Shims for T-5 Bearing Retainer - Where to Find Them

[Eulers]

Where can I purchase at a reasonable price a shim pack for installation of a Front Bearing Retainer (T-5 transmission, 1987)?
-- I went to the Ford dealer in search of a shim pack to properly pre-load the new front bearing retainer for my 1987 T-5 transmission. After several minutes of searching hither & tither on his computer, the Ford Parts Counter Man found a Ford shim pack priced over $100.
-- E3FZ5A231A is the part number he told me.
Where can I purchase a reasonably priced a shim pack?
Thanks

 

[jrichker]

Make your own shims from brass or steel shim stock. I bought three sheets of brass shim stock and made the shims I needed. Between the .005, .001 and .010 shim stock and the original shims, I had everything I needed. You will need a set of good sheet metal shears or scissors to cut the shims from the stock. See your local full line auto parts store or auto machine shop. NAPA Auto Parts is a good place to see about the shim stock. Some auto machine shops will make shims for you, but it is expensive.

See Hanlon Motorsports - T5 and Tremec parts, sales and service or Welcome to D&D Performance - The 5 & 6 Speed Experts! for parts

See TTC: Product Literature to download a FREE service manual for T5 or Tremec 3550/TKO
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – Adobe - Adobe Reader download - All versions

 

[Eulers]

Thanks JR. Did you really mean one mil thick (.001) sheet stock or was that typo?

 

[Mustang5L5]

I also think 8.8 pinion shims cam be used.

You must measure and reshim the trans. Having it too loose or too tight can potentially cause issues.

 

[jrichker]

Thanks JR. Did you really mean one mil thick (.001) sheet stock or was that typo?

.001, .005, .010 stock, or maybe it was .002 instead of .001. The brass is easier to work than the steel, and seems to be just as good. I checked NAPA, and they only seem to be selling full sheets, which is way too expensive to deal with.

See NAPA Online

I bought several 3"x3" and 6"x6" pieces and cut the shims from that. If I remember correctly, it was less than $15, and I had some stock left over. Look around and see if someone will sell the 3x3 & 6x6 inch squares.

 

[phutch11]

Or...

Here:
Allstate Gear Company :: T5

or here:

Southwest Gear

or here:

Borg Warner T5 World Class Standard ( Manual ) Transmission Parts and Diagram

This I think is the best kit and is the kit that I'll buy when I do mine:

T5 World Class 5 Speed Shims

Hard to beat for $9.

Good luck...

 

[jrichker]

Or...

Here:
Allstate Gear Company :: T5

or here:

Southwest Gear

or here:

Borg Warner T5 World Class Standard ( Manual ) Transmission Parts and Diagram

This I think is the best kit and is the kit that I'll buy when I do mine:

T5 World Class 5 Speed Shims

Hard to beat for $9.

Good luck...

Great advice!
That last link you posted for the peel & place shims is the neatest trick I have seen in a long time. Definitely the way to go!

 

[Eulers]

Question - Bearing Race Extraction (T-5 Front Retainer)

Ok, I am back on this project after other priorities & issues over the winter. QUESTION:
How do I extract the bearing race from the old front bearing retainer on the 1987 T-5? Can I do so without risk of deforming the race?
This is critical b/c I do not have a source for another. I want to transfer it to the new Front Bearing Retainer.
Thanks.

BTW, I will be using Peel and Place shims, from the Gear Zone, as my end play shims. J.C. at the 5speeds.com Gear Zone was very responsive & helpful. The set to order is the "upper" shim set. And a retainer can also be had there at a better price than most retailers too. (1987 T-5).

 

[Eulers]

Problem Solved: Stubborn Bearing Race Comes Out

Problem Solved: Stubborn Bearing Race Comes Out

Here is how I got it out:
(1). Note that it was 40 degrees the first day that I originally tried to get out bearing race from the old Front Bearing Retainer. It wouldn't come out. I tried various ways of forcing it out to no avail.
(2). I put penetrating oil on it and let it sit for two days.
(3). Today, being an 80 degree day, I put it out on a dark surface and let the sun heat up the unit. Then I did as I've read others simply do - I held the shaft of the Retainer bare-handed and struck it down onto two parallel wood blocks. Plunk! The race & shim fell below in between the blocks. Ahhh! Relief. It's out.

My perception is that either the oil-soak or the 40 degree difference was enough to cause the release. The aluminum body retainer and steel race expand thermally at different rates so that could have been the cause between stubborn-ess one day & easiness of release the next.
Thanks.

 

[Eulers]

PEEL AND PLACE SHIMS WORK LIKE A CHARM

I went to the Ford Dealer originally looking for shims. I ended up using Peel and Place shims, from the Gear Zone, as my end play shims. J.C. at the 5speeds.com Gear Zone will tell you which ones to order. I used the upper set. For me, They peeled off in 0.005 inch increments. I ended up with the perfect end play shim, +/- 0.001". I was tickled pink. A great customer experience. (Tip: Use their T5 Tag Identifier).