how bad is this to replace as in is it expensive and why is mine going bad? is this common? it is the gasket from the back of the engine to the transmission.

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2004 black ranger extended cab flareside 4x4 4.0L
32" BFgoodrich all terrain t/a ko tires

More info needed, is it leaking tranny fluid or engine oil or?? And have you taken the time to look for and actually pinpoint and confirm the source of the leak. I mean, neither me nor anyone here can actually tell you what is leaking just by default, you really do gotta go out here and put effort into pinpointing it, them we can talk about the options to cure it. Guessing and theorizing just doesn't ge the job done quickly.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

That looks like motor oil, rear main seal is probably shot

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

well is is motor oil and the oil is coming from right where i took the picture not anywhere else and i do believe it is the rear main seal.

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2004 black ranger extended cab flareside 4x4 4.0L
32" BFgoodrich all terrain t/a ko tires

If it is in fact the rms, tranny will have to come out. My shop charges 5.7 hours of labor . I've been letting mine drip for a while now too broke right now to fix.

2000 Mazda B4000 4.0L OHV Automatic 2wd

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2000 B4000 2wd Automatic

Sad thing is, replacing the rms doesn't guarantee a fixed leak.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

it doesnt guarantee a fix if you dont install the seal right there is a special tool and it requires a lot of force to make sure it is sealed lightly. im just thinking if i am going to pay someone to pull my tranny out to just replace a seal why not have my tranny rebuilt while it is out it has 130,000 on it and i would like to not have to worry about it later.

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2004 black ranger extended cab flareside 4x4 4.0L
32" BFgoodrich all terrain t/a ko tires

Not even just that, the crank could have slight wear from the seal which in turn won't allow any seal to completely seal the oil.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

that may be true but they make a metal sleeve to compensate for that i will fix this issue and fix it good just watch...........it may take a while and some crying and cussing and i may want to give up but watch ill do it right.

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2004 black ranger extended cab flareside 4x4 4.0L
32" BFgoodrich all terrain t/a ko tires

There are a few brands out there; Speedy Sleeve comes to mind. These work great.

The alternative to yanking the tranny is to throw in some of that stop leak stuff or use the high mileage oil, which has the stop leank stuff in it (but they don't tell you that). You now get to decide if you want to soften all your seals in the quest to take care of a rms leak and risk more leaks, or leave it be. I know what I'd do, and the fix doesn't come in a can.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000