0-1 Inch Dial Indicator with Magnetic Base for Measuring Transmission Endplay and Gear Backlash

A rebuild lives or dies on endplay. Too much and the unit clunks and wears out the thrust surfaces; too little and it binds and cooks itself. The only way to know is to measure it, and that is what this dial indicator is for. You get a full 0 to 1 inch of travel reading down to 0.001 inch, which is exactly the resolution you need for checking input and output shaft endplay, pump-to-drum clearance, and selecting the right thrust washer or shim during assembly.

The indicator rides on a switchable magnetic base rated at 140 to 160 pounds of hold, so it clamps onto the bellhousing, a bench fixture, or a diff cover and stays put while you rock the shaft and watch the needle. A 360-degree adjustable arm with a fine-adjustment knob lets you square the plunger up to the surface you are checking, and the on/off magnet switch means you set it and break it loose without fighting the magnet the whole time. It doubles as a runout and backlash gauge for ring-and-pinion setups, so it earns a spot on the bench well beyond transmission work.

The set ships with 22 hardened contact points on the standard 4-48 thread, so you can reach into a bore or sit flat on a shaft end without improvising. Everything drops into a fitted case so the tips do not scatter across the toolbox.