Hello to all: 2000 Buick Regal - I attempted to replace the half shaft seal on the drivers side as it had developed a leak. I noticed the od of the splined stub that goes into the transmisson was scarred up a bit and when I removed the seal I found out why. The needles from the bearing came out with the seal. Question is can I replace the bearing without removing the transaxle or does the whole thing have to come out. Thanks, Red

I didn't know bearings were in that part of the transmission??? Do you have any pictures?

Yes, there is a needle bearing behind the seal. It supports the od of the stub shaft on the end of the halfshaft. My terminology may be wrong, I work on draglines.

I looked all over the 4T65-E manual, and the only reference I see to needle bearings is on the other side of the transmission in the differential. I've even had my old 4T60-E is completely torn down and I do not recall any bearings on the driver side output shaft.

Feel free to peruse the manual...lemme know what page it is on...

4T65-E ATSG manual

The bearing is GM part # 2420-3440. I dont know why it doesnt show up in the manual you have.

Hmmm, that is weird. I found it using a GM parts lookup. Item 431 is the part your talking about and NOW I remember it. You may end up finding pieces of 432 in the bottom of the pan. They have a tendency to break.




And I just found it in the ATSG manual.

Page 71, figure 134. It takes a special tool to R/R the bearings shown as 431. From the looks of it, maybe just a good size socket would do just fine. But either way, your not replacing this with the trans installed in the car. Its coming out. At least part way so you can remove the side cover, the pump covers and the case cover assembly.

I changed it without doing anything more than removing the half shaft and the seal. Worked out fine.

Cool! Based on the image, it sure looks like it needs to be pressed out in the other direction.