old style piston present with damage for 1-2 accumulator

[LukesCougar]

So i just pulled the 1-2 accumulator. It had an orange spring (upper) and purple spring (lower). The bore is kind of tore up. Not enough to feel it but more than enough to see it. I have the new style piston and plan on throwing everything back together without the purple spring. Im curious though. Is there a way to clean up the bore or is that part of the transfer case trash now??
Will have pictures soon.

 

[LukesCougar]

Neither spring was broken. Just an eaten up piston and bore.

 

[Grog6]

I've never used one, but I've heard of a sleeve to fix that. If it's a stock trans, I'd say fuck it, and look for an 02 gran Marquis trans, non-police.
That gets you all the good parts. Even an 02 will need a rebuild, most likely.
If you can't afford that, you can try cleaning up the bore with fine emery cloth, and seeing if it will work with the new acc. You need a top spring, but not the bottom.

 

[theterminator93]

Just use a scotch-brite pad to clean up the bore a bit, it'll be fine.

Per Jerry:
1-2 Accumulator (see TSB# 97-11-11)
I don’t think I need to say too much on this since there is a lot of good information out there already. But…

Symptom?
A very late 1-2 shift or no 1-2 shift. A shudder on the 1-2 shift.

What Models?
All AODEs and 4R70Ws built until the start of the 1998 model year.

Problem?
All have a cast aluminum 1-2 accumulator with rubber O-rings to seal it. With time, the rubber wears away and creates a leak.

Solution?
Replace with the new molded rubber piece with new springs. Don’t worry about case scuffing, just buff the case with a Scotch-Brite pad and put in the new accumulator.

 

[LukesCougar]

Just use a scotch-brite pad to clean up the bore a bit, it'll be fine.

Per Jerry:
1-2 Accumulator (see TSB# 97-11-11)
I don’t think I need to say too much on this since there is a lot of good information out there already. But…

Symptom?
A very late 1-2 shift or no 1-2 shift. A shudder on the 1-2 shift.

What Models?
All AODEs and 4R70Ws built until the start of the 1998 model year.

Problem?
All have a cast aluminum 1-2 accumulator with rubber O-rings to seal it. With time, the rubber wears away and creates a leak.

Solution?
Replace with the new molded rubber piece with new springs. Don’t worry about case scuffing, just buff the case with a Scotch-Brite pad and put in the new accumulator.

Would a shudder in this car seem like a misfire under my feet? Thats what it was doing along with a slow 1-2 shift. Now it shifts fast but the shudder is still there every 1 out of 4 times. Seems to get better as i drive it around with fresh fluid. I didnt get to buff out the case i was in a rush to get everything back together but i did clean it out with paper towl. I plan on doing a fluid change again soon to get more fresh fluid cycled in.

I've never used one, but I've heard of a sleeve to fix that. If it's a stock trans, I'd say fuck it, and look for an 02 gran Marquis trans, non-police.
That gets you all the good parts. Even an 02 will need a rebuild, most likely.
If you can't afford that, you can try cleaning up the bore with fine emery cloth, and seeing if it will work with the new acc. You need a top spring, but not the bottom.

Yeah im gonna start saving then. The other side of the bore not in picture had some deeper scoring. I do plan on doing another fluid change soon and trying to clean it up.

 

[White Lincoln]

Is there a way to clean up the bore or is that part of the transfer case trash now??
Will have pictures soon.

You could try 0000 steel wool, or emery cloth, otherwise, I would junk it. I junked mine.

 

[LukesCougar]

You could try 0000 steel wool, or emery cloth, otherwise, I would junk it. I junked mine.

View attachment 11068

i like the idea of trying to hone it out but im assuming if it doesnt hold pressure im gonna have an even rougher shift right? After a bit of driving its snappy and quick but still feels odd. Almost too quick. Jerk me into my seat quick. Current setup is orange upper spring and no bottom spring

 

[supergordo]

I agree on scotch brite to the bore. It will be fine. I've done that many times in these trannys.

 

[LukesCougar]

I agree on scotch brite to the bore. It will be fine. I've done that many times in these trannys.

Ill go grab some tomorrow and plan on getting fluid for another change. Should i lube it with mercon v before scuffing it up or blast some break clean in there first?

 

[Grog6]

 

[LukesCougar]

View attachment 11073

So did someone put the orange spring in there? should i change it to blue?

 

[supergordo]

Ill go grab some tomorrow and plan on getting fluid for another change. Should i lube it with mercon v before scuffing it up or blast some break clean in there first?

You can lube it with anything you like. Just clean it all real well before installing the new one.

 

[Grog6]

Mercon is fine; give it a crosshatch at ~a +- 30 degree angle, if you can. It'll help seat the new acc piston.

 

[supergordo]

So did someone put the orange spring in there? should i change it to blue?

Are you doing a J Mod or are you just upgrading the piston and replacing the spring?

 

[LukesCougar]

Are you doing a J Mod or are you just upgrading the piston and replacing the spring?

for now i was just going to do the piston/ bore next fluid change. I dont know if i trust myself doing the full jmod but its on the list of to dos eventually

 

[supergordo]

for now i was just going to do the piston/ bore next fluid change. I dont know if i trust myself doing the full jmod but its on the list of to dos eventually

Then replace the broken spring, reuse the other one and move on. Get back on the road.

