Center Support and Intermediate Clutch

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Ford Pickup, 2005 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2005 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2005 Ford Cab & Chassis. 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 2 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 plug 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 2 tabs into 2 holes in the center support. A seal pack containing 2 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.