QuestionQUESTION: Hello Howard --- TH400 transmission was rebuilt by a shop. Had to be redone because the new torque converter failed. The shop reported that the crankshaft end play was out of spec by 7/1000. The shop owner said this is related to the thrust bearings. He was neutral about whether this was a serious concern.
How concerned should I be about this? could this cause the failure in the torque converter?
ANSWER: Even though it may have an affect on the engine, I doubt it has much, if any affect on the torque converter.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks -- I made an error in reporting the out of spec figure -- the spec is .10 to .15 mm, the reported measurement was .223 (~.008 ") -- so the difference is .07 mm, or < .003 ". The motor has about 90,000 miles. What do you think, is this a significant issue? Is it likely a shim would cure it if it is?
AnswerHi Gerald,
If you have .008" end play in the crankshaft and your transmission shop said that caused a torque converter to go bad, you need a new transmission shop.
There is no place you can put shim to decrease end play in the crankshaft. .003" out of specs is no big deal and anyone who says it is, don't know anything about engines. And it sure will not harm a torque converter.
Howard