 

[LukesCougar]

Then replace the broken spring, reuse the other one and move on.

Alright. A new style piston and the old orange upper spring is in there now i just didnt get to cleaning out the bore yet. I did wipe it with some shop towl and lubed the bore and piston before putting everything together again. i am having trouble finding : FZ57 AA blue upper spring. Parts store nearby cant source it and most everywhere online they're out of stock.

I was able to find this but for 39.99 before shipping :/

NEW - OEM Ford F7AZ-7F284-CA Transmission Top 1-2 Accumulator Spring 4R70W | eBay

FORD part number F7AZ-7F284-CA. All our parts are (NEW OTHER) unless otherwise specified. They may have been in storage anywhere from 1-30 years. Rubber parts, gaskets, hardware may need to be replaced and may not be useable.

www.ebay.com

 

[Grog6]

patc is out of business. search for a sonnax distributor in your area. Napa is worth a try.

 

[supergordo]

Alright. A new style piston and the old orange upper spring is in there now i just didnt get to cleaning out the bore yet. I did wipe it with some shop towl and lubed the bore and piston before putting everything together again. i am having trouble finding : FZ57 AA blue upper spring. Parts store nearby cant source it and most everywhere online they're out of stock.

I was able to find this but for 39.99 before shipping :/

NEW - OEM Ford F7AZ-7F284-CA Transmission Top 1-2 Accumulator Spring 4R70W | eBay

FORD part number F7AZ-7F284-CA. All our parts are (NEW OTHER) unless otherwise specified. They may have been in storage anywhere from 1-30 years. Rubber parts, gaskets, hardware may need to be replaced and may not be useable.

www.ebay.com

Why not just use the orange one? and a new purple?

 

[LukesCougar]

Why not just use the orange one? and a new purple?

I assumed the purple could make the shift better. I like how it shifts with just the orange but the shudder is still there. Not nearly as bad with a new piston. Ill assume this is because the bore was scuffed up

 

[Grog6]

Does it only shudder going into second?

 

[LukesCougar]

Does it only shudder going into second?

Yeah all other gears shift fine. 2-3 feels snappy after the fluid change and no shudder was present before or after. Its only on the 1-2 shift getting past a 1/4 throttle, and after installing a 1-2 piston i had laying around it got better but still doesnt like it when i really get on it. It shifts a LOT faster though on the 1-2. O/D 3-4 works fine too.

I ordered a new piston top and cover. the one i threw in was the updated style but i assumed worst case i pull it back apart to clean up the bore and the new one has already gotten torn up. I only replaced 5 qts of fluid too so i planned on dropping it again anyways and doing another 5-6 qts after putting the brand new piston top and cover in.

I bought the car not really thinking about the possibility of it being transmission related. Assumed it just needed a tune up and computer was being funky when i test drove it.

The hope is really that once i clean up the bore a bit and let a brand new piston/ cover seat that the shudder is minimal/ goes away. Ill guess the only other cause would be that my forward clutches are toast but i didnt see a whole lot of material in the pan. My 96 had a lot more material in it but it shifts snappy on every gear with no shudder. fluid looked fine but i still wanted to swap in some genuine merc v > whatever is inside it.

If it comes down to finding a new trans i would probably have a shop do it or invest in some better tools. Also i considered the sonnax kit but it looks like it comes with the same style piston that is defective..

Edit: im dropping the pan again within the next week or so and trying to get it out of the way. Worst case ill baby it around with high hopes if cleaning up the bore doesnt get rid of the rough shifting.

 

[LukesCougar]

Does it only shudder going into second?

Got another new piston in the mail but it looks a bit different from what im used to seeing.

 

[supergordo]

Should still be fine to use.

 

[LukesCougar]

Should still be fine to use.

Can i scotch brite it by hand with the green pads or do i need a drill attachment?

 

[supergordo]

Can i scotch brite it by hand with the green pads or do i need a drill attachment?

I scotch briite by had with red 360 grit pads. No big deal. Green is fine too. You'll be fine unless there are super deep scratches.

 

[Grog6]

That looks like the updated piston to me. There's a sonnax version with 4 o-rings, if the bore is really messed up.

 

[LukesCougar]

That looks like the updated piston to me. There's a sonnax version with 4 o-rings, if the bore is really messed up.

Worst case i was gonna look into that. Just kind of expensive for that kit.

 

[LukesCougar]

That looks like the updated piston to me. There's a sonnax version with 4 o-rings, if the bore is really messed up.

After some more driving the new piston i put in seems to have buffed the bore out itself. Shudder is gone and it happily and snappily shifts 1-2. I still plan on dropping the pan again some time today. If the piston i put in it last time is in good shape i might return the "hi per blue" piston. I imagined the scuffed up bore would eat it up though so thats why i went ahead and bought a new one. Ill assume there is little pieces of aluminum in the bore and fluid so another 6 quarts couldnt hurt in my mind and ill still buff the bore out and clean it even though its acting fine now.

I was also reading somewhere that the molded style is designed to work itself in/ seal the scarring right? Would explain why it took a bit for the shudder to go away after replacing it.