Reply to "Glass Bead Blasting ZF Case"

As always, the desired look is a matter taste and needs to compliment the rest you have going on. Other than the remarks I made in the previous thread you referenced, IMO polished cases are the easiest to clean and maintain in the long run. They wipe down easily. Some of the painted or powder coated cases do as well but they inevitably age, discolor, flake etc, and then you have a bigger job to strip it before you get back to the point you're at now.

If you are going to bead blast your ZF while it is completely assembled, of course plug the vent tube, but also take care when you blast around the drive yokes. The seals are designed to keep oil in but not necessarily high velocity sand out.

It's been years now but I blasted my zf while I had the engine out and was doing some general freshening. I packed a piece of clear plastic tube in front of the seal before I blasted. If you have already blasted it I'd recommend you take a close look and dig out any sand that may have collected between/around the seal and drive yoke shaft so it doesn't abraid the surface. I also replaced some hardware, masked off the side plates and end cap and gave them the rattle can treatment which has held up amazingly well.

Take care,
Kelly