How much should I shim my T-5's front bearing retainer?

[180 Out]

Hi, this is my first post to this forum. I did a search on my question and there are a lot of threads on the subject but none that answer exactly what I'm curious about.

Yesterday I was shimming the front bearing retainer of a T-5 from a '95 GT for correct input shaft preload. With a .036" shim pack, there was no wobble to the input shaft and there was a slight drag when rotating the shaft. With .034" there was still no wobble and there was still some drag, but slightly less drag than with the .036. With .032" there was the slightest wobble to the shaft -- you can feel it but you really can't see it -- but much, much less drag.

So which shim pack should I go with? The guy on my Hanlon how-to videotape seems to be saying to zero out the endplay and to have a slight drag on rotation. My problem is I think I have zero endplay with all three packs (as measured with a digital caliper stuck in a vise, as opposed to the proper method using a dial indicator). I like the idea of the lighter drag that I get with the .032. So, should I go with noticeable drag, and no wobble (.034) or slight drag and slight wobble (.032)? What do you T-5 experts say?

 

[timewarped1972]

no expert here at all....so don't take what i say as gospel, but being things tend to loosen up a little over time i'm gonna just throw out a guess and say i'd probably go with the 34..

 

[Euphoric306]

yes, if you can feel the endplay then thats not enough shim

.34 sounds like a good bet to me

 

[retro50]

You really need a dial indicator to set it correctly. I set them up with no shim. Then I read the endplay on the indicator. Whatever the endplay is that is the thickness of the shim or shims I use. There is no way you can get this by feel. Too tight will burn up the bearings. Too loose will let the mainshaft move around when the gears are meshed.

 

[retro50]

If installing a steel bearing retainer. Make sure the steel tube does not come out of the aluminum retainer. Once bolted on pull on it if it comes out it is no good.

 

[180 Out]

Thanks for the answers.

I would use a dial indicator if I had one, but I can't see buying one for this one job. That's why I'm asking, those who have properly set up their T-5's, as you get down to the last .002", would you describe the input shaft as having noticeable drag and no wobble, or a slight wobble and significantly less drag, depending on which way you go with that last .002"?

I have a solid iron bearing retainer from Medatronics. Old school, I guess.