pentiuman
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2010
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Mazda
- Transmission
- Manual
Hi! Newbie here. I'm trying to identify my transmission and differential and do some maintenance – change fluids, and maybe the differential cover. TIA! Why I want to be sure I do everything right: I previously had a 92 Ranger, 4cyl., w/ (probably) the Mazda M5OD-R1 manual transmission. I did a lot of work on the truck, including transmission removal, cleaning, new throwout bearing, starter ring gear, u-joints, put in expensive synthetic ATF. I put everything back together thinking I’d have this truck for a long time. Right? No. Within about a year, the manual transmission fried from a fluid leak! I had no idea that it was leaking anything significant, (must have leaked mainly once warmed up and while moving). Since the truck had other issues, and I didn’t want to mess with the transmission again, it went to the junkyard.
I replaced it with my current truck, a 97 Mazda B2300, 4cyl., 7.5 RG differential, 5spd manual transmission. (Chosen, since it shares some of the same parts that I kept, like starter, A/C, battery, alternator, etc.) Questions:
1. Does my Mazda B2300 have the M5OD-R1 transmission? TRS’s Terms Page states, “"R1" refers to the Mazda built "M5OD-R1" transmission introduced in 1988 and is the ONLY manual trans used in rangers from 1993-on (and from 1988-1992 only 2.9 engines could be equipped with the "other" manual transmission)”. Under Ford Ranger Manual Transmissions – TRS states, a transmission code of “M” indicates a Mazda M50D-R1 transmission. It also says,
“This is a top shift fully synchronized transmission. This has a light duty aluminum case and has a rectangular shape casting ribs with a large top cover. The R-2 is known for leaking oil from a rubber plug in the top cover. You should replace the rubber plug with a steel Dorman cup plug P/N 555-108 or Dana P/N 219-3052. You will need 3 plugs. These transmissions often melt down due to the oil loss caused by these plugs.”
2. Is “R-2” above a typo or were there several revisions of this transmission (R-1,R-2,R-3,R-4)?
TRS has a page under Numbers, Federal Sticker (On Your Door), called “Understanding the Safety Compliance Label (Federal Sticker)”. The lower section of my door sticker on my Mazda B2300 has the following:
WB | BRK | INT TR | TP/PS | R | AXLE | TR | SPR
108 B 3X 5/ Z 86 M AR
3. So, does the “M” under “TR” indicate an Mazda M50D-R1 transmission? It’s a little confusing because (as shown above) my sticker looks different and has some different ID codes than those for Rangers, and TRS doesn’t list Mazda specific codes.
4. Shift Rail Plugs – To prevent another transmission meltdown, TRS states you can either buy new rubber plugs, new metal plugs, or put RTV on them. However, member fordwheelinman said the metal plugs they got were too small (they didn’t specify if they had the exact Dorman or Dana plugs listed above though).
5. If I have the M5OD-R1 transmission on my Mazda B2300, is it correct that I use a Mercon ATF fluid, and if so, which revision (not V)? The last time I had to add fluid to a manual transmission (92 Ranger), it was very messy and the location of the fill hole made it difficult. More than once I almost drank fluid. I had an old gear bottle pump tool that I tried to use, but the old, inflexible hose kept coming off. I then bought a tube to go on the ATF bottles, and it also wouldn’t stay on. What specifically do you guys use?
6. I also want to replace the differential fluid and cover to make things look nice. The tag on my differential indicates it’s a 7.5 Ring Gear. Are the covers for the 7.5RG and the 8.8RG differentials the same? O’Rielly’s Auto Parts and Advance Auto Parts both sell a Dorman differential cover, part# 697-702 (that comes w/ a gasket), but state that it’s for a 8.8RG! They also both sell just a Felpro gasket alone, which states it’s for a 7.5RG (like mine), but if the 2 covers are different, why don’t they sell the 7.5RG cover?
7. Do I have a locking differential and need to add a friction modifier or any different fluid in my differential than Hypoid Gear lube 80W or 90W?
