I have a 97 F3. I am wondering what is the risk of having the transmission shaft circlips (aka snap rings) installed backwards. The difference between chamfered edge and flat edge seems so small. I took care to reassemble with all the parts facing the same way they were dissasembled...but when I did a final check against a manual, its seems the clips werepreviously installed backwards. Any insight? I hate pulling those openend circlips off the shaft cause they tend to twist (and become unuseable), and no one local seems to keep them in stock...irritaiting being down for two weeks cause of a $1 part. Thanks in advance.

 

The reason the manual says to install the chamfered edge down is because that way its harder for the snap ring to "ride up" the groove in the shaft and popping off. With the sharp edge facing up, if any pressure is pressing on the circlip, the sharpedge will be pressed against the groove and it won't open up. I'd say its about as likely to happenas hitting a leprechaun riding a unicorn on the way to work in your horse drawn carriage, but you never know.