Transmission Rebuild Pics, do these pics make you want to DIY when it comes time?

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

Any more updates to this thread since it's one of the best on the board?

Thanks, but I have little to report these days =)

...and I don't plan on touching a transmission for a long time

[X5 Meister]

I don't follow. What happened?

Originally Posted by swissfrank

Thanks, but I have little to report these days =)

...and I don't plan on touching a transmission for a long time

[CTSportX5]

Pretty sure he is implying all things are well with the rebuild and no signs of any problems..

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by CTSportX5

Pretty sure he is implying all things are well with the rebuild and no signs of any problems..

Correct =)

[X5 Meister]

[Sergei-e]

Hello everyone,

I want to thank everyone for a lot of helpful information that I found here. Swissfrank, thank you, in particular, for inspiring me to tackle my X5’s transmission rebuild. Your own example, step-by-step explanation and the whole story from the very beginning left nothing for me but just do it.
I have come across this forum after my truck’s transmission started slipping in reverse this spring and I was browsing web looking for some magic cure. Reading this thread I had quickly realized there is none but hard work to pull the transmission out and fix it. Well, I used some remedy that stretched my drive through the summer – 20K – enjoying swimming and kayaking. First think I had done was changing this famous lifetime fluid in my transmission. I guess at that point its lifetime span has come to an end. Changing the filter and fluid improved driving in reverse somehow (could do it on a horizontal surface now) but I needed more. Again and again I had been reading Swissfrank’s post, finally was internally ready to tackle the job myself, but not yet and not in the summer. So I took a chance (nothing to lose) and added a bottle of LUCAS transmission antislip into the tranny. It worked! I could drive on minor uphill, grass, and sand … and got used to it until have been reminded during one camping venture when my front wheel got in a minor trench (4-6 inches deep) and the only way out was in reverse. The tranny pulled it out but started slipping again. After some time, however, it magically cured itself once again until in late October I decided to spray rear suspension components in preparation for winter drive and reared onto the inspection ramps …with parking brake on. That is when my transmission gave up completely – nothing but wining in reverse. Perfect time to fix it! So I prepared the overhaul kit, fluid, filter, purchased transmission jack in Princess Auto, and pulled the transmission out. When I took it apart, the problem was exactly the same as Swissfrank described in his case - F clutch snap ring gave away, flat spring broke, and the piston was destroyed. All the rest was like new. Having transmission apart and overhaul kit purchased I have replaced all of the o-rings, friction plates, and leaking torque converter seal. Putting together was, as they say, in reverse order. I had no problems with installation either – matter of aligning the transmission bell housing with the engine. There is, however, the second part of this story which I wrote about at Land Rover UK Forums: http://forum.landrovernet.com/showthread.php/189983-ZF-5HP24-teardown. But after all this the truck is back on the road, smoothly shifting gears and fearlessly driving not only forward but also in reverse.

Swissfrank, once again, I thank you for inspiring me to follow your example in rebuilding the transmission. It is all over now and I do not regret any single moment about doing it. It is not only saving the money but all the valuable experience and great feeling of a big accomplishment.

Some pictures are attached.

[m5james]

Sergei, AWESOME post and results. I'm going to be joining the RR forums so I can read and maybe even reply on that thread as needed so I can rebuild an extra 5HP24 I've got sitting in my garage.

While Bemble states he's no master mechanic and only does this on the side, I'd like to pry the mans ear in regards to his opinions to the lifetime fluid and see if they match up with mine...that's it's complete BS and needs to be changed on regular intervals like I have for myself and customers. I also like that he confirms what I've always believed (contrary to what others have said here) in that the transmission will in fact adapt to the changing in fluid pressure, etc etc when refreshed. That has been something debated on here as well, w/ people stating that doing fluid changes will cause the transmission to act different, loosening deposits (which wouldn't happen had they been changed regularly), causing accelerated failures, etc...which I've found to be completely untrue.

Awesome post...I'm looking forward to tearing into this trans sooner than later now!

[Sergei-e]

Originally Posted by m5james

Sergei, AWESOME post and results. I'm going to be joining the RR forums so I can read and maybe even reply on that thread as needed so I can rebuild an extra 5HP24 I've got sitting in my garage.

