[Etnier]

Seems all but certain that my pinion bearings are well on their way out. (Car is at 86,000 mi. FWIW).



I remember discussion of a particular rebuilder who came highly-recommended and whose price was pretty reasonable. Can anyone point me to this person? Local shop wants $3k.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

...bump

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Z]

That seems really high. The local dealer (Jim Ellis Porsche) quoted me $2100 ( I was checking just in case the new ride developed the problem), and that included a 3 year 36K warranty on parts and labor.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SANDOVAL]

Kgain wrote:

"Hi my transaxle rebuilder, engineeredautomotive.com wants to know if I want to have an LSD unit added at the same time they repair my bearings. If I did this I would want an oem type to keep my car original.....would this be a torsed type? Also my car is a '94 did the LSD option in terms of LSD type change at all during model years? I would want to add the exact type that would have been optional with my '94 model year. Will doing this add any value to my car...where it would not be an "original option" froom factory, also would I notice any difference on street which is the only place I drive.....no tracks where I live. How much could I expect to pay? What are the drwabacks/advantages to doing this? Thanks."



http://65.61.16.109/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1165

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[bob blackwell]

[quote name='Etnier' date='Jun 1 2005, 05:26 AM']Seems all but certain that my pinion bearings are well on their way out. (Car is at 86,000 mi. FWIW).



I remember discussion of a particular rebuilder who came highly-recommended and whose price was pretty reasonable. Can anyone point me to this person? Local shop wants $3k.

[right][post="5291"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

John, my favorite Porsche mechanic is a local Independent shop owner named Russ Kelso. He has done the pinion bearing repair and has all of the special tools required. His labor rate is lower than anyone else around. Contact Russ at: PMCIINC@comcast.net or phone him at: (800) 437-PMCI Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SANDOVAL]

Bob would you mind posting the info in the new Mechanic forum. I want to keep this valuable information easily accessible. THANKS!!!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SANDOVAL]

It looks like Russ has one ready to go... I would try and work out a deal to swap.



http://mall.rennlist.com/scripts/featured/...query=retrieval

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

Thanks guys, I have emailed him. Hope we can work something out: I'll need an LSD in whatever goes into my car, but this looks like a good opportunity.



The guy I was thinking of when I started this thread was someone Flash mentioned in this thread: Bobby Hart of California Motorsport. He's estimating a topside of $2100 ($300/shipping)to fully-rebuild my trans, except that that started go up when he learned I had an LSD. This would tie up my car for a month: get the tranny out, ship cross-country, 1-2 week turnaround in the shop and ship back/reinstall. So a ready-to-go unit certainly has its attractions.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[bob blackwell]

Will post on the Mechanic Forum now Eric, thanks. bob blackwell.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

The tranny listed on Rennlist has been sold, and had no LSD anyhow. I am currently making arrangements to ship my unit to Russ for work there.



Thanks to all for your help...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[apex]

[quote name='Etnier' date='Jun 2 2005, 11:43 AM']The tranny listed on Rennlist has been sold, and had no LSD anyhow. I am currently making arrangements to ship my unit to Russ for work there.



Thanks to all for your help...

[right][post="5345"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



John, I'm late to this party, but when I was lookin' around, Ivan Arzola just outside of Washington, DC came recommended - went to see him once, but didn't take it beyond that. So there's a potential name for nor'easters, anyway.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

A note:



One thing that has come up consistently in my conversations with rebuilders over the past 36 hours or so has been that this is NOT an issue which one should let go until the car is howling like a very loud jet, per early citations*. Everyone I spoke to was concerned about the deleterious effects of metal thrown off by the spalling, and what it would do to the rest of the transmission.



I wish I had heard this in the past two or three years: I would have been more vigilant about addressing an issue which first started to manifest itself late last summer.



*this has been cited as a diagnostic tool: run the car up to 80 mph and let off the throttle: if the car sounds like there's a jet airplane directly overhead, then you know you have the pinion bearing problem. I think if your car is making noises like that it's throwing pinion confetti into the works like you wouldn't believe.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Z]

You might want to try these guys:



www.europeantransmission.com



I didn't know about them when my flex plates (front and rear) went out, but I've heard good things....

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RS Barn]

I'm not sure where you're located but if you are on the East Coast, Will at Precision Motorsports Racing in NJ is the guy. He services most of the 968 race and Firehawk cars in the country. He has all the factory stuff to do it right.

let me know if you need his number.

Pete Fitz

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

Thanks for your futher input, guys. I went with Bob's recommendation because nothing closer had surfaced at the time of his response. The price seems right, and I'm getting a great deal on shipping....

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

the best guy on this box is bobby hart (or hall - i always mess that up)



he's in scottsdale or something - i had a conversation with sombody on .net about this one- i posted the info on the board - i'll try to dig it up again after i wade through all my emails and messages now that i am back

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

Flash, thanks. We've been there in this thread...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Etnier]

An update on this: I had the transmission sent to Russ at PMCI, who completed the work on it Tuesday of this week and has shipped it back. Shipping has been the big nightmare of this project: it took ten days and countless phone calls to get the unit from Maine to New Mexico. I can only pray the return shipment goes faster and easier.



Russ has been a real pleasure to deal with. Costs so far, excluding removal/reinstallation of the tranny and return shipment: $2000.00. This included the pinion bearing work and replacement of the 1st and 2nd gear synchros.





PMCI

369 West Meadowlark

Corrales NM

87408

800-437-7624

pmciinc@comcast.net

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Eric_K]

FWIW, I shipped a 944TurboS tranny to Cali via UPS for about $110. No problems. I built a wood crate for it and it was still under their max weight.



Eric

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

just an update on Bobby Hart at California Motorsports - this is no comment on anyone else, and not a pitch for him - i have not personally used him, but have heard nothing but good things about him and his work, and he is (or at least was) the guy who does the boxes for the porsche racing team



i just called him yesterday to confirm his numbers, and to set up a collaboration on an article on the myths and truths about this problem



labor is $600

any and all parts are extra (the bearing alone was 140 when i bought mine)

shipping is extra - he has accounts with yellow and best way and passes cost directly to you



he completely tears down and cleans everything in this job, using 5 different machines



he is meticulous about his work, and isn't one to do a half-ass job, so expect that he will feel that other parts are going to need to be replaced



his number is 928-855-5755

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.