Hey all, I have a 92 W350 with a getrag. When I was leaving the store the other day I had to jump into traffic and experienced a really heavy vibration/shaking rattle through 1st and 2nd gear. I got home with no other problems through the rest of the gears. The next day when I went to leave for work, it shook/rattled/vibrated through all the gears, I ended up turning back for home after about a mile as it was really making alot of noise. I pulled the tranny/tranfer case off and everything seems smooth. I started the engine with the tranny off and it seems to run very smoothly as well. Could this be the famed input shaft/ bearing failure? Unfortunately trannies are about the only thing I don't comprehend, but I'm thinking about tearing into this getrag if I can get a good set of instructions, I'm a quick learner. Anyhow, whatever help or advise will be appreciated.

 

The hard part's half done if you got it out. It's no biggie to rebuild if you didn't drive it too much after it started coming apart, but it I'd be skeptical until after it's opened up and damage assessed. Get the flywheel machined for a ball bearing overfill it and never worry about it again. Bearing preload and reassembly alignment on the input is key to getting it put back together right and lasting. If the bearings aren't shimmed right and it's not perfectly aligned it will die a quick death again. If they are it may last forever, depending on how good a driver you are.

If you farm it out to a shop somewhere make sure they know the G360. There's not many left who do.

 

I took the top cover off and everything looks good in there. When I turn the input shaft by hand it rolls over pretty smoothly and nothing seems to bind up. I did notice that the throwout bearing is wasted though. But that shouldn't affect the truck when it's in gear should it?

I've got a 70,000mi NV4500 sitting in the garage that my buddy gave me. It only needs the 5th gear redone on it. I'd rather stick with the getrag, but if it's going to be a PITA to find a reputable rebuilder or to do it myself(and I really prefer to do everything myself), maybe I should just swap in the NV4500, but I really don't want to....

 

the nv4500 is a lot easier to buy parts for and cheaper too.