Ford AOD, AODE, 4R70W & 4R75W Transmission ID & Parts Guide
Ford AOD | AODE | 4R70W | 4R70E | 4R75W | 4R75E automatic transmissions
The AOD family is Ford's four-speed overdrive automatic for rear-wheel-drive cars, trucks and vans. It started as the hydraulic AOD, became the electronic AODE, and then grew into the 4R70W and 4R75W/E. The cases look alike, but many parts changed along the way. Use this page to work out which one you have, which parts change with the model and year, and which kits and upgrades fit.
Know your model and year before you order. A part listed for "AODE 4R70W" may not fit a hydraulic AOD, and valve body gaskets, filters, harnesses and solenoids all change by year within the electronic units.
AOD Family at a Glance
| Model | Years | Controls | Gear ratios (1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOD | 1980–1993 | Hydraulic, throttle valve (TV) cable or rod | 2.40 / 1.47 / 1.00 / 0.67 |
| AODE | 1992 model year to mid-1990s | Electronic (PCM) | 2.40 / 1.47 / 1.00 / 0.67 |
| 4R70W / 4R70E | 1993–2004 (4R70E about 2004–2005) | Electronic (PCM) | 2.84 / 1.55 / 1.00 / 0.70 |
| 4R75W / 4R75E | 2003–2014 | Electronic (PCM) | 2.84 / 1.55 / 1.00 / 0.70 |
Typical vehicles
- AOD: Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Town Car and other full-size cars; Mustang; Thunderbird/Cougar; F-Series, Bronco, Econoline
- AODE: Town Car, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, Mustang, F-Series and E-Series
- 4R70W / 4R70E: Mark VIII, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car, Mustang, F-150, Expedition, V8 Explorer/Mountaineer
- 4R75W / 4R75E: F-150 (through 2008), Expedition, E-Series vans, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car, 2003–2004 Mustang GT/Mach 1, Marauder
The "W" in 4R70W stands for wide ratio: a deeper 2.84 first gear in place of the AOD and AODE's 2.40. The hydraulic AOD also uses a split-torque converter with a direct-drive shaft, while the AODE and later units use a normal computer-controlled lockup converter. Ford's current service fluid for the 4R70W and 4R75W/E is Mercon V.
AOD or AODE / 4R70W? Check the Outside First
- Throttle valve (TV) cable or rod. A hydraulic AOD has a TV cable or rod running from the throttle to a lever on the side of the transmission. It controls shift timing and line pressure. The AODE, 4R70W and 4R75W/E have no TV cable; the computer runs them.
- Electrical connector on the case. The electronic units have an electrical connector on the driver's side of the case, toward the rear, plus a range sensor (MLPS) on the manual shaft. An AOD has neither.
- Valve body. Pull the pan: the electronic units have shift, lockup and pressure-control solenoids on the valve body. The AOD valve body has no solenoids.
- Oil pan. Both pans use 14 bolts, but the shape is different. AOD and AODE/4R70W pans and pan gaskets do not interchange.
- Speed sensing. The AOD uses a governor. The electronic units read output shaft speed with a sensor; 2004-up units add a turbine (input) speed sensor.
Telling the Electronic Years Apart
Once you know it is electronic, the valve body casting and the internal harness narrow down the year. These points come from Sonnax's AODE/4R70W valve body identification guide and from the year ranges of the parts we sell.
| Years | What you will see | Parts that follow it |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Valve body with 13mm dowel pins and an F2 rough forging number | Internal harness with case connector (GTP A76446A), 2WD filter GTP 3088B, early overhaul kit KP37900F |
| 1993–1995 | 13mm dowel pins and an F3 rough forging number | |
| 1996–1997 | 10mm dowel pins and an F6 rough forging number; solenoids on a wired harness | Valve body gasket set GTP 3159-3A, overhaul kit GTP 3043A |
| 1998–2000 | 10mm dowel pins and F6 forging; solenoids on a solid molded "lead frame" harness. The case connector and solenoids changed with it and do not fit earlier units. The intermediate roller clutch became a mechanical diode. | Hard-wire internal harness GTP A76446E, shift solenoid GTP 3096, TCC solenoid GTP 3095 |
| 2001–2008 | Molded lead frame harness; the two-bolt stiffener plate under the 2-3 accumulator is gone | Valve body gasket set GTP 3159-3B-KIT, overhaul kit GTP 3087 (2003-up) |
| 2009-later | Soft wire harness | Soft-wire harness GTP 76446F |
Not sure? Our all-years valve body gasket set (GTP 3159-3-KIT) covers 1996-up valve bodies.
