A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing

Posted By: crocha617

A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 01:13 PM

How difficult is it to change the input shaft bearing on a 1970 a-844 trans I've never taken one apart before? This trans was in a friends car and he said it worked and shifted perfectly but was starting to hum in front and he recommended I put an input shaft bearing in it before I install it in my car. I am pretty mechanical and am sure I can do it but I'm just wondering if the whole thing needs to come apart or is it as simple as just removing the front bearing retainer? Or should I just drop it off and have completely gone through by a reputable shop? What's the going rate for a complete overhaul these days?

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 01:23 PM

The bearing can be replaced without complete disassembly , I did it many moons ago , BUT since it's out of the car I would have it gone thru , my experience it's usually the rear bearing that gets more beat up than the front .

Posted By: Stanton

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 02:20 PM

The bearing doesn't come out from the front unless you have an 18 spline trans.

Assuming you don't, you have to pull off the side cover, pull out the tailstock and pull the mainshaft and let the cluster drop to the bottom of the case. You also have to remove the front bearing retainer so you can remove the snapring. You'll need a complete gasket kit.

If you're mechanically inclined then a complete rebuild is a piece of cake once you have all the parts "in hand" but you do need a special snapring tool (Sears). The toughest part of the job is installing the tailstock bushing - best taking it to a tranny shop and slipping the guy $5 !!

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 02:43 PM

Quote:

The bearing doesn't come out from the front unless you have an 18 spline trans.

HUH ??? if pulling the input shaft AND it's a 23 spline then yes one would have to take the trans apart, but since the front part of the bearing sticks out the front of the case your statement is incorrect because the bearing is already poking out the front of the case.

Maybe it's the the fact that the input shaft won't come out the front on a 23 spline that I was able to pull the bearing off without disassembling the trans, I popped off the snap rings and used 2 screw drivers against the case and was able to pull off the bearing. You'd be amazed what a 17yr old with a set of tools and a natural mechanical aptitude can do.

Posted By: 64dodge572

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 04:32 PM

Take it apart and fix it right. Regardless of 23 or 18 spline, the input shaft will not come out the front without dropping the cluster.
Dan

Posted By: crocha617

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/02/11 06:13 PM

It's a 23 spline and all I want to do is change the input shaft bearing. I was hoping to confirm if I could just unbolt the front bearing retainer and switch the bearing out. The trans works great and shifts perfectly. I'm trying to get the car running for the summer and didn't want to send it out for a total rebuild that could take weeks.Thanks.

Posted By: Stanton

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 12:15 AM

Quote:

I was hoping to confirm if I could just unbolt the front bearing retainer and switch the bearing out.

According to everybody ... NO. According to John-boy, yes - but then he tends to condradict everyone.

Who you want to believe is up to you. Personally, and I've done a few and I've NEVER had an input bearing come off the shaft (or go on again) without significant effort. If I ever had one slip on or off with as little effort as John's did I think I'd throw the shaft away.

Posted By: HPMike

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 12:31 AM

John is correct here. It can be done-no sweat. 18 or 23 spline-doesn't matter.

Here is how.

-Take the bearing retainer off.
-take the external and internal snap rings off.
-wedge two prybars against the case and pry by way of the external groove.
-while you have it "loaded" with the prybars(pulled slightly away from the case) have an assistant tap on the pilot end of the input shaft rearward with a brass hammer. keep the pressure on the bars while tapping continuously. Don't worry, it won't take too much tapping effort. Bearing comes off.
-Install is easy. If you have the ability to warm the bearing, do it, but not necessary. Place the bearing on the shaft and using a blunt nosed drift punch tap around at the inner race of the bearing until its seated.
-Install snap rings and retainer and you are done.

