512TR Gearbox problem.

Very informative video. Great if you are doing a 9" Ford or a Tundra. Shame a Testarossa isn't that easy. Although I didn't like the way you have to tap the shims down into place. Clearly not as finicky in setup as a Ferrari. Imagine trying to get it perfect and tapping in a 0.015mm shim. You won't tap that into place. At least with our cars you can lay things carefully under the bearing shell and take the time to get it perfect.

 

I think he is not doing it the proper way. I don't know for Toyota but for other diff with pressed in shims I've done you normaly need a tool that stretches the housing. You then install the shims and release the housing.

 

theoretically the video is not bad. so a non mechanic knows how it could work.

but not really useable for a TR to adjust here it is much more difficult

 

I believe if you are just replacing the diff in the TR and not the(crown wheel) ring & pinion. That you would just shim for ring gear back lash and diff. pre-load. Correct me if wrong. I plan to replace my diff. soon.


Ago

 

best to check the preload is to put in the diff without crown. so you can check exactly the preload. and when this is adjusted you put on the crown and check and adjust then the back lash.

goodluck

it is not magic to do this but it takes some time and needs shims

 

Romano
Good idea, This is not my 1st gearbox or diff, but my first Ferrari.


Ago

 

and also you can sell this original diff to someone who does not know the diff-problems as long as it is not broken.
there are more than one who don´t know about those problems and also don´t know this forum here

I also have not known before I joined this forum. I was thinking that my diff was broken because of so much horsepower with 2 turbochargers. but now I know more
thanks to this forum here

 

The latest diff is now is fitted with the upgraded "silent slip" plates as well



P

 

Hi Mel, we have an upgrade to the Testarossa diff that includes silent diff plates so that there is no "clunk" sounds any more with the limited slip plates.

Please feel free to return to factory and have yours upgraded for free.

Phil

 

I am going to buy a 512TR (or possibly an F512M) in the next couple of months, most probably with around 60.000Km (about 40.000 miles).

I was speaking yesterday with a TR owner who said that he never used full throttle in 1st or 2nd gears, only flooring it in 3rd and upwards. He said this was due to 1st and 2nd gears being underdesigned.

So I went looking on the Internet and found this interesting and alarming thread. My conclusion was that 1st and 2nd are indeed fragile and so is the diff.

I felt disheartened and felt like calling it off and buying a less "risky" car. I would never jerk the car violently off the line (never mind doing a burnout!), but not using full throttle in 2nd gear would be very frustrating to me, especially on a far with such long gearing (195 mph on 5 gears).

But just to make sure, I phoned my two Ferrari specialist garages.
- One said that the TR gearbox is fine and they have never had to fix one (they have maintained many TR's).
- The other said that the gearbox is fine but the LSD sometimes breaks (non catastrophically), costing approx 10K€ ($14K) to fix.
- Both said the TR was an inherently dependable car

I felt better about this.

So, my conclusions from all this would be:
- The gearbox / diff issues are rare and are not reason enough to steer clear of the model
- I can use full throttle in 2nd (and even 1st, so long as a do a gently rolling start)
- The gears (crown & pignon) should really be fine
- Worst case should probably be a 10K€ invoice for a new diff (with labor)
- Buying a very well cared for car lowers the risk, as does lower mileage
- I should change the gearbox oil more often than I otherwise would have
- I should have the gearbox opened and diff removed for inspection next time the engine is out (does that add many hours of labor?)

Couple of other questions:
- Does the 512M has a stronger gearbox and/or diff than the 512TR?
- Do later 512TR's (1994) have better diffs than earlier 512TR's (1992)

What is the prussian blue stuff used to test gears? I guess you put it on one gear, mesh them together and check that the blue appears spread evenly on the other gear, right?

Thanks,

 

here are more than one threads of broken diffs. so you may read a little and you will find when they changed.
the diff from the later 512TR or even the M is more reliable.
the "never full trottle" in 1st and 2nd may be not bad for the car, but I never had a gearbox with problems in 1st or 2nd. only in 4th and in reverse. the reverse because the gear is always rotating but has no extra lube like all the other gears.
10k € I think would be not enaugh if the diff housing is broken and because of this also the CP. then you need more to the 15k to 20k € with labor.
I still have here a good used CP with matching numbers and also one with not matching numbers. if anyone interested please send a PM.

 

Sure, sorry.
I am in France, sharing my time between Paris and Provence where the 512 will be kept.
I am considering cars anywhere in western Europe.

 

Here is a nice one:

Ferrari Testarossa 512 TR m. ABS | DLS Automobile

 

Yes indeed, I've got my eye on that one...

Only problem is it's red and I'd prefer black, if I can find one... (they're nearly all red).
But if I don't find a decent black one, then I'm prepared to buy red...

Tell me, apart from the VERY good photographs and the 94' year, what makes you say it's a "nice" one? Do you know something about it?

I'm considering this black one in Switzerland:
Car details - Elite Garage AG
The photos are poor and the steering wheel is nasty (but it does come with the original) and those aftermarket wing badges need to come off too, but it might be nice in the metal.

I intend to take a (long) day to go and view both these cars.

Thanks,

 

I think that this is a german car because of the rear license plate holder

when I see the driver seat I think that those mileage with only 28200 can not be true.

 

Agreed about the driver's seat. Waiting to hear about the service history (stamps + bills) to corroborate the mileage. Maybe the driver was a fat heavy guy...

 

I didn´t know the car in person but i know the seller and he is a really good one!

And i trust him all the way he describe a car.

The black one at Elite i had on my list too but i heard to much storys about the dealer
and i didn´t get any response on my e-mail.

And you are right, i feel 95% are red, some yellow and then a small group black, white and some rarer colours.

I´m not a big red fan but the 512 TR in red is a beauty!

If i can help with the 512 TR at DLS please give me an info.

Greetings Christian