the 3.0L or 3.9L and 12.4 to 12.7 quarts behind the 4.0L or 4.6L.
The PCM is still running adaptive values learned on the worn clutches. Reset them with a scan tool and drive it through all gears so it relearns the new pack fill times.
