So today after work I brought my Samurai into the garage I work at to check it over a little better than when I had bought it.  It is all around pretty good.  It needs shocks and a tie rod end but I don't care becuase all of that is gettting replaced.  But onto my question, the input bearing on the trans is super loud, obviously bad.  Is this a common thing on these?  I also removed the fill plug to check the oil and there must have been an extra quart in there at least, don't know how it got in there but it was.  Are trannies cheap for these little beasts or what?  Is there a different perhaps more rugged tranny that will bolt in?

Andrew

To answer one of your questions, yes they are common, my input bearing is very loud as well.

Same here really loud.  I think its more the syncros in the 5spd that tend to fail.  My current mission is to find a 3 spd auto becuase there is no computer controll.  I have a sport model so the chances of finding the right computer to run a 4spd auto are sort of slim.  Ive heard *input would be apreciated* the 3spd will give you  a little bit of reduction to help move thoes tires down the road?