400K transmission woes, Failure on the way home from Okteenerfest Options

[ClayPerrine]

After leaving the hotel in Vicksburg on the second day of the way home, the 400K transmission in Betty's car let go. It was spectacular. It looked like the race cars you see on TV blowing an engine, a HUGE cloud of smoke behind it. We pulled off and looked underneath. The input shaft seal on the trans let go.

Well, this morning I pulled the trans and disassembled it. It is more than just the seal....








The input shaft bearing failed. There is damage to the threads on the input shaft so I have to replace it.

What isn't pictured is the damage to the ring and pinion when something went between them. So I have to replace the pair too.

Here's what it's going to take.

Input shaft

Ring gear

Pinion gear

input shaft bearing

Input shaft seal

Gasket kit.

And time setting up the ring and pinion in this trans case.

Yes, I will be reusing the trans case, tail cover, and as much of the original trans as possible. Betty wants it to be as original as possible. I have all the parts, bearings and seals already here, so tomorrow I get to clean and reassemble the gear stack. I have a differential and matched pinion shaft, and plenty of input shafts, so I am all set. It is just a bunch of work that I wasn't planning on.


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