Any suggestions on whose rebuild kit for a s42 to use? I see steel and brass synchros. Wasn't sure which was better. Ebay kit or from a supply house?
THanks

 

I've bought stuff from here before. They don't really sell a "kit", but they will put together the parts you need.

http://www.tbtrans.com/ford_zf_5_speed_transmission.htm

 

There is also Midwest Trans. I've heard good things about them, but never ordered there before.

 

I've been looking at midwest. Just want to make sure I get good synchros.

 

I've heard good things about Midwest also.

 

I don't think Midwest offers "steel" synchronizers for the zf.
So that should answer your question enough.

 

Are steel synchros the recommended way to go?

 

According to Midwest, steel is the OE. Is that the best/way to go? I really don't know, but you usually can't go wrong with OE.

Synchronizer Kit OE Steel Syncro's

 

http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_cata...build_kit.html I have two trans rebuilt with the parts bought from here. No issues thus far from them.

 

I must have been thinking of something else. Go figure.
Steel is the way you wanna go.

 

Ordered a kit thru midwest. Thanks for the input.

 

I have called Mid West and a couple of other suppliers mentioned. THE ONLY ONE that sells non Chinese kits is General Truck in Chicago. They order all their stuff directly from ZF in Germany. It costs more, but it won't fail in a year.

 

Good info! Reps sent

 

Hey guys, I just wanted to share what I found while searching around for quality rebuild kits for my trans. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to rebuild it again in a year or so--as is common when Chinese bearings are used.

Let me say that I've checked/called most, if not all, of the sites and stores listed in this thread, and several others.

Bottom line: If a company doesn't write right on its home page where the parts are made, that info is absent for a reason. Almost all of the time it means 'made in China, but the company is trying to hide the info in an effort to keep prices, and therefore profits, up.

If a site doesn't say right up front where the parts are made--think China.

Oh, and when you call and ask, some co's get pissed that you discovered their game.

Examples of this: Summit Racing, with their name Carburetors.

DUI distributors (Performance Distributors)

And many others. Good Luck. As forum members we should share our info and make sure we get the good parts.

 

After all the searching, I found one more supplier who lists the bearings in his kits as Koyo, which are good, from what I've read, and made in Japan. They do not, however, list who makes their needle bearings. At this point, the diff is a couple of hundred bucks from maybe Koyo bearings, to top of the line ZF made kit and bearings. Heck, give me the ZF stuff. On a dark cold night, when I'm cruising a mountain road, with my kids asleep on the seat, I'll feel real good about the ZF bearings. I'm done.

Oh, here is the site with kits with the Koyo bearings for less: MANUAL / STANDARD PARTS & REBUILD KITS - ZF MANUAL TRANSMISSION - S5-42 - Page 1 - The American Powertrain Warehouse

One thing I should point out right up front: This site I linked to sells synchro kits for ... iirc, $80. The ZF synhro kit is $250. Knowing it is the synchro's that usually fade first, you decide.