Reply to "ZF"

Never used brass substitutes, but since they are used in virtually every tranny except the ZF and the Porsche transaxles, they ought to work.... for a while. The problem is, as the stock steel 'balk-ring' or as we call them, 'sychro-rings' wear, they also wear the mating steel cone integral with the individual gears. So by the time a ring is worn out, so is the matching gear-cone. The true fix is to replace both at the same time- for BIG bucks. SEveral vendors have spent many hours & bucks trying to plate, weld or otherwise build up worn gear-cones, but notjhing works for very long. Adding a new stock ring to a worn gear only works for a short while, then it too is worn beyond specs and grinding returns. Apparently someone has made up some undersized brass rings that should work OK with a worn gear-cone. Just don't expect another 32 years of service from the brass goodies- it won't happen. But if they're cheap enough, this may be the only fix many can afford.