Purney,
If it didn't howl, I would leave it alone. That ball bearing has to have clearance to operate, and when you vector (?) that to the end of the long input shaft, it will probably show up as a small amount of wiggle.
If you are still unsure, price the bearing and compare it to the amount of labor and mashed knuckles it took to remove the tranny...if the bearing price is cheaper than the peace of mind, stick a new one in.
That's my two cent take on the situation!
Stuart
