924Board.org

[ZV]

Took my car in for a new clutch master and slave cylinder (yeah, I know, should have done them myself but the mechanic has a nice heated shop and I don't and it's bloody cold here), figured while it was in I would have them change the oil and the transaxle fluid.

Everything went fine until they drained the transaxle when they found metal particles in the fluid. Lots of them. The clutch was replaced just under 3,000 miles ago and the transaxle fluid was clean then so I can only assume that a bearing let go. Should I consider re-building the transaxle or should I try to find a good used transaxle?

I'm tempted to just find a used transaxle to make the swap easier, but at the same time a used transaxle will probably have a weak 2nd gear synchro (the reason I wanted new fluid to begin with) and trying to find a used one may take longer than rebuilding. I like the idea of rebuilding this transaxle simply because I would effective have a new transaxle when finished, but if it's going to be an absurd amount of money then I may be better off with a used transaxle.

The current transaxle has non-standard gear ratios, 60 mph in 5th is 3,000 RPM and 80 mph is 4,000 RPM, the car has a bit more "snap" to it, and the cost in fuel mileage isn't terrible (25 mpg no matter how I drive it). Another point in favor of re-building.

At this point I'm taking suggestions. Anyone been in this position? Anyone have a spare transaxle for sale? Thanks to everyone.

Aaron
_________________
Shifting is an art, learn it, love it, live it.

1976 Porsche 914 2.0 - Driving Restoration.
1987 Porsche 924S - Daily Driver

[Joes924Racer]

Shifting as a art.. ha ha I agree. I would do both if possible
Do you know where the bearing is that failed I dont. Seems though that
rebuilding a trans and adding new synchros is a very worthwhile project.
If you get another trans you can put it in and then rebuild the broken one.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

[ZV]

[Lizard]

ZV are you sure that it isn't just the fact that you might have ground gears a few times or are alittle too hard on the syncros causing them too wear really fast, as this would cause alot of particals in the oil as well, is it hard to change gears when its cold
_________________
3 928s,

[ZV]

[Lizard]

I was simply stating a possibility not stating that you drive hard
_________________
3 928s,

[ZV]

Well, had a transaxle shop look at the car. They pronounced it a failing bearing in the R&P.

The transaxle shop actually said not to worry about it and to just drive it, said they had heard 924/944/924S transaxles that sounded much, much worse than mine and that those transaxles kept going for 50,000-60,000 miles before the owners of those cars just got tired of the noise and replaced them without a failure. I actually wish they had pronounced it dead because that would have made the decision easy.

Now I'm left hanging again, I hate to keep driving the thing with this hanging over my head. At the same time, I have a perfectly good Lincoln Mark VIII coupe that was free and is so much more practical that I hate to keep pumping money into the 924S. After all, the 924S was never supposed to be a project, that's why I have the 914. I'm half tempted to sell the 924S and the Lincoln and buy a newer 944 or 944S but I'm thinking I'll need something bigger than the 924/944 and the 914 soon. Blech, this was not a decision I wanted to be making so soon.

Aaron
_________________
Shifting is an art, learn it, love it, live it.

1976 Porsche 914 2.0 - Driving Restoration.
1987 Porsche 924S - Daily Driver

[John Brown]

You don't say, and the shop maybe did not say (exactly which gear). The pinion bearing is notorious. Which then lets the ring&pinion move around which starts wearing the gears .... And, yes, they will go a long time (sometimes) but then all that metal just eats up everything else in there. Hard decision to make. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Good luck whatever you decide.
_________________
John
80 931 - #931 44Cup
99 Escalade - tows track cars
gone but not forgotten: original 924.org car - 82

[ZV]

[wdb]

see the used parts section for used pinion bearings $15 . I dont know for a fact that vw vanagon trans parts will work in the 924 , but it might be worth buying them for $20 to see, depending on how much porsche wants for new ones .

http://www.longenterprises.com/specials.htm

is it possible to just remove the dif carrier case cover with the trans in the car and replace the bearings , or will you need to completely remove and tear down the trans

[wdb]

see # 7 in pic for pinion bearing .

http://www.ckoon.org/vw/tranny/9.html

vw trans rebuid guide from the begining .

http://www.ckoon.org/vw/tranny/1.html

index

http://www.type2.com/library/drivetra.htm#7

[ZV]

[wdb]

[ZV]

[wdb]

well if you plan to keep the car for many years, fix it right and be done with it for 20 years , do likewise to the engine,clutch and torque tube .