My 98 Ranger 2.5 has 222 thousand miles on it with the same hydraulic TO bearing, one of the guys that works at the shop has a 94 2.3 with 336K miles and Big G Auto Parts in Princeton, Texas has a 98 Ranger 2.5 parts delivery truck with over 400K on it with the same bearing. I guess if changing one out every 300 thousand miles or so bugs you then you shouldn't use one.
