Center Support & Intermediate Clutch

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Ford RV Cutaway, 2004 Ford Econoline, 2004 Ford E450 Super Duty, and 2004 Ford Cutaway. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The center support is rigidly held to the case by a tapered snap ring. The flat side faces toward the center support and the gap at 6 o'clock. The center support is also retained to the case by two hollow feed bolts. Both the forward clutch feed bolt and the intermediate clutch feed bolt are installed through the solenoid body worm trail of the case. The forward feed bolt has an orifice spacer installed on top of the bolt head.

The center support acts as the intermediate clutch cylinder piston bore, and also provides the snap ring groove to retain the bonded seal type intermediate clutch piston and the return spring. A black phenolic thrust washer is positioned by its two tabs into two holes in the center support. A seal pack containing two Teflon® seals is pressed onto the center support hub below a pressed-on steel sleeve. The sleeve acts as the journal for the direct clutch cylinder bushings.

The intermediate clutch separator plates and pressure plate are externally splined to the case and the friction is internally splined to the direct clutch cylinder. The case and the center support define and limit the stroke of the intermediate clutch.