PTU Drain Fail?

[brokenboosted]

Hey there 2010 SHO non pp was doing a PTU drain install and i think i drilled in the wrong place! Pilot hole about 1/2 inch in and it felt too far backed off and ya i think im drilling to something else! So far all aluminum no steel as far as i can tell. you can kinda see where there is a line almost like i went through and then into something else. any tips/ ideas?

 

[brokenboosted]

i was reading threads and one had this video

and thought itd be the right place

 

[Zpak]

 

[SM105K]

Looks like you drilled in the wrong spot. You are drilling into the case where the axle inserts. If you haven't gone all the way through you should be okay. Look at Zpak's pictures above for proper reference.

 

[kryptto]

Drilling and Tapping the PTU, RDU, and Transmission for Drain Plugs [Step-By-Step]

Overview Why would we do this? Well, it’s really just to make life a tiny bit easier for you while conducting maintenance on the platfrom. The PTU is a known weak link and changing the fluid AS-IS (depending on what iteration of PTU you have…see this post) can be a PITA. It’s important to use […]

www.fortheworkshop.com

 

[brokenboosted]

For Anyone interested, I plugged the original hole I drilled with a pipe plug and tapped a drain in the location everyone else does. DONT DO IT WHERE I DID even though I though I was being smart.
Everything seems fine, no issues.

 

[SM105K]

For Anyone interested, I plugged the original hole I drilled with a pipe plug and tapped a drain in the location everyone else does. DONT DO IT WHERE I DID even though I though I was being smart.
Everything seems fine, no issues.

Glad everything went well.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

@Zpak did you drill yours in the car? I miss my car and I am TIRED of waiting to replace the PTU, heavily considering just installing a drain and doing a few drain and fills with some heavy gear oil to try and get as much gunk out as I can. My noise is still there but im fighting with myself as to if im being paranoid

 

[kryptto]

@Zpak did you drill yours in the car? I miss my car and I am TIRED of waiting to replace the PTU, heavily considering just installing a drain and doing a few drain and fills with some heavy gear oil to try and get as much gunk out as I can. My noise is still there but im fighting with myself as to if im being paranoid

JMS lives and missing his friend....

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

JMS lives and missing his friend....

yeah I've been gone a while, had a dream I totaled my SHO last night so I drove her to work today against my better judgement, thought I'd stroll through the threads. Been a crazy few months

 

[SM105K]

@Zpak did you drill yours in the car? I miss my car and I am TIRED of waiting to replace the PTU, heavily considering just installing a drain and doing a few drain and fills with some heavy gear oil to try and get as much gunk out as I can. My noise is still there but im fighting with myself as to if im being paranoid

If it is making noise, it is cooked regardless of flushing.....

 

[kryptto]

If it is making noise, it is cooked regardless of flushing.....

kind of thought the same thing, good to hear some experienced voice about the ptu say it.

 

[SM105K]

PTU! Understanding why it fails and ways to prevent failure.

Yes that thing. Here is a very good explanation by a member on here named Mr.HighCaliber.


"PTU's don't fail at least not from a power handling perspective. These only fail from lack of maintenance. Spun bearings and galling of the gears from lack of lubrication.

High Heat dries up the lighter oil molecules in the l u b e, which causes more heat due to lack of lubrication (thermal runaway) which leads to the remaining gear oil turning to thick black paste which clogs up the vent tube in the ptu which cause pressure buildup in the ptu which forces the remaining, non-congealed fluid out past the shaft seals. Now the only left is a thick paste thats easily flung off of the gears, sticking only to the case. After this chain of events, the bearings run dry and begin to fail, next are the gears. Tolerances widen or things begin to sieze. Bearing and gear noise are usually the first signs of mechanical failure.

But the PTU internals are stout. The weakest part of our powertrain is the RDU Atc coupler. (The electronic coupler in the rear differential). At least in terms of tq capacity and power handling."

The being said, you will need to change your PTU fluid.

 

[Zpak]

But yes, I did do it in the car on jack stands. Outside of the nerve it takes to drill a hole in the case it’s really very straightforward.

Unfortunately I second, if it’s making noise, she’s smoked.