T5 Non-World-Class 5-Speed Rebuild Bearing Kit, GM Ford

This is a bench rebuild kit for the non-world-class (NWC) Borg-Warner T5 five-speed — the earlier, lighter-duty version of the T5 that turns up in GM S-10 and S-15 pickups, early third-gen Camaro and Firebird, Astro and Safari vans, and 1983-1984 Ford Mustang four-cylinder and V6 cars. Before you order, confirm you have the non-world-class box: the NWC uses a caged needle-bearing cluster (countershaft) gear and straight-cut, non-tapered countershaft bearings, where the later world-class T5 runs tapered bearings and a different cluster. The two are not interchangeable.

The kit covers everything that wears out on a high-mileage T5: the front and rear main bearings, the countershaft (cluster) bearings, the input and output shaft seals, the case and cover gaskets, and a made-in-USA small-parts kit with the snap rings, springs and thrust washers you lose on the bench. Bearings are Japanese-manufactured Nachi and Koyo, so you are not gambling on off-brand races.

Use it when the transmission whines in every gear, grinds going into second or third, or pops out of gear on decel — the usual signs of worn bearings and tired synchro rings. Pull the tail housing and cover, press off the old bearings, and replace synchros, seals and gaskets in one pass rather than chasing one failed part at a time.