So I pulled the tranny on my 2003 today so see if maybe a bad pilot bearing is causing my hard to get into gear issues. Sure enough the pilot bearing is a bit rough.

It was also suggested that I check the input bearings. Anyone know what to look for here? I can wiggle the shaft back and forth a bit, how much is allowed?

 

Peter at Southbend Cutch told me to see if the shaft would wiggle enough to touch the through-out bearing tube. If not, the input shaft bearing was probably OK.

 

Thanks!

I was close but defiantly not touching. I've got it all back together now and it is defiantly better but not as good as I was hoping. I'm thinking maybe I'm just expecting too much from a truck tranny.

I'll have to go drive the old '86 farm truck with the NP435 and see how it compares.