Transmission Input Shaft Bearing

Replace the transmission input shaft bearing by removing the transmission from the vehicle, disassembling the front case, and installing a new bearing with proper shimming and clearances.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Input shaft bearing (front) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission front case gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Input shaft seal × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission pan gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission filter × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Input shaft shims (assorted) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Gasket maker (RTV) × 1 — Mopar or equivalent

Fluids

• Mopar ATF+4 — 14 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect both battery cables (negative first) to prevent electrical shorts
3. Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
4. Remove front wheels and skid plate if equipped
5. Allow transmission to cool completely if vehicle was recently operated
6. Place drain pans under transmission and transfer case
7. Mark driveshaft and yoke positions for proper alignment during reassembly
8. Take photos of electrical connector positions and routing before disconnection

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain transmission and transfer case fluids
   Remove the transmission fill and drain plugs and drain the gear lubricant into a drain pan. Remove transfer case drain plug and drain fluid. Allow to fully drain before proceeding.
   Torque spec

   Transmission Pan Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)

   Drain Plug34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Disconnect driveshafts and shift linkage
   Remove front and rear driveshaft mounting bolts. Support driveshafts and lower away from vehicle or secure out of the way. Disconnect shift linkage at transmission and transfer case. Remove any brackets or supports attached to crossmember.
3. 3

   Disconnect electrical and cooler lines
   Disconnect electrical connectors from the transmission (vehicle speed sensor and backup/reverse light switch). Label each connector. Disconnect transmission cooler lines at transmission using line wrench. Cap or plug lines and transmission ports to prevent contamination.
   ⚠Transmission cooler lines may contain residual fluid under pressure. Have rags ready to catch spillage.
4. 4

   Support engine and remove transmission crossmember
   Place floor jack with wood block under engine oil pan to support engine weight. Position transmission jack under transmission with securing chains or straps. Remove transmission crossmember mounting bolts and remove crossmember.
5. 5

   Remove transfer case from transmission
   Remove transfer case mounting bolts from transmission. Carefully slide transfer case rearward off transmission output shaft. Lower transfer case and set aside. Inspect output shaft seal in transmission for damage.
6. 6

   Remove transmission to bellhousing bolts
   Remove all transmission to bellhousing mounting bolts. Note different bolt lengths and positions for reassembly. Verify all bolts are removed and transmission is free to move rearward.
   ⚠Ensure transmission jack is securely supporting transmission weight before removing final bolts.
7. 7

   Remove transmission from vehicle
   Carefully slide transmission rearward away from engine, keeping it level. Guide input shaft out of clutch disk and pilot bearing. Once clear of vehicle, lower transmission jack and move transmission to clean workbench. Mount transmission in holding fixture if available.
   ⚠️Transmission is extremely heavy and awkward. Have assistant help guide transmission during removal to prevent dropping.
8. 8

   Remove bellhousing from transmission
   With transmission on bench, remove all bellhousing mounting bolts. Carefully separate bellhousing from transmission case using plastic mallet if necessary. Remove bellhousing and set aside. Do not pry between mating surfaces.
9. 9

   Disassemble transmission front case
   Remove front case cover bolts and carefully remove front case cover. Remove snap ring retaining input shaft bearing. Note position and thickness of any shims behind bearing. Use bearing puller to remove input shaft bearing from case. Inspect bearing bore for damage or scoring.
   ℹ️Mark or measure existing shim thickness before removal. This will serve as starting point for reassembly clearance.
10. 10

    Measure input shaft endplay and bearing clearances
    Install new input shaft bearing onto shaft without shims. Install bearing into case and measure endplay using dial indicator. Refer to service manual for correct endplay specification (typically 0.002-0.008 inches). Calculate required shim thickness to achieve proper endplay. Measure bearing bore and shaft diameter with micrometer to verify correct bearing fit.
    ⚠Proper endplay is critical. Too loose will cause noise and wear, too tight will cause premature bearing failure and overheating.
11. 11

    Install new input shaft bearing
    Press or drive new bearing onto input shaft using proper bearing driver sized to contact inner race only. Install calculated shim pack into case bearing bore. Press bearing into case using driver sized to contact outer race only. Install snap ring to secure bearing. Verify bearing rotates smoothly without binding.
    ⚠Never press on bearing cage or rollers. Always press on appropriate race only to avoid bearing damage.
12. 12

    Verify final endplay and install front case cover
    Recheck input shaft endplay with dial indicator to verify proper clearance achieved. Install new input shaft seal in front case cover. Apply thin bead of gasket maker to front case cover mating surface. Install cover with new gasket and torque cover bolts in criss-cross pattern.
13. 13

    Reassemble transmission and install bellhousing
    Apply thin coat of gasket maker to bellhousing mating surface. Install bellhousing and torque mounting bolts evenly in criss-cross pattern. Verify input shaft rotates freely. Verify the case drain and fill plugs are installed and tightened.
    Torque spec

    Transmission Pan Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Install transmission into vehicle
    Position transmission on transmission jack and raise into position. Apply thin coat of high-temp grease to input shaft splines. Carefully guide input shaft through clutch disk and into pilot bearing. Align transmission to bellhousing and push forward until fully seated. Install and torque all transmission to bellhousing mounting bolts.
    ⚠If input shaft will not slide through clutch disk, do not force. Lower transmission and check clutch alignment.
15. 15

    Reinstall transfer case and crossmember
    Install new gasket on transmission output. Align transfer case input shaft and carefully slide transfer case onto transmission. Install and torque transfer case mounting bolts. Install transmission crossmember and torque mounting bolts. Remove floor jack from under engine.
16. 16

    Reconnect all components and refill fluids
    Reconnect transmission cooler lines and torque fittings. Reconnect all electrical connectors to transmission. Install driveshafts aligning marks made during disassembly. Reconnect shift linkage and adjust if necessary. Install transmission drain plug with new washer if equipped. Fill transmission to the fill plug level with the correct manual transmission lubricant (approximately 4 quarts of GL-4/synchromesh-spec fluid per service manual). Fill transfer case to the proper level with Mopar ATF+4.
    Torque spec

    Drain Plug34 Nm (25 lb-ft)

    Fill Plug34 Nm (25 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Torque all fasteners to specified values using criss-cross or star patterns where applicable
2. Ensure all electrical connectors are fully seated and secured with retaining clips
3. Verify driveshafts are installed in original positions to maintain balance
4. Double-check that transmission is filled to proper level before starting engine
5. Verify shift linkage operates smoothly through all gear positions before test drive

Verification

• Check transmission fluid level with engine running and transmission at operating temperature
• Verify no fluid leaks from transmission pan, case seals, or cooler lines
• Test drive vehicle and verify smooth shifting through all gears with no unusual noises
• Listen for bearing noise (whining or growling) during acceleration and deceleration
• Verify proper engagement of all forward and reverse gears under load
• Recheck fluid level after test drive and top off if necessary
• Monitor transmission temperature during initial operation to ensure it remains in normal range

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle