Good day everyone. I have a 2016 GTS. I bought it knowing the radial shaft seal would fail at some point - and armed myself for the time that it did so I could complete the repair myself. I've been communicating with the fine folks in the AMG Owners Club and GTR Owners FB pages to share the info as well. For some reason the moderators have yet to accept my invite for the AMG GT Owners page. As I go through this repair, I wanted to show everyone that this doesn't have to be a doomsday scenario. I have all of the specialty tools, seals, lift and jack stand. I've made the repair and now I'm putting the transmission back together. I'm documenting the entire process with video. From removing it from the car, taking it apart, the repair itself, and putting it back together. I made a complete step-by-step manual for the repair and posted it on my OneDrive. There are also extra items to be found in there such as the recall bulletin and photos of the seals and tools. On that, many of the tools are either unavailable, too expensive for what they are or, in the case of the AV8619 to remove the ring nut in the differential - it doensn't fit. The pinion gear is too large. So I'm prototyping my own for sale to the community at a very reasonable margin. I would enjoy being a resource to the community and help those that experienced trouble with their transmission. Please feel free to access the manual (first doc in alphabetical order) on my OneDrive here. Any questions, contact me here or through my information in my manual introduction. Perhaps this should be made a "sticky" so it's up top and accessible. Blessings from Connecticut, in the U.S., and much more to come! Getrag 7DCL750 Ferrari AMG GT Ford GT Repair Docs

 

Love that you're doing this!

 

Thank you! This is a passionate community and I know our cars have a few bugs. This weep hole thing being one of the big ones you'd find in an Australian desert. I'm enjoying the process and hope to be a resource for others down the line!

 

You've been sharing this on the GT Owners FB page as well, correct? Can't imagine there are more of you crazies out there 😂

 

Correct! Hope to get the word out! I may be crazy (that gave me a chuckle!) - also informed and prepared.

 

Hahaha! Just giving you a hard time! I think it's amazing. As Diy'ers ourselves, I really admire you for doing this.

 

Hello @Connecticut GTS ... your documentation in the link provided is FANTASTIC.

Question: Will you be documenting this repair with any videos as your noted in your post? I am also in the AMG Owners Facebook page, and saw your most recent one.

That being said, the FB groups are horrible. They aren't designed for the ability to search, they are designed to get us clicking so the same questions come up again and again, searching is next to impossible, etc.

I know this forum is not very active, but having any videos here, or even better yet on a youtube page, would also help a TON for anyone in the future.

Regardless, thank you for all this documentation!!!!

 

Thanks Ronnie! Oh yes I have literally filled up two 128GB cards of video so far. I'm still deciding how to post the videos. I think I'll do: 1) Removing the transaxle from the car 2) Taking the transaxle apart 3) The radial shaft seal observations and repair 4) Reassembly 5) Reinstallation and adding fluid. I'm in the home stretch so all of this will be on YouTube for the entire community. Ferrari and Ford GT owners included. Might even open my own part-time shop here in CT. Presuming I can find a small 1-bay garage for transaxle repairs and rebuilds. It would not be my primary source of income so I'd be happy to make it very affordable in comparison to specialty shop or dealership repairs.

 

This would be the best news for this transaxle anyone has ever heard hahaha, at least for people in New England.

I read through the document, very thorough! Question: When Hollywood Mechanic does his rebuild, he also replaces the 4 sealed bearings and gearbox speed sensor and clutch temp sensor... all which are are known to fail/have issues. He's discussed the issues with the sealed bearings at length on his youtube channel. He is not the only source for this information, its also discussed on FerrariChat. Unless I missed it, your DIY seems to be purely concerned with the radial shaft seal replacements.

Are you not concerned with the sealed bearings in the transaxle? Why didn't you replace the speed and clutch temp sensor?

Thanks!

 

Good questions. I'm replacing any o-rings that are in there. But no, not the bearings. Micah has a few videos where he discusses reusing bearings and being sure to use liquid nitrogen to shrink the shaft a bit to ease the bearings out/on from the rear cover. Which is a step even the Ferrari manuals don't state. So it's precautionary. I don't track my car. And the prior owner didn't either. It's not being beat on. If it ain't broke....as they say. If something goes wrong in the future I'll just drop the transaxle out and make the repair. I know that statement is probably going to produce an, "OMG what?" But really it's not that hard for me. Just intricate. You'll notice that the data in all of the official manuals in my OneDrive doesn't actually say to replace the bearings with the repairs including replacing the speed sensor, replacing the SAP or the CCP. That's straight from Ferrari. The condition of the sealed bearings is quite obvious. Burn marks or physical damage can be pronounced with just a visual inspection. If someone wants to drop nearly $2k to replace the speed sensor and temp sensors while in there, after spending $15k to repair the weep hole, be my guest! lol I was going to. I decided not to. If I tracked the car...I would do it without hesitation. I'll add, Micah is running a professional specialty shop. He wants to hand the vehicle back to the owner and not have any component, that he had access to, fail. That would come back to him and he'd be responsible for that repair if it is in his warranty period, presuming he has one which he likely does. Anything that can be replaced, will likely be replaced. I doubt he'd do otherwise.

 

I totally understand. Its not "OMG What?!?!" to me... I have dropped differentials and re-geared vehicles, etc. This is more involved, but not incredibly so. And I agree, if I was Micah I would also want to ensure I get everything done while I was in there - both for warranty reasons but also customer satisfaction.

