Finally I did it. I replaced the filter on my 2006 expedition eddie Bauer 4x4 today.
I found out that the 2006 does not have a drain plug on the converter.
Speaking of drain plug, I just installed one in my transmission as well. I am not too crazy about an ATF bath when replacing the filter.
Below are some steps I took, by the way I have done the same procedure last year on my 2004 explorer.

* First of, I drove 10 miles on the HWY to warm up the fluid.
Came home , parked the beast on ramps front of the truck on my driveway just to make it level.



*Now that is kind of level, I grabbed my dril with a 1/4" drill bit , and drilled the transmission pan on its lower part, where I want the drain plug to be.... it is hard to see , but where the drop of ATF is , that is where the whole I drilled is...





Now, whit the oil drained, I removed the pan. All 14 bolts, 10 mm.
As you can see , my pan was never dropped, the plastic plug still sit inside. 108.000 miles :'(
You can also now see the whole I drilled on the lowest part of the pan...






Below is the bottom of the transmission, showing the old filter in place...






Now, I bought one of these at the local autoparts store. I had to enlarge the whole I initially drilled on the pan to a 1/2" whole [/B.]






The inside of the pan, I used JB Weld just to ensure it will not spin or leak. The kit comes with a nylon washer.





Below is how it looks on the outsied of the pan. This is the same plug I installed in my 2004 explorer. this way I can fill thru here on the the explorer.






Now , I got me one of these motorcraft transmission filters from the local autoparts store...






Installed the pan back on the transmission, torqued all 14 bolts to 10lbs/ft






Refilled her with the same amount of ATF I removed ( Mercon V ). took her for a spin. Checked the fluid. done.
The only thing I did not like was not having a drain plug on the converter. I removed the rubber plug on the front of the transmission. Span the engine by hand few times, could not find anythin. I called the Forde dealer parts department, just to be informed from 2002 up there are no more drain plugs on the converters....

 

good job, Gorgeous truck hard to find one in 4x4 in 05-06i always wanted one maby in the near future but anyways what u gonna do about the Torque converter?

 

For now, I will leave it as it is. Next spring I will probably do a flush, and most likelly do the filter as well. I will also do those pesky spark plugs in the spring also.. yikes ... need to by the removal tool soon...
Will see.

 

Great write-up. But if I might ask...why did you install the drain plug on the bottom of that low point instead of the back of it? On the bottom you run the risk of it getting knocked off if you hit something.

 

I doubt it, the cross member is at least 6 in below the bottom of the pan.
Besides it is a pretty strong drain plu/ bolt. If you hit something enough to knock that plug out , you'd puncture the pan if there was not a plug there.
At 108K nothing has ever hit the pan. I see no marks at all.
My explorer with 140K has no marks on the pan at all as well.
chances of something hitting that plug is slim to none, unsless you are out on on the field doing some extreme 4x4.

 

this is how Ford did a special pan for UHaul's 4R70W's.



You can order it from Ford parts for about $90.

Thank you for posting the plug mod, I did not realize it was so easy. I do like putting it on the back too. The bottom just looks so vulnerable, lol

 

One thing I forgot to mention, I don't like the way the filter attaches to the transmission , it is just pushed in , kind of lose.
On my Explorer the filter is held on by two bolts.

 

That's how they all are these days and they stay just fine. I did this same thing minus the drain plug on my 03 this summer along with both diffs, the transfer case and the torque converter. The fluid in the trans/converter was pretty new since the dealer I got it from serviced it but the stuff in the transfer case was black and the stuff in the diffs... shudder... I will say the 4x4 works 1000% better since I put fresh fluid in there. Did it all prior to a 1200 mile round trip which really isn't that much but did not want to have an issue 6 hrs from home.