can anyone describe to me what noises or engine reactions occur when an un safty wired zf gives
thanks to all in advance
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BAD noises :-)
Seriously, the ten stock bolts have a tendency to back themselves out. If you are very lucky, when they back out enough to hit the inside of the case, they may just snap off and fall to the bottom of the case. One PCNC member actually fished out all ten bolt heads, and several pieces of bolt threads, after one fell out when he pulled the drain plug to change gear oil! He said the shifting was fine and there was no noise. OR the snapped off head can wedge in the gears, lock the tranny, and shatter the case and who knows what else. I infer you have a noise? Maybe a bolt has backed out just enough to hit on rotation but not get fully whacked and snapped off? I suggest you find a 17mm hex head socket (Used for VW drain plugs and often found at Kragen or such) or allen wrench, remove the drain plug on the bottom and see what you can find. Use a bent wire to fish around for pieces. Do this before driving the car again. You could be right on the verge of a major problem. That ZF is the most expensive piece of the car when it comes to replacement. Keep us posted.
Larry
Seriously, the ten stock bolts have a tendency to back themselves out. If you are very lucky, when they back out enough to hit the inside of the case, they may just snap off and fall to the bottom of the case. One PCNC member actually fished out all ten bolt heads, and several pieces of bolt threads, after one fell out when he pulled the drain plug to change gear oil! He said the shifting was fine and there was no noise. OR the snapped off head can wedge in the gears, lock the tranny, and shatter the case and who knows what else. I infer you have a noise? Maybe a bolt has backed out just enough to hit on rotation but not get fully whacked and snapped off? I suggest you find a 17mm hex head socket (Used for VW drain plugs and often found at Kragen or such) or allen wrench, remove the drain plug on the bottom and see what you can find. Use a bent wire to fish around for pieces. Do this before driving the car again. You could be right on the verge of a major problem. That ZF is the most expensive piece of the car when it comes to replacement. Keep us posted.
Larry
If the 'funny noise" only occurs in a curve, very carefully check all your u-joints first. This will require some strength and jacking the thing up so you can get under & twist the half-shafts. A friend was recently advised he had broken ring-gear bolts. After $1500 worth of teardown & analysis by RBT Transmissions, I took a ride with hime and determined that he had an almost-blown outer u-joint- a $30 part. Incidently, the symptoms are similar in both defects.