I've read through a couple of the rebuild manuals on here but am still a bit unclear on something. If I replace the input shaft seal on my WC T5, do I have to set some kind of preload on the bearing, or just take the bearing retainer off, pop the old seal, put in the new one, and reinstall the bearing retainer?

 

Shims are cheap and it's easy to do while it's apart. It's also one of the highest "importance of function to part size" ratio items in a manual trans.

Regarding what preload to use, post 14:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...side-my-t.html

(I barely do T5s; just T56s or I'd have more commentary.)

 

I pulled the bearing retainer off and I guess I didn't realize how this was actually put together. I was under the impression the seal was in the case with the bearing behind it. The seal is in the retainer side. As far as how to set the preload and all that, I really dont get what the articles are saying on how to do it. And I'm guessing I can't just go to NAPA and order these shims. This trans is supposed to go back in this weekend, so I may just replace the seal.

 

Shims are cheap; figure out a reasonable range of a few you need and call a dealer. If you needed a .045 shim, just buy a .043 and a .047 too for example.

In short: set the trans. tail down, *not* resting on the mainshaft.
bolt the input back in.
Set up a dial indicator on the input

However loose it is, you're adding that much to the shim + however much pre-load is desired.

I want to say the Tremec book indicates .003 preload but I also have no reason to doubt the post I linked you to re: .006.

set a finger in each side of the bearing race and spin it clock and counter and lift; should come right out. Shim is underneath.

 

Gotcha now. Thanks for the help.