OK, pics help a bit but are not test results.
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5. Might be interesting to see your observations about the guide tube condition and grease in the old bearing cast iron collar.
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No test results and just pic's to review. I didn't see a smokin gun.
Gary
Concur, nothing was obviously bad, except the DMF. For the guide tube, no abnormal wear, same on the release bearing. All that looked fine too, I can try to snap a few pictures, since I have the old guide tube, it was the stock sheet metal formed part. I replaced with heavy duty cast steel part. There was zero free play on the input shaft, none whatsoever, like would be expected on a new or re-built transmission.
The characteristic shutdown "rattle" that has been there almost since new, it's gone. Seems that was the DMF making that horrible racket.