[WYLDCTZ]

Ok, finally the noise on my car was getting worse and worse so I decided it wasn't just my imagination, and I took it in to my Porsche shop. (For those that don't remember, about 2 months ago my car started making what I felt like was the jet engine whine noise that is common for those with the pinion bearing problem. My car has 115K miles on it.)



Anyway, my tech just called me and said that something is wrong in the transmission. $500 or so to tear it down and inspect it to see what the problem is. Does this sound reasonable? If the pinion bearing is indeed the problem, would he find this in there, or is it located somewhere else? (I don't know where that pinion bearing resides <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Thanks!

Mark

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[Greimann]

Yes, the pinion bearing is in the transaxle. Start saving your nickels.

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[WYLDCTZ]

[quote name='Greimann' date='Oct 7 2005, 08:52 AM']Yes, the pinion bearing is in the transaxle. Start saving your nickels.

[right][post="10843"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



heh, I know....and when I bought the car with 80K miles on it, I thought for sure I'd be past this problem...oh well.



grumble grumble....



I guess I'll go review what kind of damage in dollars I should be expecting. Tech said if it was an expensive bearing ($200 or so) and there was no damage to the casing anywhere, it might only be $1200 or so total. But I remember pinion bearing costs in the range of $2500 I think?



Mark

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[Beachboy]

Two things to consider.

This is no job for anyone other than very experienced Porsche/Audi transmission guys.

I have seen this job priced at $1200-$3500.

Be careful and good luck.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed at 72K miles.

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[6spcab]

The process is not difficult for the experienced, just time consuming.

Not sure of the 968 bearing used on the pinion, but on 44's the bearing can be had from several sources for less than $30.00 vs over $180.00 from Porsche. Same if not better quality. The toughest part of the process is to ensure that the pinion/bearing is preloaded and that the pinion teeth are lined up with the ring gear. I have seen several 44's go up within 500 miles due to no preload and/or improper alignment. Figure $600.00 for a matched ring/pinion and it gets expensive.

Also a press is required to remove all of the gears on the pinion shaft to get to the bearing.

One of the jobs I cannot stand working on is the rear end. The smell.....

Lee

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[flash]

500 is a great deal if he is also removing the transaxle from the car for you for that price, assuming he'd put it back together for the same amount, plus parts



the bearing is about 200 - it's a timken as i seem to recall

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[WYLDCTZ]

So I never heard back from my mechanic on Friday. My guess is he was having more of a problem finding the issue than he origianlly suspected....which probably doesn't bode well <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Anyway, I'll update everyone on Monday.



Mark

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[WYLDCTZ]

Well, it isn't good. Just talked to my mechanic, and it was the pinion bearing that went. He said there was all sorts of other metal stuck down on some magnet in there and they are still pulling it apart to find any other problems. But he said at this point its getting pretty close to where we might just want to go with putting in a whole new transmission.



So a couple of questions: Any idea how much this would cost? Is that something that Sunset or someone would sell?



Any ideas how many hours to install?



Also, if I do need a new transmission, my car does not have LSD. Is that part of the transmission? (meaning, could I just get a transmission with LSD and 'add' that option to my car sort of?



EDIT: after a bit of research, found these two threads here, both talking about getting your transmission rebuilt. Just got off the phone with Bobby Hart. Sounds like a great guy. I will most likely have my transmission boxed up and sent up to him to have it rebuilt.

http://65.61.16.109/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8912

http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showtopic=684





Thanks!

Mark

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[flash]

he is the best in the country on these boxes - good choice

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[WYLDCTZ]

Well, sounds like I need 4 bearings replaced. Since its all apart and the local dealership has the bearings in stock, I'm just letting them (local independant Porsche shop, not the dealership) finish the job. Should have it back in about a week.



I had a couple of options here: Raj has a transmission for sale with 30K miles on it for $2500. With shipping, and the amount my shop has invested already in mine, plus install, I'm looking at about $3500 at least to go that option.



My shop said the rest of my transmission was in really good shape, so I'm just replacing the bearings and everything involved with that, which I guess is a lot. Total for everything should be about $2300. So about in line with a pinion bearing going, when 3 other bearings go too.



Thoughts?

Mark

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[flash]

LSD!!!



GT unit is about a grand and easy to install now - call chris at Speed 6



www.speed6.com

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[WYLDCTZ]

Now you tell me <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



What are the benefits of the LSD? Better handling? It isn't like I race or anything.



Mark

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[WYLDCTZ]

[quote name='flash' date='Oct 11 2005, 08:29 PM']www.speed6.com

[right][post="11095"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I don't think that URL is right?



Mark

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[flash]

oops - www.speed-6.com



better handling - better launch - less power oversteer

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