Bad T5?

Sounds like it's getting time for a rebuild. What kind of fluid are u running? I had that problem a couple weeks back, I filled it up with 3quarts of royal purple syncro mesh and it been ok since.

Make sure that you have at least 1" of pedal travel after the clutch completely disengages. T5's need some time for the syncros to work once they get some mileage on them. The extra travel on the clutch pedal helps insure that they have it.

See TTC: Product Literature to download a FREE service manual for T5 or Tremec 3550/TKO
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – Adobe - Adobe Reader download - All versions

See Hanlon Motorsports - T5 and Tremec parts, sales and service or Welcome to D&D Performance - The 5 & 6 Speed Experts! for parts

A T5 rebuild kit with syncros, bearings and other small parts costs about $160-$200. It does not include any gears or shafts.

Hanlon Motorsports - T5 and Tremec parts, sales and service also has a video on how to rebuild your T5 or Tremec. It costs about $20, and is worth every penny of it.

I did a Tremec 3550 rebuild, and it wasn't that difficult. The video was an immense help, and I would recommend viewing it. At $20, it will give you an opportunity to look and decide for yourself if you think that it is something you want to try to do.


The tricky part is that you will need some shims to adjust the endplay in the two shafts: the new bearings will change the clearance. There is no way of telling what it will be until you get to the point that it is time to measure and check the clearances. Halon has the individual shims if you can wait for them. If you can't afford the wait, the auto parts store can sell you some shim stock and you can make your own, or have a machine shop make them for you. The shim stock comes in brass (easy to cut) and steel, in varying thicknesses. That's where the dial indicator & base come in - there is no way to get the clearance right without it.

Getting the car jacked up high enough to get the trans jack in and out from under the car was somewhat challenging. Since I didn't have a helper, getting the trans out of the car and back it was one of the more difficult things about the job. I built a trans jack out of 2x6's, some angle iron and a $25 floor jack. If I hadn't done that, I would have needed a helper or to rent a commercial trans jack. At 100+ pounds the Tremec 3550 was far too heavy for me to lift by myself.

hurst shifter problems

fivemustangs said:

Hey everyone I got a few questions about my T5. I just did a swap in my 91 GT and took it for a test drive yesterday. While I was driving it shifted through the gears good til I got to 4th which grinds slightly when you shift to 4th gear......unless you do it VERY slowly. Also when down shifting it would NOT go into second for the first 30 miles but now it will down shift into second but you have to hold it there or it will grind and then pop out of gear. Besides that everything seems to seem fine. Im just wondering if I should start looking for a new tranny or......I dont know. The t5 was from an 86. any help would be great.
Thanks!

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We have the same problem. Can you post some photos of your bad t5 so that I can look if it is the same problem as mine.

Reads like you have worn synchros and a bent shift fork.

347HO said:

Reads like you have worn synchros and a bent shift fork.

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