Reply to "Pinion Question"

Peter,

This is a prime example of why you should never buy a ZF transaxle unless you've had it checked out by someone who's qualified to offer an opinion as to its condition. That is, unless the potential cost of a major repair was factored into the price or you're willing to take the risk.

Mind you, if it was sold to you as a newly rebuilt ZF, the question that begs to be asked is, in the course of a normal rebuild, should the ring and pinion have been replaced? Was the rebuilder qualified to work on a ZF? If the pinion gear looks like that, what other expensive parts might not have been replaced, that should have been.

Do you have a bill of sale or any written documentation that represents the condition of this ZF as better than what it is? I gather from the tone of your posting that you think you were lied to about the condition prior to purchase.