As a new owner I was wondering what ZF Safety wiring is all about and how can I tell if its been done on my car?pitt_tech@optusnet.com.au
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one of the weaknesses in the ZF is the ring gear bolts have a tendency to loosen over time. If one actually falls out and starts kicking around the inside of the transmission, Bad Things could happen very quickly.
Downunder,
If you post transaxle topics under the 'ZF' category, you may get a faster response. LLyod Butfoy of RBT is the moderator there, and the man to ask!
Michael
If you post transaxle topics under the 'ZF' category, you may get a faster response. LLyod Butfoy of RBT is the moderator there, and the man to ask!
Michael
If you take off the inspection plate on the bottom of the transaxle you will see the ring gear bolts. You may want to drain the oil first.
quote:Originally posted by cab:
If you take off the inspection plate on the bottom of the transaxle you will see the ring gear bolts. You may want to drain the oil first.
Cab, You are a very funny person!!! That only works if you take the ZF out of the car first.
Mike
quote:Originally posted by cab:
If you take off the inspection plate on the bottom of the transaxle you will see the ring gear bolts. You may want to drain the oil first.
Not so fast, Grasshopper. Wise man takes ZF out, fool cuts frame and supports to remove cover.
Funny shit, you guys crack me up. 
Please send pic's if you cut the frame.I have to see that.
Please send pic's if you cut the frame.I have to see that.
You have to take the ZF out of the car. There are 2 tensioned long bolts that run along the bottom of the bottom cover. While you can get the nuts off the bolts, you can't remove the bolts as because they are too long and the frame rails get in the way of pulling them out.
Once the ZF is out, drain it, flip it over and take the bottom plate off and see if it's been done.
The object of the safety wiring is to keep the ring gear bolts from coming loose and sheering off. If this happens, Not only do you have bolt heads flying around inside your gearbox but you could also snap them all and have your ring gear spin free as well and this will be very disastrous to just about everything including your wallet.
The bolts are a special type that have holes drilled through the bolt heads. The safety wire is wound through one bolt to the next. The object of safety wiring is to keep the bolts tight. The 2 wired together cannot loosen since they are wound opposite of each other. If one tried to loosen, it tightens up the other one and vice versa. They become locked in position with each other.
Once the ZF is out, drain it, flip it over and take the bottom plate off and see if it's been done.
The object of the safety wiring is to keep the ring gear bolts from coming loose and sheering off. If this happens, Not only do you have bolt heads flying around inside your gearbox but you could also snap them all and have your ring gear spin free as well and this will be very disastrous to just about everything including your wallet.
The bolts are a special type that have holes drilled through the bolt heads. The safety wire is wound through one bolt to the next. The object of safety wiring is to keep the bolts tight. The 2 wired together cannot loosen since they are wound opposite of each other. If one tried to loosen, it tightens up the other one and vice versa. They become locked in position with each other.
quote:Originally posted by Downunder:
As a new owner I was wondering what ZF Safety wiring is all about and how can I tell if its been done on my car?pitt_tech@optusnet.com.au
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Jack DeRyke has mentioned using a very small lightbulb and feeding it through a bolt hole to inspect the ring gear. If you're interested, I believe the write up was on the DeTomaso forum and I can try to dig it up. This would not require removal of the ZF.
Could you email the instructions direct.Thank you in advance.
labossbob@yahoo.com
labossbob@yahoo.com
Would you really trust the inspection of a very expensive and important part of you car through a bolt hole with a tiny light ?
quote:Originally posted by Husker:
Jack DeRyke has mentioned using a very small lightbulb and feeding it through a bolt hole to inspect the ring gear. If you're interested, I believe the write up was on the DeTomaso forum and I can try to dig it up. This would not require removal of the ZF.