Maximum Power/torque Through The Zf Trans

[benmwhite]

What's the most power and torque BF owners are running through their ZF transmissions?

Has anyone actually had to modify or repair one yet?

[Ninka]

I have heard of cases where it has broken, can't be specific though

[F6 UTE]

Pretty sure around 330rwkw would be 'safe'

Much more than that sees input shafts and half shafts 'snapping' after a little while.

There's aroud 4-5 that I know ( have been told about ) have broken ZF's.

[saleen]

I know of a 384rwkw Foon with a 6 speed that seems to be holding up ok. It's pretty fresh though, so time will tell I guess. Will be intertesting to see if it actually breaks something, or if it just increases the wear rate.

[xr6 typhoon]

Do these come with factory coolers fitted?

[Chooka]

  F6 UTE said:

Pretty sure around 330rwkw would be 'safe'

Much more than that sees input shafts and half shafts 'snapping' after a little while.

There's aroud 4-5 that I know ( have been told about ) have broken ZF's.

←

I have also heard 300 - 330 RWKW spoken about as a nice safe limit, would imagine they will be pricey to fix given that the trade price for the four speed is around 2k

Chooka

[bcl]

I understand that the F6 & TT & T 6-speed autos are factory rated to around 900NM, and less for the other Fords.

I checked with Nizpro before ordering my F6.

The most they are running with a stage 2 F6 Nizpro kit + exhaust is 410rwkw.

However, it always come back to hard you drive it, and whether or not you drag race it. If you are a regular drag racer I'd suggest a more conservative figure of 330-350rwkw as a guide atm.

I'd say we'll know a lot more about it's limits within 12 months, as there will be a lot more modded F6 autos on the road.

Brian

[Guest]

Where did you get 9oonm from, ZF dont even rate the box that high.

I know of a stock Boss engine that lunched a zf, made 590rwkw though.

[bcl]

Officially Ford rate the box as 600nm, I don't really know what ZF rate it as.

The higher figure was supplied to me via a fpv contact, and is probably more realistic given that the car has to support the much higher weight of the TT, and the forthcoming fpv version of the TT that will have a higher power output.

For background info the following is Ford material about the 6-speed auto.

Brian

"

ZF 6HP26 six-speed automatic

The six-speed automatic is a compact and lightweight, high efficiency, high torque capacity transmission with a low first gear, higher top gear and smaller, more graduated steps between each gear.

With a larger spread of ratios, the six-speed transmission offers real-world benefits in the traditionally divergent areas of performance and fuel consumption. A low first gear greatly improves launch feel, while the larger and tighter spread of ratios delivers livelier performance, especially at wide open throttle, along with the added benefits of smoother shift quality and reduced fuel consumption.

1st gear ratio 4.17

2nd gear ratio 2.34

3rd gear ratio 1.52

4th gear ratio 1.14

5th gear ratio 0.87

6th gear ratio 0.69

Reverse 3.4

Gear shifts between the top few gears are often imperceptible, while the smaller steps between 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th also ensure less ‘busyness’ within the transmission as it determines the right gear.

The end result of the transmission being in the right gear at the right time is both an improvement in vehicle performance and a reduction in fuel consumption.

Improved transmission cooling capability in the six-speed auto, by virtue of a heat exchanger, ensures rapid warm-up of the transmission fluid and a more stable operating temperature.

As well as contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption, the improved cooling also enables the maximum towing capacity to be utilised without requiring additional transmission coolers.

Gear train

The six-speed automatic transmission is based on the Lepelletier gear set, which is constructed by connecting a planetary gear to a Ravigneaux gear – a double planetary gear set commonly used in four-speed automatic transmissions.

The sun of the planetary gear is connected to the housing and cannot rotate, while the carrier of the planetary gear is connected by clutches to the large and small sun wheels of the Ravigneaux gear.

The input shaft is always connected to the ring of the planetary gear and can be simultaneously connected to the carrier of the Ravigneaux gear using a separate clutch.

The output, or driven, shaft is connected to the ring of the Ravigneaux gear.

Hardware changes that have been made to the six-speed automatic transmission to suit Falcon and Territory include:

Unique transmission main case

Unique torque converter

New transmission cross member attachment compatible with both ZF six-speed and ION four-speed automatics

Transfer case compatibility for Territory AWD application

Unique output/driveshaft flange

There are two versions of the six-speed automatic transmission – a standard version with a torque capacity of 450 Newton metres and a performance version with a torque capacity of 600Nm.

The performance version features upgraded clutches, with extra plates in the clutch packs, to increase the torque capacity for use with higher torque output engines.

Falcon, Fairlane and Territory models using the Barra 190 engine will be fitted with the standard version, while Falcon and Fairlane models using either the Barra 230, Barra 245T or Boss 260 powerplants will be fitted with the higher torque capacity performance version.

Software and calibration

"The ZF transmission is able to tailor its responses to individual driving styles courtesy of a number of software functions and Driver Recognition features, all designed to deliver increased transmission functionality and performance, and a refined shift quality," Postgate said.

The Sequential Sports Shift feature introduced on BA Falcon continues as a key element of the new six-speed automatic transmission, offering the same style of adaptive and performance automatic modes as well as total manual control through sequential manual shifting.

Torque converter clutch lock-up is available in all six forward gears, not just in the top two overdrive gears.

When towing heavy loads at low speeds, such as in city driving or through hilly terrain, converter clutch lock-up in all gears assists with better transmission cooling and reduced fuel consumption.

Electronic control of all gearshifts in the six-speed automatic transmission is via clutches rather than bands, delivering a more direct and refined shift quality.

The internal Transmission Control Module (TCM), which is mounted on the hydraulic control valve assembly, or mechatronics unit, has been matched to the transmission's valve body.

The TCM and the valve body are an exact matched pair, with the TCM being calibrated to the specific valve body during assembly, which ensures accuracy of operation and a more refined shift quality.

Calibration features of the six-speed automatic transmission include:

Grade Control Logic (Automatic modes)

When driving downhill, with sufficient brake pedal pressure, the transmission will downshift to provide increased engine braking.

Introduced with the four-speed automatic on Territory, Grade Control Logic operates in an even more refined and subtle manner with the six-speed automatic transmission, as the gap between the gear ratios is smaller and the execution of gear changes is smoother.

Upshift prevention at zero throttle (Automatic modes)

When coasting downhill from rest, this feature inhibits upshifts beyond 2nd gear with zero throttle pedal input, to prevent a ‘running away’ feeling.

Emergency downshift (Manual mode)

When in manual mode, if the throttle pedal is pushed through the detent to activate the kickdown switch, the transmission will downshift to a lower gear (depending on vehicle speed) to provide acceleration in an emergency situation. The transmission will then revert to full manual control, remaining in the kickdown gear and requiring the driver to input for upshift.

Transient rpm limit

The transient rpm limit allows the engine to momentarily exceed the prescribed rev limit during upshifting. This enables wide open throttle upshifting of gears to be scheduled at an engine speed closer to the rev limiter than would otherwise be possible.

The transient rpm feature allows the engine to exceed 6000 rpm – up to 6250 rpm – while the transmission is completing the gear change, thereby taking full advantage of the high rpm performance of Barra 190 and 245T engines.

"

[Soul Reaver]

noice info,

Its states the XR6T gets the same box as the F6 TT?

Me confused does the XR6T get the higher torque box or not???