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I am trying to wrap up my RAM conversion and installed the Z51Doc ZF transmission shim kit.
wow - the retainer clip is strong. Used 4 different C-clip plyers. New shim installed; however, I cannot get the clip to fully seat like it was before. It’s in the groove but not quite fully seated. I’ve tapped on it with a cheap set of drifts that are soft (do not have brass) and it went a little deeper.
For those that have completed this anti rattle shim install, is this acceptable? I am nervous about really banging on this a lot.
See below and after pics.
Thank you As it was with original shim Shim installed
I agree with you, that C clip is not fully seated.
I recommend you tap inward lightly near the points at the end of the clip where it's seated, then work your way up to the center of the clip away from the ends. It's clear that the ends are seated well, if you work from those ends tapping up towards the center top it should move into position easier than if you start up top center. Maybe wick some light oil into the clip where you're tapping it first, capillary action should help it lubricate the clip into place with vibration.
No success - removed everything, flipped the shim and clip 180 and same. Used oil and tapped.
Going back with original shim and I’ll just live with the rattle.
If it makes you feel any better...I installed the shim and the freaking thing rattles like it's coming apart.
Anyway, I too struggled getting the clip off and getting it back on, though not as bad as you have.
I used a mini angled pry bar and gently nudges the clip along the outer edge of the shaft, bingo, it easily slid in a little more.
I looked back at pictures and used some marks on the shaft ring as reference marks. The snap ring holes are within a few mm of original. I buttoned it up as to me it’s 99% seated. I do not foresee it popping out of the groove.
Now on to the RAM aspect of those shims for the throwout bearing.
I was gonna sell it and look for something faster but now with all this work on yet another clutch, I plan to enjoy it for what it is for a while.
As for this effort, I don’t see this as being an hour effort. I started this before Thanksgiving. Most of my delays was finding snap ring plyers that held up to the task.
I recommend getting heavy duty snap ring plyers. Ones from HF don’t work, even their heavy duty unit. I broke two, and bent and snapped the pins on another that was advertised as Heavy Duty. Finally scored a plyer that worked. The snap ring is very heavy duty. The first time it came out, it went flying across the yard. Luckily it was located. Next time I had old towels draped around it.
Thank you for the replies, these helped.
✅ finished
Had done the shim kit as well, it silenced the "buzzing" in sixth gear and overall quieter.
The rattle at idle is occasionally evident, that is governed by engine smoothness especially ignition related.
Yes I had to seat the retainer clip with more force than I would have liked, I used a large socket.
Then I used a large flat screwdriver and small hammer, 😉 to gently tap the ID of retainer out into housing slot to ensure the retainer clip was securely into the recess.
Am very happy I did spend the time to double & triple check this, look at some online YouTube videos of these gearbox rebuilds. You can see professional gearbox re-builders, they are not shy to seat the retainer with a lot of force.... Experience makes these things easy, however when its our baby we can be too cautious ...
ZF Shim Kit installation
