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Topic: Changing the P3 at home (Read 755 times) previous topic - next topic

Changing the P3 at home

       Has anyone tackled changing out the output bearing "P3" in their late 90s 270?

    I've seen many things wrestled with on this forum, and frankly surprised someone hasn't tried to replace at home.
I've called around locally, and concerned that the 2 closed facilities are already on initial call warning that the entire tranny may need to be replaced.  That very well maybe, but dang, let's take a look first before speaking of impending doom.
    David
David and Christi Spillman
2003gv
1992 airstream classic limited
1989 avion XB
1989 avion 32s
1987 avion 34w
1998  U270 36' "Project"
1983 avion 34w
1962 avion T25

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #1 –
David, call me.  Rudy Legett
7 one 3. 8 one 8  3234
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #2 –
i had Inland Truck Service repair mine many years ago 3k just to replace p3 no warranty  and 6k rebuild two year warranty.

I am not afraid to tackle most big projects but transmissions do intimidate me.

If I had to do it all over again I would us Stewart Stevenson in Longview TX.  They are very aware of P3 problem.
Larry Bradley
SOB
former 1998 U270
Build 5251
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #3 –
Checked my end play with a prybar 2 years ago,was more then 1/8 inch,took it to the Allison shop near downtown Memphis,great knowlegible staff,knew about the bearing problems,they inspected and retightened for 1k,after that much less vibration.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #4 –
An older P3 discussion:  Replaced P-3 Carrier and Bearings
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #5 –
Reviving an old post here. I seem to have these exact issues with my 95 U295. I have bad vibration in 4th gear and then sometimes a vibration in all gears until I apply the retarder manually loading the drive line which seems to "shift" something and the vibrations immediately disappear. I read this exact thing someone else posted.

I've read all the posts related to this topic but still have not seen any pictures or detailed description of fixing it. Lots of "take it to xyz shop" which is not how I roll. I'm sure I can fix it myself, just hoping to get some more info before I dig in. Would love to order parts ahead of time.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #6 –
Quote from: nbluesky –
Reviving an old post here. I seem to have these exact issues with my 95 U295. I have bad vibration in 4th gear and then sometimes a vibration in all gears until I apply the retarder manually loading the drive line which seems to "shift" something and the vibrations immediately disappear. I read this exact thing someone else posted.

I've read all the posts related to this topic but still have not seen any pictures or detailed description of fixing it. Lots of "take it to xyz shop" which is not how I roll. I'm sure I can fix it myself, just hoping to get some more info before I dig in. Would love to order parts ahead of time.

Whooo boy!  I read some of those past posting following from Brett's last link.  That was a rabbit hole I almost wish I hadn't gone down.  Though forewarned is forearmed I guess.  Will def be following any future posts on this. 

Bill
95 36' U295  CAI, build #4757
—>formerly homed in the midwest, now mobile again,
      mid-atlantic for the present.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #7 –
Did you check for end play to see if that is even the problem?,may be something else,our end bearing was inspected and retightened for the 1K,the main reason for having a shop do mine was that you need special tools which I don't have and I have
alot of tools.The shop in Memphis knew about the problem.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #8 –
I keep hearing about this mystery tool! What is it? I googled a bunch last night and found a tool related to the p3 bushing. It's cheap, like $25 on ebay. Is this all it is or or something else??

The coach went into storage so unfortunately I have not been able to check the play. I'm strongly considering pulling it out of storage and bringing it home to work on in the winters' cold just so we can go south in Feb... I wish I had a month more fall to get it ready!

I honestly didn't think it was that big of deal but after reading everything about this issue ignoring it sounds like a very bad idea. It is now top of the list. I really don't want to buy a new transmission.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #9 –
If you can crawl under the coach while in storage you can check the bearing,I caught mine soon enough,they checked the race
and the bearing and all was good,we did'nt want to buy a new trans so to me the 1K was well spent,while your at it check the U-joints,that would cause the same problem.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #10 –
Well I decided to wait until Spring to tackle this project. When I do I will start a new thread and document everything so that future readers will have a guide to what is actually going on in there. A few pictures would be worth a thousand words on this one!
 

Re: Changing the P3 at home

Reply #11 –
Some time ago I bought a C70 iirc, dual tandem truck.  Also bought the 13 speed Eaton trans which was lying in a scrap yard where it had been discarded.  Took it all home and removed some plates and could see a couple of shafts which seemed to be discoupled from each other.  Went to Chalks Truck Parts in Houston and described the issue best I could.  The counter guy thought about it a while, (this was before cell phone cameras) saying "couple shafts...couple shafts...man you got a broken mainshaft!"  Grabbed a cardboard box and started loading bearings, seals. mainshaft, dogs, every part, it turns out necessary to rebuild the trans.  But most importantly, on top of the pile of parts he laid a paperback shop manual with pictures of every step and instructions on how to reassemble, shim and time a 13 speed Roadranger with stick and air shifter.  Which I proceeded to do, completely disassembling the wreckage, cleaning up the massive collection of gear clusters and parts and reassembling by the book.  My first experience at trans repair was a complete success, it served flawlessly for years in severe on and offroad use.

Looks like Chalk doesn't handle Allison parts, wonder if there is a similar aftermarket available?
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS