Topic: Worn input shaft

[85rustota]

Hey everyone. I just pulled the 5-speed out of my 94 pickup because of an intermittent grinding noise that sounded like it was coming from the clutch. It ended up being the retaining clip for the clutch fork/throw out bearing that had broken off and was rattling around in there. I was relieved at first, but then looked at the input shaft. It’s grooved where the pilot bearing inner race sits.



The non-scored part of the shaft measures 0.471” and the diameter of the groove is 0.454”. The new pilot bearing is loose on the shaft, but I don’t know if .017” of slop is going to make for a time-bomb or not.

I’m hoping you will all say it’s not a problem and just reinstall it. Other than splitting the case and replacing the input shaft, my other option is to put another W56 in I have from a 1990 parts rig. I don’t know much about it. The input shaft has a little more side-to-side play in it than the one from my 94. Thanks for your help!

Eric

[gmack192]

thats one of those problems where ya never know when its going to fail.    it could last for years    or cause the bearings in the transmission to fail from the shaft wobbeling    if I had another tranny ready to go in    I would replace it. my opinion

[85rustota [OP]]

Thanks for the quick reply. If I go that route (replacing the transmission) I guess the next question becomes is converting the cable speedo on the 1990 transfercase as easy as unbolting the electric unit from the 1994? Thanks!

[gmack192]

that I don't know       I usally play with the older trucks     won't your old T-case work??

[85rustota [OP]]

I'm pretty sure the 94 t-case will work, it's just a matter of tracking down gaskets and pulling the tranny/t-cases apart and then swapping. The 1990 is ready to go as is if the speedo can be converted. It would just save a lot of time. I might just go pull the electric unit and see if it's the same gear drive as the cable one.

[emsvitil]

I forgot which way it goes, but there's a bearing that has the same OD and thickness as the original pilot bearing, but a different ID (I forgot if it's a bigger ID or smaller ID)...

Anyway you could turn down the input shaft to match the ID of the bearing if the ID is smaller, or

turn down the input shaft and add a bushing the input shaft to match the ID of the bearing if the bearing ID is bigger.

If you tell me what the id# on the bearing is, I'll see if I can find the specs on another bearing....

[79coyotefrg]

i would pull the input shaft from the 90 tranny and swap it, not the entire tranny

post here http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?board=1.0 and maybe the guys from the shop can help you

[diggtbks]

I ran into a similar problem years ago, trying to place big block Ford toploader 4spd behind a 351C. I didn't want to swap input shafts so I took the trans to a machine shop and they measured the input shaft diameter (where it fits into the pilot bearing/bushing). They turned me a custom bushing from bronze, worked out good.

In your case I would either replace input shaft as mentioned or have a machine shop make you a custom pilot bushing from bronze (bring old pilot bearing or bushing so they can determine proper length). If you go the latter route, maybe grind the tip of that input shaft to even it out with the center section that's missing. Install with plenty of wheel bearing grease... good luck   

[highridin4x4]

Does the shaft have any slop at the tranny bearing? If there is you may want to replace the tranny.

Hears what I did to mine it seemed to work untill I wreacked my truck. (epoxy) I was on a budget.



Scott

[4RunnerChevy]

Not very many options,  I would definitly pull the shaft and check bearings.  I don't know where your located, but if you need a bushing made, let me know and I'll spin one up.  If your stuck for time then I won't be able to help.

[subliminaltrips]

Does the shaft have any slop at the tranny bearing? If there is you may want to replace the tranny.

Hears what I did to mine it seemed to work untill I wreacked my truck. (epoxy) I was on a budget.

weld might work better.



Scott