ZF6 input seal and pilot bearing

Kevin 007

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Wanting to change the input seal on a high mileage 1999 ZF6, while I have it out. Any tricks to it? Never done one on a ZF6 before.

And what's the latest on pilot bearing upgrades? Is there a go-to pilot bearing upgrade out there?
 

Black dawg

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Changing that seal is like changing any other shaft seal. No big deal.

Pretty weird though that every zf6 that I have had out, that seal was leaking....
 

Kevin 007

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Im assuming the seal can be removed and a new one installed, from the front.. without disassembly of the trans, correct?
 

atomic44

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I don't know what a zf6 is but I just put a clutch in my 1990 f350 with a 5 speed. Bought a seal but looked like I would have to take the trans apart and put it in from the inside. So I didn't. Thought it strange. I am old school, gear head and put in a lot of seals.
WILL
 

Rdnck84_03

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Zf5 can be replaced externally. I don't install the input seal when I rebuild one until after I have the case bolted back together to avoid damage putting the case together.

James
 

Black dawg

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Zf5 can be replaced externally. I don't install the input seal when I rebuild one until after I have the case bolted back together to avoid damage putting the case together.

James
Only the later ones with the bolt on on throwout bearing tube are that way. The rest of them are replaced from inside the case.
 

Rdnck84_03

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Only the later ones with the bolt on on throwout bearing tube are that way. The rest of them are replaced from inside the case.
Must have only been the first couple years. The earliest one that I know for sure i did, it on was an 89 zf5-s42 in an 89 f250 with a 351w. I have done a 92ish 460 and a 95 and 97 powerstroke and all of them had the removable input sleeve.

James
 

Black dawg

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Must have only been the first couple years. The earliest one that I know for sure i did, it on was an 89 zf5-s42 in an 89 f250 with a 351w. I have done a 92ish 460 and a 95 and 97 powerstroke and all of them had the removable input sleeve.

James
Had to look it up, looks like maybe 95+came with the bolt on tube. Crazy that only 2 or 3 of them I have been into are that way. Seen many without the bolt in tube. Have 3 sitting here (89,91, and 96) the 96 has the externally replaceable seal.
 

miked

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My 1990 zf5 s42 does not have the bolt on tube. My 1996 zf5 s47 has the bolt on tube. I allways thought the bolt on version was a redesign when the s47 transmission came out.
 

Rdnck84_03

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There may be something to that. My known older one was a small block version so the tube and the slave cylinder were a combined assembly that bolted on. Possible the heavy duty versions i have been into had been replaced with the updated versions. Once I figured out that the all took the same rebuild kit I stopped looking at the tags.

James
 

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