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

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.

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.

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!

Re: Steel bearing retainer keeps coming apart
 

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