While Bemble states he's no master mechanic and only does this on the side, I'd like to pry the mans ear in regards to his opinions to the lifetime fluid and see if they match up with mine...that's it's complete BS and needs to be changed on regular intervals like I have for myself and customers. I also like that he confirms what I've always believed (contrary to what others have said here) in that the transmission will in fact adapt to the changing in fluid pressure, etc etc when refreshed. That has been something debated on here as well, w/ people stating that doing fluid changes will cause the transmission to act different, loosening deposits (which wouldn't happen had they been changed regularly), causing accelerated failures, etc...which I've found to be completely untrue.

Awesome post...I'm looking forward to tearing into this trans sooner than later now!

Hi m5james,

Thank you for the feedback. Regarding the transmission fluid I can tell you my experience. During this summer my transmission saw it all: original “lifetime” (of what?) fluid being replaced in spring by Mobil Super Multi Vechile ATF, actually diluted by it since I have not purged the system but drained 4 litres or so from the oil pan and replaced it with Mobil Super Multi Vechile ATF. I have done it twice, second time adding 1 litre of Lucas Transmission Antislip – go figure out what the mixture was there at that point. Well, the truck was driving better than ever. Even after the rebuild I filled the transmission with the same Mobil Super Multi Vechile ATF planning on changing it (read – diluting with new) every year which takes not more than an hour. The reason of using alternative is the price. Our dealer quoted for me $38.00/litre. The Mobil Super Multi Vechile ATF in local Store across the road is $29.99 for a 5 litres jar readily available of the shelf.
Here the reply from Esso representative who I had contacted earlier regarding a current equivalent of LT71141:

Hello,
What you are looking for is Mobil Super Multi Vechile ATF. This product is available at any Esso service station so I would go to one to avoid shipping charges from us. OK?
Mark Nebel
Chalmers Esso Fuels
PO Box 280, 79 Mountainview Road N.,
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4Y5
PHONE 905-877-5104 1-800-268-0194
FAX 905-877-5262
www.chalmersfuels.ca
2001, BMW, X5. Transmission ZF 5HP24.
Sergei.
----- Original Message -----
Hello,
Is this a stock transmission and if so what is the year, make and model of the vehicle?
Thanks,
Mark Nebel
Chalmers Esso Fuels
PO Box 280, 79 Mountainview Road N.,
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 4Y5
PHONE 905-877-5104 1-800-268-0194
FAX 905-877-5262
www.chalmersfuels.ca
----- Original Message -----
Subject: RFQ
Hi,
I am looking for Transmission Fluid for my ZF 5HP24 automatic transmission. The factory recommended product is Esso/Mobil LT71141.
Would you be able to quote on price and delivery of this product.?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by m5james

While Bemble states he's no master mechanic and only does this on the side, I'd like to pry the mans ear in regards to his opinions to the lifetime fluid and see if they match up with mine...that's it's complete BS and needs to be changed on regular intervals

Interesting thread by Bremble. Good post by Sergei-e as well.

Bremble notes in his thread that he has seen this particular failure mode many times on 5hp24 transmissions; a failed o-ring on the B clutch drum. When you communicate with him, you should ask his opinion on whether fluid changes impact the life of those o-rings.

Actually, given that both swissfrank's and sergei-e's transmissions failed due to a single snap ring breaking, you could also ask his opinion on whether changing the transmission fluid extends the life of those snap rings.

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by Sergei-e

Hello everyone,

I want to thank everyone for a lot of helpful information that I found here. Swissfrank, thank you, in particular, for inspiring me to tackle my X5’s transmission rebuild.....
<snip>
......... Swissfrank, once again, I thank you for inspiring me to follow your example in rebuilding the transmission. It is all over now and I do not regret any single moment about doing it. It is not only saving the money but all the valuable experience and great feeling of a big accomplishment.

Thanks for the Kudos Sergei! And great work on a job well done, thank you for continuing to document you success for others to read and enjoy.

Not only did you probably save some money, but you also know that the transmission was repaired by someone that gives a damn

Please continue to be an active member, and let us know how great it goes!

I'm very glad that my small efforts to inspire someone finally paid off!

Frank


PS which tool did you use to compress the retaining springs when changing the O rings on the clutch pistons?