Parts That Differ Between AOD and AODE / 4R70W
- Overhaul kits and pump seals: AOD uses its own kit (GTP 76002, 1980–1993) and pump seal kit (PKAOD). Electronic units use GTP 3191.
- Filters: AOD 2WD A76010 and 4x4 A76010A; AODE/4R70W 2WD 1992–1995 3088B and 1996-up 4WD 3088A. We don't list a 1996-up 2WD filter on its own; call us for one.
- Overdrive band and servo: AOD overdrive band RB53861 vs. AODE/4R70W overdrive band 3110A. The rear (reverse) band AL049955R fits the whole family.
- Valve body gaskets: AOD 1980–1993 GTP 3159-1-KIT; electronic units by year (see table above).
- Electronics: only the electronic units use solenoids, a range sensor (MLPS) and speed sensors. 2004-up 4R70W/4R75 units use the input and output speed sensors and the center support with sensor cut-out.
- 4R75W/E output: starting in 2003 the 4R75 output ring gear uses 24 lugs instead of the 4R70W's 6.
- Front sun gear and shell: 1993–2003 A76624B vs. 2004-up A76624C.
Common Rebuild Parts
| Part | Fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Custom rebuild kit (SM4R70) | AODE, 4R70W, 4R75W/E | Build your own kit: gaskets, seals, frictions, steels, filter, bands and more. |
| AOD custom rebuild kit (SMAOD) | AOD | Same idea for the hydraulic AOD. |
| Filter & solenoid service kit | AODE, 4R70W, 4R75W/E | One of our best-selling AOD-family items. |
| Molded rubber pan gasket (3083B) | AODE, 4R70W, 4R75 | Also in Farpak and cork. |
| Torrington bearing kit (3111) | AODE, 4R70W/E, 4R75W/E | Pair with the bushing kit (3091) and thrust washer kit (3090). |
| Forward clutch outer lip seal (76335) | AOD, 4R70W | Plus the direct clutch outer and inner lip seals. |
| 6-clutch direct drum (A76555D) | AODE, 4R70W, 4R75W | New drum. |
| Low roller clutch (A34654) | AOD through 4R75 (rear) | Shared with the TH400 and early 4L80E. |
| Accumulator / servo piston kit (MPK-4R70-63) | AODE, 4R70W, 4R75W/E | 3-groove version; a 2-groove kit is also listed. |
Known Trouble Spots and Upgrades
- 2001-up forward/direct clutch cross-leak. Sonnax traced cracked separator plates and dragging clutches on 2001-later 4R70W/4R75W units to the missing stiffener plate under the 2-3 accumulator. A thicker plate keeps the separator plate from flexing: Superior's Super Tuff plate (K092) or K0192.
- 2-3 shift and accumulator. Superior's billet 2-3 accumulator piston (K0117) and 2-3 accumulator springs (K075).
- Overdrive servo. The Sonnax overdrive servo pin kit and Superior's super servo kit with adjustable pin. For the hydraulic AOD: A-Plus billet overdrive servo.
- Forward and direct drums. Sonnax makes a stronger Smart-Tech forward clutch drum (also in a high-capacity version) for drum breakage in AOD, AODE and 4R70W units.
- Output shaft bearing noise. Sonnax reports a rumble from the rear of the case on some 4R70W/4R75W units, often blamed on the converter or differential. It comes from the bearing between the output shaft and the case.
- Shift correction. AODE/4R70/4R75 shift kit, Superior's shift correction kit and the Sonnax Zip Kit.
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