What is meant by a "ballooning" converter? When does this happen...only when the engine is running? F150 302/automatic. thanks

 

If the converter gets too much pressure it grows like a balloon being overinflated. If it gets too large the converter is permanently distorted. It will grow the most towards the engine, which puts a lot of load on the engine's thrust bearing. It can destroy the thrust bearing.

 

Thanks for the reply. Thats most likely what happen to my thrust bearing. It's side is wiped out on the coverter side of the crankshaft.
So as I understand it, the trans pump can build up too much pressure into the converter and the converter swells and eventially the converter remains swelled or ballooned. At this point the converter ballon size is irreversable and exerts mechanical force pressure on the crankshaft?
I'm in the process now of replacing the thrust bearing and I can see the coverter frontside. Is there something specific I can see/tell about the size of ballooning of the converter. Would the remedy now be replace the converter, "then" after engine is back and running take it to a trannie shop for them to adjust the pump pressure or?
A reply would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

BTW, months before, I noticed at times there was a drumming sound when accellerating on the highway. I checked all drivetrain/line for possible items that could cause the noise but found nothing. Most I talked to, even a transmission shop, said the noise would not be transmission related. This drumming would come and go for months. And finally went away....about a month ago... which if this was related to ballooning, may had finally toasted the thrust bearing away enough that the clearance gap against the bearing had help to quiet the drumming? hope I said this correctly to makes sense

 

This is a comment from another on the matter. Please do comment so I can take all information into consideration so I can resolve this engine/trannie delima. Thanks

The Ford oil problem is common in "HIGH" mileage for the 5.0/302 5.7/351w engines.

The most common problem is the valve seal deterioration. The umbrella seals will harden and fall apart. The parts of the seal will get into the oil pump screen and eventually into the oil pump.
The design of the Ford pump will not allow any trash. Pumps are know to lock up from this trash. A very small piece of anything can cause the pump to lock up. And in most cases the oil pump drive shaft will break, being the weak link.

Thrust bearing wear is also common, when the pressure in the trans pump is very high. This is caused mostly by a bad regulator pressure valve in the transmission. This pushes the converter forward. The high pressure is normal when pulling a heavy load. Normal oil pressure in the engine keeps the main bearing in good shape.

A combination of Low oil pressure and high trans pressure will have a negative result on the thrust bearing.

The thrust bearing in the Ford located in the center main is very soft material compared to a GM bearing. And will take most of the wear.

Chevy thrust problems usual eat the crap out of the crankshaft!


IMO
What you have is a low oil pressure problem that caused the bearing problem. The low oil pressure from trash in the pick up, maybe valve seal material!
When the transmission was under a heavy load it put the added pressure against the thrust bearing and this is the extra wear.

 

That's almost it. The torque converter will exert pressure on the thrust bearing if it is ballooned even before permanent set occurs.

 

I think mostly caused by plugged oil cooler circuit.

 

Oil cooler, as in the factory radiator trans lines oil cooler. Best to add an air cooled remote oil cooler in front of the radiator and using the factory radiator trans line oil cooler? Or just plug off the radiator inlet/outlet and connect trans lines directly to the air cooled oil cooler?