Make sure you get the right bearings. They changed in 99 but most places will still try to give you the old style bearings. I took mine to the parts store and they said they matched up to some 12 bolt bearings they had. 2 years later and all is still well.

 

when i changed mine
my first readings averaged .0055
thru 5 readings
and when I put in the Eaton with the same shims
as stock
I hit .0055 straight up 4 times

good enough for me




I would have some shims though and double check everything
just to be sure

 

Then you are one of the lucky ones, but you did check before and after and that is what tells the story, to do the swap and not check backlash is a mistake. Usually backlash runs from .008 to .012 but since yours was running with .0055 backlash then you did fine.