Intermediate Shaft Gear Contacting Case

[MyFlat6]

Novice motor builder here. 2.4 case. I am dry fitting the oil pump and intermediate shaft to the case and am finding that the gear is making slight contact with the case when turned. I removed and reinstalled a few times (turning the oil pump shaft to different splines) and thought I had gotten it to spin freely, only to have the issue again when tightening the nuts on the oil pump. I am using new bearings and the same intermediate shaft assembly that was removed for the rebuild. Case gone thru by Ollie’s. Anyone have this issue before?

Here is a photo of the area in the case where the gear is making contact. It is the shiny area.

[MyFlat6]

I removed the pump and tube and just spun the gear assembly by itself sitting in the bearings and it makes contact. I also tested it in the other case half and it spun more freely in that side and no contact. It seems like I could have a defective bearing as it doesn’t seem to want sit correctly across those two bearings - particularly the outside thrust bearing as it seems ‘tight’ in there when rocking back and forth and comparing this to other case half.

[MyFlat6]

Looks like I confirmed the bearing. I traded both bearings from the other case half and it now spins more freely and no contact. I noticed the thrust bearing from the other side was easier to remove and fit. Glyco bearings - read concerns with Glyco and these are the only bearings I went with Glyco for my build.