Transmission Rattling Noise

[PsychoNaut04]

Was driving on the highway and heard ad odd noise. Suddenly it escalated to a rattling noise. Any advice? It used to make a loud whining noise prior to giving out. And currently im able to change gears with no resistance 

 

https://imgur.com/a/l6HXgsd

[datzenmike]

Most common failure point on the FS5W71B is the front countershaft bearing. Gets noisier over time, usually in all gears but fourth. If not replaced, the bearing comes apart and can damage the front cover or the transmission case. Not much you can do from the outside. Take the fill bung out and check the oil level. You should be able to reach in with a finger and touch the oil if full. If low, top it up, it may quiet down but the damage may already be done. Drain the oil and inspect the drain bung which has a magnet on it that collects ferrous metals. Check the oil for suspended metal particles, if oil is milky that's water that got in.   

 

This one has a piece of bearing cage on it. I've pulled one that had ball bearings on it. 

 

 

This is a front counter bearing that has failed. Likely can be saved by replacing it.

 

[PsychoNaut04]

9 minutes ago, datzenmike said:

Most common failure point on the FS5W71B is the front countershaft bearing. Gets noisier over time, usually in all gears but fourth. If not replaced, the bearing comes apart and can damage the front cover or the transmission case. Not much you can do from the outside. Take the fill bung out and check the oil level. You should be able to reach in with a finger and touch the oil if full. If low, top it up, it may quiet down but the damage may already be done. Drain the oil and inspect the drain bung which has a magnet on it that collects ferrous metals. Check the oil for suspended metal particles, if oil is milky that's water that got in.   

 

This one has a piece of bearing cage on it. I've pulled one that had ball bearings on it. 

 

 

This is a front counter bearing that has failed. Likely can be saved by replacing it.

 

Awesome. Thank you Mike. I used to get a sort of turbine noise. And before changing gears it used to make a unique sound. I know there was something off about it. I think it may be bearings. Ill drain the oil today and check. 

[datzenmike]

Check oil level first. If low or empty that's the problem. Topping it up might, I say might, quiet it. It should hold two liters or close to two US quarts of oil. I drained one that had what looked like thick silver paint in it. It was the bearing chewing up the case and two ball bearings came out with it.

[PsychoNaut04]

1 hour ago, datzenmike said:

Check oil level first. If low or empty that's the problem. Topping it up might, I say might, quiet it. It should hold two liters or close to two US quarts of oil. I drained one that had what looked like thick silver paint in it. It was the bearing chewing up the case and two ball bearings came out with it.

I remember I did the oil change on my trans not long ago. The oil did seem muddy. So ill check it today. Honestly, i feel the bearing is the issue. Ill confirm. 

[ElliotV]

On 10/3/2026 at 8:21 AM, PsychoNaut04 said:

Awesome. Thank you Mike. I used to get a sort of turbine noise. And before changing gears it used to make a unique sound. I know there was something off about it. I think it may be bearings. Ill drain the oil today and check. 

That turbine/howling noise is the front housing getting eaten because your gears are moving. Mine did the same thing before I rebuilt it. My center countershaft bearing went out and the balls remained, if they didn't center perfectly the shaft would move and the gears were eating the aluminum housing. bad bearing

 

 

worn into housing

[PsychoNaut04]

On 10/7/2026 at 8:10 AM, ElliotV said:

That turbine/howling noise is the front housing getting eaten because your gears are moving. Mine did the same thing before I rebuilt it. My center countershaft bearing went out and the balls remained, if they didn't center perfectly the shaft would move and the gears were eating the aluminum housing. bad bearing

 

 

worn into housing

Is this something I can fix myself? I’ve been reaching out to shops and it’s around 1k for labour. 

[datzenmike]

Drain transmission and remove from vehicle.

 

Inside the front 'bell' are 5 bolts that hold the front cover on. Remove cover bolts and strike the clutch arm pivot ball using a socket extension to jar the cover plate loose. Hitting the long 'nose' will only snap it off.

 

 

Remove and save the shim from in front of the (smaller) counter bearing. 

 

Remove snap ring from in front of the main shaft (larger) bearing.     

 

The transmission has front and rear aluminum cases which sandwich a steel adapter plate that holds all the gears. There are 10? through bolts that clamp the cases to the adapter plate. Lightly hammer the front case forward and off the two front bearings. Hold onto the rear case and avoid it separating from the adapter plate.

 

 

You now have access to the (smaller) counter bearing...

 

 

Use a gear puller to remove. Hammer a new one on using a suitable diameter piece of pipe against the inner race.

 

Assembly is the reverse of taking apart. 

 

 

The '84 should have the 56mm counter bearing, this was changed to 62mm for the '85 model year. The 56mm counter bearing is Part # 32219-E9000 

[PsychoNaut04]

32 minutes ago, datzenmike said:

Drain transmission and remove from vehicle.

 

Inside the front 'bell' are 5 bolts that hold the front cover on. Remove cover bolts and strike the clutch arm pivot ball using a socket extension to jar the cover plate loose. Hitting the long 'nose' will only snap it off.

 

 

Remove and save the shim from in front of the (smaller) counter bearing. 

 

Remove snap ring from in front of the main shaft (larger) bearing.     

 

The transmission has front and rear aluminum cases which sandwich a steel adapter plate that holds all the gears. There are 10? through bolts that clamp the cases to the adapter plate. Lightly hammer the front case forward and off the two front bearings. Hold onto the rear case and avoid it separating from the adapter plate.

 

 

You now have access to the (smaller) counter bearing...

 

 

Use a gear puller to remove. Hammer a new one on using a suitable diameter piece of pipe against the inner race.

 

Assembly is the reverse of taking apart. 

 

 

The '84 should have the 56mm counter bearing, this was changed to 62mm for the '85 model year. The 56mm counter bearing is Part # 32219-E9000 

Thank you! I worked on the engine myself, this shouldn’t be too bad then 😅 

[ElliotV]

Gear and bearing puller plus massive 3 jaw puller, a buddy, and a good adjustable wrench or set of large metric wrenches, Hammer and punch, plus some t40 bits and snap ring pliers are all you really need other than normal tools.