Given the idea that there are only 5 or 6 other dedicated sports car chassis in this price range (Cayman, 911, R8, Vette, Lotus's.. I might be missing 1 or 2), and as a result someone would want to own this vehicle for the long term, I am fairly convinced those bearing, as well as the SAP and CCP will need replacement, and are effectively wear items... those bearings especially. That being said, I buy into your logic as well. They could last another 10+ years, especially if you aren't tracking the vehicle... nobody really knows.

This is off-topic, and if you prefer I do not clutter up your thread please let me know, I can delete this portion or take this to another thread (although this forum is pretty dead, lol) or feel free to message me if you prefer: Do you have a list of 'inherent issues' on this platform you've documented? I ask because I read your post on the GTR FB group, and saw you said you've had more issues with your GT in 1 year than 6 in your Volvo and I chuckled, as to me this platforms issue isn't necessarily the transmission, which everyone is scared of... as that's a known issue with known solutions, even if they are expensive... but rather all the little things you see pop up fairly often around batteries, electrical, etc, that nobody has documented as to the *actual* issue and *actual* solution. Again, sorry for being off-topic, its not often I run into other people on this platform that DIY things, so I had to ask.

 

Sure, they are technically wear-items. Yes. As are the gearsets. The synchronizers. The shafts. The clutches, SAP, CCP...all the seals. Everything. At this stage, everything is functioning as it should and if I had unlimited capital, I'd be doing some major updating to the interior components. I only drive the car 2,000 or so miles a year. In another ten years I may have close to 90K or so miles. If it lasts me those ten years before more repairs are needed, I'm okay with that.

Do I have a list of inherent issues? No. Just what I read here and there. My GTS/Volvo note was kind of tongue-in-cheek of course. I even pull a 4,000 lb camper with my Volvo which beats the snot out of the transmission and it still goes strong. Yet I drive to pick up a quesadilla with the GTS and bam...$10,000+ (if hiring a shop to do it) repair to the transaxle. The GTS just has little bugs here and there. Needed to replace the subwoofer as it was blown. Some of my seat buttons don't work. Got a squeak in the back end. Sometimes it won't go back in park so i have to shut the vehicle off and then it'll go. Just...bugs.

 

Totally agree, thanks for the discussion! As well as all your documentation... can't wait to see the youtube videos!

And understood, re: the bugs.

 

Thank you so much this would be an invaluable resource for the community.

One quick question: This repair is necessitated by a leaking transmission? Any dash errors?

If would good if you can provide an intro such as "if this happened then you will need to undertake the following repair". Looking forward to the videosc please don't cut out the details!

 

Sorry for my delay. Didn't see an email come in that you responded! The sensors in the transaxle will not throw a code unless the the clutch fluid gets too low (or gear oil) and the transaxle temperature becomes excessive. This is the warning indicator to expect. If anyone sees this, STOP IMMEDIATELY. The code itself doesn't tell you what is wrong, only that something is wrong. The first thing to do is look under the vehicle from the rear. In the center of the car between the two rear wheels is a cover with a hole in the center. About three feet from the bumper. See fluid? You have a leak. No fluid? Likely gears grinding. Synchronizers fried. Clutches fried. Bad temperature sensor perhaps. All require a teardown.

 

Hello, the work that you have done is amazing. I have downloaded the documents you posted and gone through all. I am a mechanical engineer and very interested to see how this transmission works. Good think that we are (relatively) close however, I hope I won’t need, mine is base 2018 GT transmission.
I am looking forward for the videos. Did you posted them somewhere? If not would it be OK to send you a card for a copy?
BTW did you get the umlaut on the German bloom from CT DMV?

 

Hey there! I haven’t posted them yet. I’m too busy designing, prototyping, and testing my final production tools that will be alternatives for those needed to work on the transaxle. If you haven’t seen this video yet, this is a good introduction to what’s going on.
And here is a sample of the final production tool to press the seals back into place properly, and delicately, shown on a 3D printed gearbox port for explanation. I have two of these tools in stock right now. I’ll post those, and a dozen or so others (place replacement o-rings, seals, bolts and other parts) for sale soon. Hope to help this community and not price gouge just because it’s a luxury vehicle. Can’t fathom being charged $10k-$20k+ for a rebuild. Ridiculous.


Saw some dude out in Asia somewhere is selling a $250 package on eBay that shows how to work on this transmission. I saw samples of his how-to. Poor guy is going to be upset that I’m posting 5X more info, and holistically structured step-by-step for free.

And no. I put the umlaut on the plate myself. Let’s see how cranky the police get. 😆

 

Just an update folks - 400 miles on the repaired transmission and going strong. It shifts faster too. Perhaps due to the fluid change. No error codes, temps normal, drives like a dream. As always, feel free to contact me for guidance on any repairs.

 

Awesome!!

 

Hi folks - Just an FYI I have uploaded the transmission repair manual, version 1.3, to my shared drive. There are a few adds including a list of all parts needed. Know that I can get you every part needed. Feel free to contact me. All docs found here--> Getrag 7DCL750 Ferrari AMG GT Ford GT Repair Docs

 

Thanks for all the time you've put into this!

 

Thank you. Great asset for this forum

 

This is great stuff. Did you video the entire process? Any chance you can put it up on YouTube or provide a download link?

 

Sorry for my delay. Oh yes, everything was documented. It's several hours of video. I have been segmenting it and organzing it according to the manual's steps. I am very much behind in gettin git uploaded. I'm working on it. My goal is to have it all up by New Years.

 

THIS is what these forums are all about! Thanks so much for taking what I'm sure is a ton of time and effort to put together what you've described and sharing it with all of us!