 We followed along as the crew...  We followed along as the crew at Advanced Engineering West (AEW) did a retainer-collar swap on a Mustang. Remove the transmission and bellhousing from the vehicle as one unit, then remove the clutch fork, throwout bearing, and bellhousing from the trans. The folks at AEW recommend doing the clutch swap while the trans is removed. However, this cars clutch was in great shape and had at least 30,000 miles left on it. We chose to leave it in the car, because removing a T5 to install a new clutch at a later date is not as difficult as you might think. The guys at AEW can do it in less than an hour. |
 With the bellhousing off,...  With the bellhousing off, undo the four bolts that hold the aluminum retainer to the trans case. Theres a notch in the case that accommodates a screwdriver. Using a screwdriver, pry the retainer off the trans, but be very careful. As you pull the retainer, hold the transmissions input shaft securely in place so it doesnt come out of the case. It might come out if the countershaft in the trans lines up with part of the input shaft. You do not want this to happen, because youd have to tear the whole trans apart to get it back together again. |
 The critical part of the installation...  The critical part of the installation involves measuring the old retainer and comparing it to the new steel one. Using a dial caliper, measure the distance from the mounting surface of the retainer (the part that actually mates to the transmission case) to the top edge of the retainer. |
 Then measure from the same...  Then measure from the same top edge to the bottom of the retainer, where the endplay shim and bearing race sit. Measure both the old and the new unit. There will be a difference, and you need to compensate for it by running an endplay shim with the proper thickness in the new retainer. The relation of the bearing and bearing race to the transmission shaft needs to be the same as it was with the old retainer. We found that the new steel retainer was deeper and needed a thicker endplay shim to compensate for the difference. Endplay shims are available from your local Ford dealer. |
 Install the endplay shim into...  Install the endplay shim into the new retainer. It should drop right in and sit in the area around the front seal. |
 After installing the endplay...  After installing the endplay shim, the bearing race goes in. If the output-shaft bearing is in good shape, use the same race that was in the old retainer. Its a slight press-fit installation, but it doesnt require a lot of effort. A very important reminder: When you reinstall the new retainer, the wide notch (arrow) goes at the top of the transmission. |
 Run a small bead of silicone...  Run a small bead of silicone sealant around the new steel retainer. Bolt it to the trans using the same four bolts that held the aluminum unit in place. Torque the bolts to 1215 lb-ft. Re-install the bellhousing, clutch fork, and throwout bearing. Apply grease lubricant to the input shaft after the throwout bearing is slipped on. Although a new clutch wasnt needed in this car, we installed other items that you should consider while the trans is out of the car. We went with a new throwout bearing, which you would install with a new clutch anyway. We also installed a new clutch fork and pivot-ball stud to go with the new steel retainer, as both were worn. For Mustangs, the clutch fork carries Ford PN E6ZZ-7515-A, while the pivot-ball stud is PN D5FZ-7B602-A. The new bearing retainer, throwout bearing, clutch fork, and pivot-ball stud all help reduce clutch-pedal effort. When youre installing a new clutch, they should be included in the job. |
Question: I just installed a new clutch in my T5-equipped '89 Mustang. While the slipping of the old clutch is eliminated, the high pedal effort is still there. Is there any way to reduce pedal effort and thereby get the transmission to shift better?
Answer: Ford T5 transmissions come from the factory with an aluminum throwout bearing retainer collar. After a while, the aluminum wears down and causes the throwout bearing to bind and travel less smoothly than it once did. The remedy is to replace the aluminum retainer with a steel unit, such as the one shown here from D&D Performance. The steel unit will last a lot longer.
If you're planning a clutch job on your T5-equipped Mustang, then that is a good time to install the new bearing retainer. If you've already replaced a clutch without swapping the retainer, you'll have to decide if you want to remove the trans again to do the swap. If that's the case, there's good news: You won't have to disturb the new clutch to do the job.