8. Is it better to use a gasket, or RTV or both? I did a search on TRS on this subject, which wasn’t very helpful, as I even found someone who said Rangers didn’t come with differential gaskets for several years now. (AFAIK - wrong). Why do some suggest RTV when a specific gasket is available for about $4? (just preference, laziness, or ?)
Thanks! - By the time I finish something, I'll be the expert on it!
I replaced it with my current truck, a 97 Mazda B2300, 4cyl., 7.5 RG differential, 5spd manual transmission. (Chosen, since it shares some of the same parts that I kept, like starter, A/C, battery, alternator, etc.) Questions:
1. Does my Mazda B2300 have the M5OD-R1 transmission? TRS’s Terms Page states, “"R1" refers to the Mazda built "M5OD-R1" transmission introduced in 1988 and is the ONLY manual trans used in rangers from 1993-on (and from 1988-1992 only 2.9 engines could be equipped with the "other" manual transmission)”. Under Ford Ranger Manual Transmissions – TRS states, a transmission code of “M” indicates a Mazda M50D-R1 transmission. It also says,
“This is a top shift fully synchronized transmission. This has a light duty aluminum case and has a rectangular shape casting ribs with a large top cover. The R-2 is known for leaking oil from a rubber plug in the top cover. You should replace the rubber plug with a steel Dorman cup plug P/N 555-108 or Dana P/N 219-3052. You will need 3 plugs. These transmissions often melt down due to the oil loss caused by these plugs.”
2. Is “R-2” above a typo or were there several revisions of this transmission (R-1,R-2,R-3,R-4)?
TRS has a page under Numbers, Federal Sticker (On Your Door), called “Understanding the Safety Compliance Label (Federal Sticker)”. The lower section of my door sticker on my Mazda B2300 has the following:
WB | BRK | INT TR | TP/PS | R | AXLE | TR | SPR
108 B 3X 5/ Z 86 M AR
3. So, does the “M” under “TR” indicate an Mazda M50D-R1 transmission? It’s a little confusing because (as shown above) my sticker looks different and has some different ID codes than those for Rangers, and TRS doesn’t list Mazda specific codes.
4. Shift Rail Plugs – To prevent another transmission meltdown, TRS states you can either buy new rubber plugs, new metal plugs, or put RTV on them. However, member fordwheelinman said the metal plugs they got were too small (they didn’t specify if they had the exact Dorman or Dana plugs listed above though).
5. If I have the M5OD-R1 transmission on my Mazda B2300, is it correct that I use a Mercon ATF fluid, and if so, which revision (not V)? The last time I had to add fluid to a manual transmission (92 Ranger), it was very messy and the location of the fill hole made it difficult. More than once I almost drank fluid. I had an old gear bottle pump tool that I tried to use, but the old, inflexible hose kept coming off. I then bought a tube to go on the ATF bottles, and it also wouldn’t stay on. What specifically do you guys use?
6. I also want to replace the differential fluid and cover to make things look nice. The tag on my differential indicates it’s a 7.5 Ring Gear. Are the covers for the 7.5RG and the 8.8RG differentials the same? O’Rielly’s Auto Parts and Advance Auto Parts both sell a Dorman differential cover, part# 697-702 (that comes w/ a gasket), but state that it’s for a 8.8RG! They also both sell just a Felpro gasket alone, which states it’s for a 7.5RG (like mine), but if the 2 covers are different, why don’t they sell the 7.5RG cover?
7. Do I have a locking differential and need to add a friction modifier or any different fluid in my differential than Hypoid Gear lube 80W or 90W?
8. Is it better to use a gasket, or RTV or both? I did a search on TRS on this subject, which wasn’t very helpful, as I even found someone who said Rangers didn’t come with differential gaskets for several years now. (AFAIK - wrong). Why do some suggest RTV when a specific gasket is available for about $4? (just preference, laziness, or ?)
Thanks! - By the time I finish something, I'll be the expert on it!
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