I'm trying to obtain an easy to find, "typical auto parts store" gear oil that will work well in the ZF. What is suggested? How many quarts?
My local store has a Penzoil 80w-90-GL5, will that work?
Thanks, Greg
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Castrol Hypoy C SAE 80W-90 limited slip gear oil works for me. When the ZF is completely drained it should take about 7 1/2 US pints to refill
I don't know about your area, but my local Walmart sells Castrol Hypoy C 80W90 at a great price, and they're almost always open.
Be aware that the ZF uses clutch-plate-type limited-slips on both axles in the differential. Thse are generically known as 'positraction' limited-slip differentials. A characteristic of posi-diffs is jerking going around tight corners under power, especially noticable in the wet. Its caused by a stick-slip reaction to the different axle speeds. The jerking is fixed by using 80W90 'posi-type' rear end lube which is usually the same price as non-posi-lubes. If you need it, it makes driving more pleasant and may lessen wear; if you don't, it does no harm in a ZF.
I use Amsoil Racing 80wt and I felt a positive difference in the shifting quality. Amsoil is more expensive but rebiulding a $16,000.00 Transaxle is more expensive.
$16,000 ? Is that what a ZF is to rebuild? I better go easy on mine, and change the lube. I just got the car and have no idea what's in it now.
Thats a 'reasonable' estimate, sort of; I recently saw a bill for a completely rebuilt by RBT ZF, with the cases polished & a non-stock ring & pinion ratio installed, at $11,225 including shipping. This's one huge reason I don't do much experimentation with non-ZF stuff, nor allow just anyone who owns a set of wrenches to work on my ZF. If I was independently wealthy, maybe....
What is real ZF stuff and what is non ZF stuff.
Original ZF stuff is only stuff, that is produced by ZF Germany.All original ZF stuff is new old stock.Many Vendors in the US and in Europe have a huge stock of original parts.I can still buy original parts at my local BMW dealer and at my local ZF shop here in Hamburg Germany All other stuff incl.RBT manufactured parts are non-ZF parts.RBT parts are build under permission of ZF.That's it. I beleave, that RBT parts are produced under high standarts as ZF parts, but there are others on the market, that can do the same or maybe better.ZF parts where produced in the 70's. Todays material and mashining might be better than the old parts.Lloyd Butfoy is a very good mechanic on those boxes, but there are others that can do it as well.So RBT transmissions is not the God. All your Pantera vendors do ZF work and i have never heard a bad word about there service.We do our boxes here in Germany and all our cars still drive.So everybody should go to there favorite mechanic.
Just my 2 �urocents
Original ZF stuff is only stuff, that is produced by ZF Germany.All original ZF stuff is new old stock.Many Vendors in the US and in Europe have a huge stock of original parts.I can still buy original parts at my local BMW dealer and at my local ZF shop here in Hamburg Germany All other stuff incl.RBT manufactured parts are non-ZF parts.RBT parts are build under permission of ZF.That's it. I beleave, that RBT parts are produced under high standarts as ZF parts, but there are others on the market, that can do the same or maybe better.ZF parts where produced in the 70's. Todays material and mashining might be better than the old parts.Lloyd Butfoy is a very good mechanic on those boxes, but there are others that can do it as well.So RBT transmissions is not the God. All your Pantera vendors do ZF work and i have never heard a bad word about there service.We do our boxes here in Germany and all our cars still drive.So everybody should go to there favorite mechanic.
Just my 2 �urocents
quote:
Originally posted by jack deryke:
[qb] Thats a 'reasonable' estimate, sort of; I recently saw a bill for a completely rebuilt by RBT ZF, with the cases polished & a non-stock ring & pinion ratio installed, at $11,225 including shipping. This's one huge reason I don't do much experimentation with non-ZF stuff, nor allow just anyone who owns a set of wrenches to work on my ZF. If I was independently wealthy, maybe.... [/qb]