from what i can tell, the syncros are going out on my 88 GXL. That and the input shaft bearing is screaming at me. Im looking uoo rebuild kits, and there apears to be two of them. a 20.5mm and a 15mm bearing on the counter shaft.

is there any way to tell which mine has without tearing the case apart?

 

20.5mm

you will also need special tools however, can't get away with basic hand tools like you can on the engines.

 

^ Interesting, but how do you know without taking the tranny apart? I've looked for this 'how-to-tell' info before, and am very curious. Nothing in the FAQ section.

 

i've yet to see this "15mm countershaft bearing". even if there is such a thing it is likely only on the older trannies that were more random in their build characteristics.

 

seen them on ebay

i looked closer at the listing and the title is a bit miss leading. they are for the 81-85 x7 and the 81-89 B2200. so the 20.5 is right.

as far as the tools go. i work at a chevy dealer, so i have access to a shop press and a few bearing splitters. anythign beyond that that i would need for the rebuild? ive rebuilt a few honda transaxles, this would be the first RWD trans ive don though.

 

Thanks for the info Lyger.

Vartok - you'll need a long *** bearing puller...as in the arms will be very long. Imagine the puller center on the main shaft and the arms (or was it bolts?) on a bearing over a foot away. IIRC. More of a tool used in a tranny shop. Your dealer may not have one.

 

you need a special bearing puller for the rear output shaft bearing. you might find something that will work from a GM special tool but you'll be spending a bit of time experimenting. a bearing splitter will not fit in there.

i had to make my own from a generic 3 jaw puller and fabricated the arms to extend them about 1.5-2 feet.

 

wow yeah, i dont think we have anything like that. Im also not real good at fabing things up like that.

 

I will post a photo tomorrow of what i made to remove rear bearing is easy to make

 

other than the long puller for the rear bearing, can i get by with a bearing spliter and a shop press?

 

for the rest you should be able to, some bearings will need a small puller that may need the jaws ground down. a splitter can easily damage the gears if you aren't too careful.

 

I think you should upgrade to the s5 tranny way smoother when shifting.

 

what is this magical difference between the S4 and S5 transmission that is an "upgrade"?

there is none, it really just depends on how much the transmission has been abused.

 

Here is the bearing puller I made is 5mm x 2"angle iron with 17" long all thread amd a universal puller at other end

 

so would i be better off just getting a new trans rather than making tools to rebuild this one?

 

that is up to you, afaik there is no new transmissions anymore. parts to build a new one would be... expensive, assuming they're all available. you could either find tools to work, fabricate them, or have a transmission shop rebuild it, or do the disassembly items you need.

 

Search ebay. I've seen Bearing and synchro kits on there. Aftermarket iirc. Other parts may be found also. New from mazda...what he said ^