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Author Topic: Stripped threads on gearbox....  (Read 827 times)

Offline Bingbong

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Stripped threads on gearbox....
« on: September 27, 2022, 06:01:57 am »
Made this account to avoid embarrassment on my regular account.

I while back I f@#ked up and stripped the threads on the gearbox installing a pendulum mount.
Tried helicoils that didn't last long and currently have BIGsert insert threads installed and they seem to be doing the job.

Ive looked into new gearboxes but internally there is nothing wrong with the current one and don't want a thrashed one to replace it

Thinking of buying cheap gearbox on eBay and swapping over the half of the casing needed to restore the threads.

Would it need new bearings or are they going to be pretty sound regardless of the gear condition?

What could be done at the same time? Thinking quaife LSD etc

Or if n all honesty, will the timeserts be good enough?


Offline pudding

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Re: Stripped threads on gearbox....
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2022, 07:31:03 am »
Timeserts are the best but do they do one long enough? I stripped one of the right hand engine mount bracket threads and I had to use 2 helicoils to get enough thread. That’s been holding for years so I’m not sure swapping the casing over is worth it.


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline Bingbong

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Re: Stripped threads on gearbox....
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2022, 07:50:35 am »
Timeserts are the best but do they do one long enough? I stripped one of the right hand engine mount bracket threads and I had to use 2 helicoils to get enough thread. That’s been holding for years so I’m not sure swapping the casing over is worth it.

I got 24.5 mm inserts which was as big as i could use with the tool to lock it in place as it needs to clear the end of the insert. Also measuring the bolts i'm sure its only a mm or 2 short of what it would normally thread into.

I was just a bit unsure they would hold up to the job, a second opinion was what i was after, so thanks very much!

I'll keep an eye on it, with the helicoils i heard it before i saw it, squeaking when biting the clutch as it rubbed against the gearbox. Not sure they were working as intended but the BIGsert is far more substantial and more user friendly if i need to remove the pendulum mount for a clutch change or anything.

Offline pudding

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Re: Stripped threads on gearbox....
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2022, 12:08:23 pm »
Timeserts are stronger than the metal that was stripped out, so definitely up to the job  :happy2:

I'm not a fan of helicoils but at the time I couldn't find anything else that offered approx 40mm of thread engagement.

Avoid the Quaife is my advice.  The way those things tug the car around when accelerating hard on bumpy B roads is super annoying!  The money might be better spent upgrading to the MK6 ABS ECU, and then you'll have proper XDS up to about 60mph iirc  :happy2:
« Last Edit: September 27, 2022, 12:10:11 pm by Pudding »


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline LC5F

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Re: Stripped threads on gearbox....
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2022, 01:28:48 pm »
probably too late - but this sounds like a job fo copious amounts of locktight Green to keep everything in place