Mazda 5-speed blues
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
Mazda 5-speed blues
I have 1989 F-150 4x4 w 4.9 and Mazda 5-speed. The tranny nobody likes on this site. Truck needs a new clutch (slave cylinder is bad CURSE internal slave cylinders!). Only problem is this transmission will slip out of 3rd gear when slowing down. That is the only problem it exibits but I'm wondering after all the reading on this site regarding this "weak" tranny if its worth clutching if trans is gonna go before long. Can anybody tell me what symptoms their Mazda's gave before taking the trip. Is it worth putting clutch in? Probably wouldn't spend the money if I know transmission is on its way out. Rest of the truck is OK--nothing special does run good and gets decent mileage. Just wondering.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,970
Likes: 596
From: Greater Austin, Texas
The tranny nobody likes on this site.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1
From: Sweetwater Texas
Originally Posted by jas88
I like the Mazda quite a bit. I put 225K on the one in my '90 F150...
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,970
Likes: 596
From: Greater Austin, Texas
The only repeated failure of the Mazda I am aware of is when the shift rail plugs at the top leak all the fluid out and they burn up the oil slinger. I won't put up with a truck leaking like that so I fixed mine before any damage was done, but a buddy had his ('89 4x4 SC) go out at about 145K for that reason.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 1
From: Mulege south Baja ca. Mx.
Mazda are good if you take care of them. but if you beat them up they will get even with you. it sounds like he either has a bad pilot bearing or a bad main shaft bearing that is causing it to pop out of 3ed gear. if he keeps driving it with out taking care of that problem the trainsmition will explode. it is only poor maintenance like this that causes peple to think the Mazda is a bad trainsmition.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 566
Likes: 5
From: SC
I bought my '89 (cheap) some years ago and it only had first and second gear. I figured what the heck and tore into the transmission. I found bad bearings and a synchronizer on the reverse/fifth shift. Took a shot on a "junk" salvage yard transmission and by pure luck the parts I needed weren't among its problems. I put it toghether and drove it daily for three years. The pilot bearing let go and I chickened out and finally had a pro trans shop look into it. They replaced the input shaft bearing and two synchronizers that "looked a little worn" and OK'd it. To my suprise actually. I sold the truck to my son in law who's been driving it as his work truck for about three years now. Smoked the clutch once but the M5 still drives and shifts like when I first fixed it. Which is to say quite well, always was a tad stiff going into second though.
I never really "liked" the trans simply because it didn't shift like a Mustang 5 speed. Bad? I sure don't think so. Mine gave better service than I ever could have imagined. Still doing so.
I never really "liked" the trans simply because it didn't shift like a Mustang 5 speed. Bad? I sure don't think so. Mine gave better service than I ever could have imagined. Still doing so.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 707
Likes: 1
From: Mulege south Baja ca. Mx.
Originally Posted by hogdogs
Amsoil ATF will make these trannys shift smooth as silk! I wouldnt'a thought that ATF was a replacement but it did fine in an f-550 ZF equipped truck...
Brent
Brent
change those rubber plugs
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 104
From: Ashland City, TN
I was told to fill mine over a little on my mazda.
I run 20w50 in mine. Works great, shifts well.
The rubber plugs and the nylon shift bushings are the mazda's week points.
Low fluid will kill a mazda in seconds. And the shift bushings if they break, which is inevitable, will not allow the shifter to shift gears to well, which could be why your popping outa 3rd.
Other then that, the shift forks could be a bit damaged.
Mine likes to pop outa fifth if i hit a hard bump. Which is scary, thank god for rev limiters kicking the cruze off.
I'm not sure exactly what holds it into gear, that allows that slipage.
The nylon bushings i'm talking about i can get the part number for you. They are not greased in the factory, so they dry out and crack.
Break apart, and then you have a super sloppy shifter.
First was in the dash before i got it fixed.
UP and to the right. hahaha. now its good!
I run 20w50 in mine. Works great, shifts well.
The rubber plugs and the nylon shift bushings are the mazda's week points.
Low fluid will kill a mazda in seconds. And the shift bushings if they break, which is inevitable, will not allow the shifter to shift gears to well, which could be why your popping outa 3rd.
Other then that, the shift forks could be a bit damaged.
Mine likes to pop outa fifth if i hit a hard bump. Which is scary, thank god for rev limiters kicking the cruze off.
I'm not sure exactly what holds it into gear, that allows that slipage.
The nylon bushings i'm talking about i can get the part number for you. They are not greased in the factory, so they dry out and crack.
Break apart, and then you have a super sloppy shifter.
First was in the dash before i got it fixed.
UP and to the right. hahaha. now its good!
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
One thing's for sure. Who ever the guy was that decided on the internal cylinder on those sure did make life hard for the rest of us.
I'd probably look at replacing with a ZF5 if you're planning on towing or off-roading, just to have a stronger trans. Just my two cents.
I'd probably look at replacing with a ZF5 if you're planning on towing or off-roading, just to have a stronger trans. Just my two cents.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Central California
I'm not sure if I have the M5OD or the ZF, but I occasionally have to double-clutch into first from a dead stop, second is a little tricky, and fourth can be an outright pain. A lot of this is probably shifter issues and captain's chairs that sit a little higher than the stock bench seat--therefore making the clutch harder to push completely down. I'll get under the truck before too long and see what tranny it has.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,799
Likes: 104
From: Ashland City, TN
Navy, it sounds like your master or slave is going bad. Try bleeding the lines.
The mazda was in most of the f150's with 302's
Very very rare to see a zf on a 302.
IF the motor was a 351, it would have a zf transmission on a 150.
The i6's came with m5od's also.
There isnt' anything wrong with internal slave on mazda, except when you want to replace.
I'm not sure on the purpose of it, but the bleeder is hard to get at. It is VERY tiny.
The mazda is an aluminum cased transmission. the zf is made of heavier material.
I've successfully hauled with a mazda 5 speed. It really depends on how good you are with a clutch. 4th is 1.1 ratio, and 5th is .72 i belive.
Anyone know final ratio on the zf 5?
I honestly woudln't trade my mazda for a zf in my 302.
1st to 30, 2nd to 45, and 3rd to 60..
Mazda is a fast tranny.
ZF is
1st to 10, 2nd to i duno....
Basically if you wanna pull and work. zf is the way to go.
The mazda was in most of the f150's with 302's
Very very rare to see a zf on a 302.
IF the motor was a 351, it would have a zf transmission on a 150.
The i6's came with m5od's also.
There isnt' anything wrong with internal slave on mazda, except when you want to replace.
I'm not sure on the purpose of it, but the bleeder is hard to get at. It is VERY tiny.
The mazda is an aluminum cased transmission. the zf is made of heavier material.
I've successfully hauled with a mazda 5 speed. It really depends on how good you are with a clutch. 4th is 1.1 ratio, and 5th is .72 i belive.
Anyone know final ratio on the zf 5?
I honestly woudln't trade my mazda for a zf in my 302.
1st to 30, 2nd to 45, and 3rd to 60..
Mazda is a fast tranny.
ZF is
1st to 10, 2nd to i duno....
Basically if you wanna pull and work. zf is the way to go.