MB

Posted By: fourgearsavoy

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 12:35 AM

I can be done John's way but it will require some finesse with an air chisel with a blunt rounded tip.Hard to describe the backyard way but it's still doubtful that it ONLY needs an input bearing

Gus

Attached picture 6664100-burnoutpicturegus.JPG

Posted By: mopar346

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 12:37 AM

You'd be amazed what a 17yr old with a set of tools and a natural mechanical aptitude can do.

You forgot the part about, we didn't know you couldn't/shouldn't do it that way so we just did.

Ahhh the good old days.

Posted By: kenworth_goose

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 01:17 AM

Quote:

Take it apart and fix it right. Regardless of 23 or 18 spline, the input shaft will not come out the front without dropping the cluster.
Dan

This is untrue. Just took my 23 spline OD apart and removed the front input shaft bearing from the front then took the rest out the back WITHOUT dropping the cluster.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 01:58 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Take it apart and fix it right. Regardless of 23 or 18 spline, the input shaft will not come out the front without dropping the cluster.
Dan

This is untrue. Just took my 23 spline OD apart and removed the front input shaft bearing from the front then took the rest out the back WITHOUT dropping the cluster.

The OD trans doesn't impress me, I was able to pull the bearing off the mainshaft, and put it back on by hand , same for the rear bearing on a 727 .

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 02:50 PM

Quote:

It's a 23 spline and all I want to do is change the input shaft bearing. I was hoping to confirm if I could just unbolt the front bearing retainer and switch the bearing out. The trans works great and shifts perfectly. I'm trying to get the car running for the summer and didn't want to send it out for a total rebuild that could take weeks.Thanks.

No you can't just swap it like that, would be nice if one could but it's not that easy. What makes your friend it's the front bearing?

Buy the rebuild kit and you can do it yourself it's not that hard .

Posted By: GomangoCuda

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 04:49 PM

Original Poster

Quote:

It's a 23 spline and all I want to do is change the input shaft bearing. I was hoping to confirm if I could just unbolt the front bearing retainer and switch the bearing out.

JohnRR

Quote:

Maybe it's the the fact that the input shaft won't come out the front on a 23 spline that I was able to pull the bearing off without disassembling the trans, I popped off the snap rings and used 2 screw drivers against the case and was able to pull off the bearing.

JohnRR

Quote:

No you can't just swap it like that, would be nice if one could but it's not that easy.

Which JohnRR do I agree with?

or is it disagree with? Oh heck I don't know.

Posted By: 70440+6bbl

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 05:01 PM

He is trying to say it is not as easy as just unbolting the bearing retainer, removing the bearing by hand, swap bearing and bolt the retainer back on with little effort involved (like you can do with a Tremec or BW T5).

Posted By: GomangoCuda

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 05:33 PM

Quote:

He is trying to say it is not as easy as just unbolting the bearing retainer, removing the bearing by hand, swap bearing and bolt the retainer back on with little effort involved (like you can do with a Tremec or BW T5).

Ok, it' not that easy but it certainly is not difficult. The only reason I did it was because I was already there (replacing broken bearing retainer) and thought why not? If the bearing had actually been shot I would have done a rebuild instead.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: A-833 4 speed Input shaft bearing - 06/03/11 05:57 PM

Quote:

Original Poster
Quote:

It's a 23 spline and all I want to do is change the input shaft bearing. I was hoping to confirm if I could just unbolt the front bearing retainer and switch the bearing out.

JohnRR
Quote:

Maybe it's the the fact that the input shaft won't come out the front on a 23 spline that I was able to pull the bearing off without disassembling the trans, I popped off the snap rings and used 2 screw drivers against the case and was able to pull off the bearing.

JohnRR
Quote:

No you can't just swap it like that, would be nice if one could but it's not that easy.

Which JohnRR do I agree with? or is it disagree with? Oh heck I don't know.

It's your call obviously.

As said above it's not as simple as one might hope , obviously depends on how tight the press fit it , I do remember it took a bit of work to get it off and get it back on because of the press fit.

I would be opening that trans up to see how it looks and regasket it at minimum , see hown much junk flushes out .