What brand of reman transmission suggested?

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My parents had an issue with their 05 ford explorer and after researching its looking more and more like the transmission is gonna have to be swapped.


any good/bad experiences with reman'ed transmissions? and any brands you can recommend or stay away from?


thanks.
 
I put a reman from StreetSmart transmission in my FIL's Chevy 1500HD last summer and it's holding up excellent. Good price, good service, and they appear to be pretty thorough with their rebuilds.
 
I know of an excellent transmission shop in my area thats been family operated for several decades. If possible, I would have them rebuild my old transmission instead of trusting a reman unit.
 
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I would go with a local transmission shop too. My neighbor used a GM rebuild in her 2005 Impala and never had anymore issues at all with the car. It seems like the rebuild was better than the original.
 
Originally Posted By: Silverado12
I would go with a local transmission shop too. My neighbor used a GM rebuild in her 2005 Impala and never had anymore issues at all with the car. It seems like the rebuild was better than the original.


In most cases, when done by a GOOD mechanic, this is true. After a transmission has been on the market for so long the industry learns it's weak points and when they're rebuilt, stronger/better/updated parts are used on the weak areas resulting in a better, more solid slushbox.
 
What is your budget?

My VERY first choice is a clean, low mileage unit from auto salvage.
Preferably one untouched from the factory, as I think they do the best job assembling them.
Some wrecking yards will let you choose the unit, and even some will then install it for you - all for FAR less than a rebuilt! I have had several family members go this path and never been burned.
 
Originally Posted By: Throt
Originally Posted By: Silverado12
I would go with a local transmission shop too. My neighbor used a GM rebuild in her 2005 Impala and never had anymore issues at all with the car. It seems like the rebuild was better than the original.


In most cases, when done by a GOOD mechanic, this is true. After a transmission has been on the market for so long the industry learns it's weak points and when they're rebuilt, stronger/better/updated parts are used on the weak areas resulting in a better, more solid slushbox.


+1 I would trust a good transmission specialist's recommendation than the average shlub like me.
 
Explorer transmissions.....spent thousands on those. Weak and prone to failure. As has already been said ask for local recommendations.
 
Those Explorer transmissions are based on the Ford Pinto Design believe it or not. And in 1997 they went to a 5 speed system using the same internals. First American car with a 5 speed transmission, but at a big price. The problem there is: the already poorly designed internals are being used at twice their duty to create 5 gears. So, your 100K trans has 200K on many parts. I was told that when I got my Explorer by a good used car dealer.

They also specify a lifetime fill interval for normal service, and many will never change their fluid. My Explorer then had a 30K interval. The 4R55E isn't perfect but no where near the failure rate of the 5Rs.


2002 made the problem even worse, not hard to find information about that on the web.

A ford reman may be a good idea, hopefully the issues with the servo bore are addressed. You have a nationwide 3/36K warranty too.

The explorers are heavy vehicles and people tow with them. They should have all had 4r70ws, like the V8 96-00s had. They are often salvaged out of 250K explorers, fluid changed, and back in service.
 
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A local shop will do a rebuild but a transmission company will remanufacture it which replaces more parts and easier warranty if your move away from the area of rebuilder. Many remans use upgraded parts where the original was weak.
 
yeah thats why i've been leaning towards the reman with updated parts.


I don't really know any reputable trans shops in my area and I've looked around at people are saying 2500 plus for having theirs rebuilt.



I know the 5R55s had servo bore issues etc so i dont' want to go with a used one, plus a used one around here at a scrap yard is around 800 bucks and i just don't wanna chance doing all the work to have issues sooner then later.



yeah i wish they had the 4R70W like my 98, no issues at all with that one, or my brother's trucks with the same trans.


I've been looking at some of the local parts stores like oreilly's advance and napa and they run from 1800 to 2 grand roughly after the core return, but the companies i've never heard of.

there is also rockauto and ebay but i'd really not like hassle of shipping back the core etc.

but yeah my plan is to pull it out next week on my days off and go from there.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
A local shop will do a rebuild but a transmission company will remanufacture it which replaces more parts and easier warranty if your move away from the area of rebuilder. Many remans use upgraded parts where the original was weak.


Bad assumption. The local guy will do what you tell him to do and what your budget is.
 
Originally Posted By: Lubener
Originally Posted By: Donald
A local shop will do a rebuild but a transmission company will remanufacture it which replaces more parts and easier warranty if your move away from the area of rebuilder. Many remans use upgraded parts where the original was weak.


Bad assumption. The local guy will do what you tell him to do and what your budget is.


Yep. Our local guy (there's one in every area) will remove the trans, disassemble it, and then come to you with your options. Do you want a minor rebuild, a performance setup, or the full monty which means better than new with LIFETIME warranty? He knows their weak spots and their strong points and will offer his opinions.

If anything goes wrong he removes it and fixes it as necessary. With a reman you are on the hook for the labor at the least.

I can't bring myself to buy most crate engines or trans. I need to know what's in it...
 
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Yep, there's a local bloke here who used to run his own shop...local ford dealer would get him to fix a failed trans rather than a Ford in a box.

He's gone back to coal mining, but does kitchen table rebuilds.

Tells you exactly what went wrong, what is wrong with the design, and gives options for improvement, aftermarket and OEM.

Sort of a Tx. rainman...
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Yep, there's a local bloke here who used to run his own shop...local ford dealer would get him to fix a failed trans rather than a Ford in a box.

He's gone back to coal mining, but does kitchen table rebuilds.

Tells you exactly what went wrong, what is wrong with the design, and gives options for improvement, aftermarket and OEM.

Sort of a Tx. rainman...


Yep. You can usually find a shop like my guy by the huge crowd of cars and trucks. He does a lot of work for dealers in town.

We like to do the R&R as that is usually the least talented member of his crew, but that lifetime warranty can't be beat. He even does that on our service vans which get an honest 50k plus miles a year!
 
Well i asked for some input on the explorer forums and a guy there says that ETE is a good reman builder and they are very good with their warranty.

so I think i'm gonna head to Advance auto and look into that brand.
 
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