98 trans shifting issue

[chrisvrabel]

I own a Wednesday built explorer that has recently presented me with reason to seek advice from this forum.

My driving habits are to disable the O/D on gradual grades and downshift to 2nd on steep grades.

Recently, I attempted to downshift to 2nd and was presented with a pleasant gear upon gear edge racket that would make anyone cringe. It happened two further times, the first while disabling the O/D and the second half way through the process of reversing down my driveway. Oh yes, it also popped out of gear once while coasting at about 60k.

I'm a maintenance freak and I avoid the dealer or mechanics at all cost. Yes I changed the fluid etc around 100k and currently it's clean and red around 160k.

It's a new one to me so I'm looking for advice. Ofcourse I've been searching this forum, so please understand that I am a very mechanically inclined person that does not work in the Ford world on a daily basis.

Sincerely

Chris