AODE Sun Shell 1980, used and ready to install. Fits the AODE. Ships fast from the USA.
This is a used Ford planet assembly, service number E6AZ-7A398-A, for the AOD four-speed overdrive automatic and its electronic AODE successor. It is listed with 30-tooth planet pinions and a 36-tooth sun gear shell. The product name on this listing says sun shell and 1980; what you actually receive is the planet assembly pictured, and 1980 is simply the year the AOD went into production. It is the part to look at if your AOD-equipped F-150, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Town Car, Thunderbird, Cougar or Fox-body Mustang has started to whine in certain gears or has lost a gear outright.
The AOD is built around a Ravigneaux compound gearset, the same basic layout as Ford's older X-family automatics, with a fourth gear designed into the set rather than bolted on. Short and long pinions share one carrier, and by holding or driving the sun gears, the ring gear or the carrier, the unit produces 2.40 first, 1.47 second, direct third and a 0.67 overdrive. Third gear is a split-torque gear: part of the engine power goes through the converter and part goes straight through the direct input shaft. Because every forward gear and reverse runs through this one carrier, tired pinion bearings or chewed splines show up in more than one range.
Gear noise is easy to blame on the planet when the real cause is a differential, a converter or a pump. Drop the pan first: friction material alone points toward clutches, while needle bearings, bronze washer chunks or bright metal point toward the gearset. With the unit apart, check pinion end play, spin each pinion and feel for roughness, and look at the sun shell splines and the carrier lugs for wear. Our F-150 overdrive automatic problems guide walks through separating clutch, band and hard-part failures on these Ford trucks.
This assembly is for the AOD (introduced for 1980) and the AODE (electronic controls, from 1992), which kept the AOD gear ratios. The listing's vehicle list covers 1980-1995 cars, trucks and vans including the LTD, Thunderbird, Cougar, Marquis and Grand Marquis, Town Car, Continental, Mark VI and Mark VII, Mustang, F-150 through F-350, Bronco and E-Series vans. It does not fit a 4R70W. When Ford released the 4R70W for 1993 it went to numerically higher first, second and reverse ratios (2.84 first), so the gearset is not interchangeable even though the cases look similar. Some vehicles on that list, such as the 1993-1995 Mark VIII, came with the 4R70W, so check your transmission ID tag and match the part number and pinion and sun shell tooth counts to your old unit, or send us your year and VIN before you order. Browse the AOD parts collection or the AODE parts collection for the rest of the job.
This is a used part, so clean it and inspect it before it goes in: check pinion end play, make sure every pinion turns smoothly, and look at the thrust surfaces. Replace the thrust washers and bearings around the gearset and any worn bushings while the unit is apart, and set end play with the correct selective washer. Use the fluid your vehicle's owner guide or dipstick calls for; Ford's current service fluid for transmissions that originally specified MERCON is MERCON V. If your transmission turns out to be a 4R70W, the 4R70W planetary set for 1993-2002 is the correct wide-ratio part instead. AODE owners with soft or harsh shifts should also check the EPC solenoid, such as the 1992-1997 AODE pressure control solenoid, before blaming the gears. For Panther-platform cars, the Crown Victoria transmission problems guide covers the related failures in the later units.
| Fits | AODE 1980 |
| Part type | Sun Shell |
| Condition | Used |
| 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.
It is the planet assembly, service number E6AZ-7A398-A, listed with 30-tooth pinions and a 36-tooth sun gear shell, as shown in the photo. The product name on the listing is not accurate, so go by the part number and the picture.
No. The 4R70W and later units use wider ratios (2.84 first instead of the AOD's 2.40), so their gearset is different. Check your transmission tag; a 4R70W needs a 4R70W planetary set.
The listing covers both, and the AODE kept the AOD gear ratios. Match the part number and tooth counts to your old assembly or send your year and VIN to confirm before you order.
Replace the thrust washers and bearings around the gearset, any worn bushings, the filter and the fluid. If the old planet failed and spread metal, flush or replace the cooler and lines too, or the new parts will be contaminated.
Use what your owner guide or dipstick calls for. Ford's MERCON V is the service fluid it recommends for transmissions that specify MERCON or MERCON V; do not use Type F or the low-viscosity fluids in these units.
No, it is a used OEM assembly. Inspect pinion end play and bearing feel before installing.
