Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart

Merlin76 · 12-16-2004, 06:55 PM

I'm just wondering if anyone besides me has had a problem with the steel sleeve coming out of the aluminum base of the steel bearing retainer? This is the second one I have put in and both of them came apart. 1st one was after 12k, and the 2nd after 4K miles.
-It was lubed
-It's not stuck to the tob
I got them both from http://www.sacramento-mustang.com/ and they said they haven't had this problem before. I just find it hard to believe that I'm doing something so terribly wrong that it pulls it apart each time.
Just curious. One thing's for sure...I've gotten real good at taking this stupid transmission out.
Thanks

Jeff Chambers · 12-16-2004, 09:06 PM

Sounds to me like you've got some alignment issues with the trans that is resulting in side loading on the input shaft/retainer. Have you indexed the bell housing to check the alignment? MW has an article on doing this for the Lakewood blow can; just do it with the stock bell housing to see if everything is aligned.

tmoss · 12-17-2004, 08:39 AM

Ditto........this type of procedure may be intimidating, but it may be the only way you'll cure your problem.

Merlin76 · 01-03-2005, 05:08 PM

I just got back from a Xmas vacation and while I was gone I stopped by the Summit warehouse. Come to find out, the first two steal bearing retainers I put in were for models up to 1993 which were shorter than the '94-'95 models. Do you think this could have something to do with the shaft coming out? Maybe the T/O bearing gets hung up on the end of the shaft and eventually twists it out?
The reason I'm asking this is because I don't know how to index the bell housing to check the alignment...and I don't have the tools...and the car is up on jackstands with the tranny almost out so I can't easily take it to someone to have them do it.
It was cool to go to the Summit store for Xmas, though.
Thanks a lot!

Jeff Chambers · 01-03-2005, 05:52 PM

Most definitely. Put the right one in and see if it lasts.

12-16-2004, 06:55 PM	#1
Merlin76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 11	Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart I'm just wondering if anyone besides me has had a problem with the steel sleeve coming out of the aluminum base of the steel bearing retainer? This is the second one I have put in and both of them came apart. 1st one was after 12k, and the 2nd after 4K miles. -It was lubed -It's not stuck to the tob I got them both from http://www.sacramento-mustang.com/ and they said they haven't had this problem before. I just find it hard to believe that I'm doing something so terribly wrong that it pulls it apart each time. Just curious. One thing's for sure...I've gotten real good at taking this stupid transmission out. Thanks __________________ You never grow up...your toys just get more expensive!

12-16-2004, 09:06 PM	#2
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart Sounds to me like you've got some alignment issues with the trans that is resulting in side loading on the input shaft/retainer. Have you indexed the bell housing to check the alignment? MW has an article on doing this for the Lakewood blow can; just do it with the stock bell housing to see if everything is aligned. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

12-17-2004, 08:39 AM	#3
tmoss Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 634	Re: Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart Ditto........this type of procedure may be intimidating, but it may be the only way you'll cure your problem. __________________ Tom (Torque) Moss 88Gt 5spd Vert, FLowmaster Catbacks, stock cam advanced 4° @ 108.5° ICL, NMRA prepped GT40P heads 1.85/1.55 valves and 1.7 rockers, MAC P headers Jet-Hot coated, 97 Exlporer intake (ported lower), TB and injectors. 277RWHP/330RWTQ (SAE). http://www.fastlanecars.com/

01-03-2005, 05:08 PM	#4
Merlin76 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 11	Re: Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart I just got back from a Xmas vacation and while I was gone I stopped by the Summit warehouse. Come to find out, the first two steal bearing retainers I put in were for models up to 1993 which were shorter than the '94-'95 models. Do you think this could have something to do with the shaft coming out? Maybe the T/O bearing gets hung up on the end of the shaft and eventually twists it out? The reason I'm asking this is because I don't know how to index the bell housing to check the alignment...and I don't have the tools...and the car is up on jackstands with the tranny almost out so I can't easily take it to someone to have them do it. It was cool to go to the Summit store for Xmas, though. Thanks a lot! __________________ You never grow up...your toys just get more expensive!

01-03-2005, 05:52 PM	#5
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart Most definitely. Put the right one in and see if it lasts. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

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