trans cooling lines

Hello all can anyone tell me if you have to use preformed transmission cooling lines or can you use transmission rubber coolant hose to replace the coolant lines on a 2000 ford windstar?,,,thanks

I've never had to replace my tranny hose asseblies. If I had to, and I may as I replace my sub-frame sometime "soon", .... my first choice would be replacements from Ford. But if those were not available to me, I would have little problem using aftermarket hoses. The fluid pressures are not that great, so if you use hose made for the tast ... hot oil... and have leak-proof connections .... you should be OK.

Bulk transmission fluid hose will work.....It is what we use when we install a auxillary transmission cooler.
The factory size is 5/16"......if you cannot find that, 11/32" will work, but 3/8" is too big for the metal nipples (might come off).
Power steering uses 3/8"......but tranny uses 5/16"
On my '96, 1 end of each had a hose clamp, the other had a "permenant" crimp type of clamp.
I had to cut the crimp type clamp off in order to remove the hose at that end....and I used a normal hose clamp at both ends.
Take care to avoid having the hose rub anything rough or sharp......and to avoid having the hose hang down or be drawn too tight.