Thread: Discovery 2 Td5 ZF FLEXPLATE

Originally Posted by onebob

I have to replace my rear main seal and because the auto transmission has to come out to gain access I thought it prudent to use the opportunity to place the flex plate. I’ve been researching and one online parts seller says on his website that the newer genuine LR flexplates are “crap” and that they will damage the transmission pump and they are recommending an Ashcroft flexplate.

Is this “advice” based on any solid evidence or is blatant upselling... ?

Can't comment on D2, but damage to the trans pump is usually done by improper engagement when mating the 'ears' on the shaft of the torque convertor (TC) to the auto trans.

The TC is bolted to the flexplate, so if the flexplate is 'suss' it could affect the pump I suppose. Pump failures are classified as catastrophic, usually caused by the above reason at installation.

In my case the auto (Ford C9) was stood on end and the custom TC was placed on top and moved around to get the 'ears' to engage with the pump. You can feel when it does.

Then the whole thing was turned horizontal, bellhousing adaptor bolted to 350 adaptor and TC bolted to flexplate. About 2mm of play between TC and pump. All good.

DL

Just about every Landrover parts seller you talk too will tell 'ya that the latest versions of standard flex plates crack very easily.

I think they're more worried about warranty returns when they do crack.
is it an 'upsell'? .. I think the fact that they have the link directly to Ashcrofts where you could purchase directly from there would seem to indicate that it's less of an upsell, and more of a warning not to purchase the less quality new type.

If I were this seller tho, I'd do it differently and simply not sell the inferior new product at all, simply having the warning not to use one, and either links to alternatives, or as a retailer locate some fabrication place to manufacture higher quality alternatives.

When bro did his torque converter a while back, while it was all apart we thought it prudent to replace the flex plate with a more heavy duty version for no other reason than it was a good opportunity to do so.

Can't remember the exact differences(in sizes) but the heavier flex plate was approx twice the thickness. His was bought from LRA(in Thomastown), and from memory they had their own made up locally and not Ashcrofts imports.

V8 flex plates also commonly crack, but from my reading up on the issue those crack around and nearer the crank bolt area(ie. central section of the plate itself).

The TD5 versions tend to crack at the torque converter bolt holes, of which there are only 3, as it's a triangular shape.

i previously posted this oil pump failures. installation error.
Importance of fitting Torque convertor correctly.

on the flex plate topic, l haven't stocked genuine flex plates for over 12 months.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

i previously posted this oil pump failures. installation error.
Importance of fitting Torque convertor correctly.

on the flex plate topic, l have stocked genuine flex plates for over 12 months.

.....
‘tis fair to say that if Mario and Heather are holding stock of a particular part it’s because it is not causing them grief from constant warranty claims

Originally Posted by onebob

.....
‘tis fair to say that if Mario and Heather are holding stock of a particular part it’s because it is not causing them grief from constant warranty claims

typo Rob, I meant I haven't stocked them.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

typo Rob, I meant I haven't stocked them.

That’s right! ....I now recall my brother needed one last year you advised that you no longer hold them in stock. My 67 year old BRAIN is running low on RAM

FWIW I bought an Ashcroft HD flex plate recently as I know the stock one will crack.

I believe AB Automatics in Melbourne stock an HD flex plate, too.

Having recently had the drive plate fail on my 300 tdi, research led me to the fact that Td5 ones are also known to fail.

I am in the process of putting another td5 in my D2, so a heavy duty was a no brainer.I went straight to Ashcrofts.

The extra cost is a small piece of insurance, knowing that when in the middle of nowhere(simpson desert/canning stock route etc)
that I am most unlikely to be stranded with a broken drive plate.