Wevo Xt-032 Bearing Retainer Plate

[NathanUK]

Hi I hope you guys can help me out here. I mostly hang out on the 911 turbo forum but I need some advice with my 1984 MY 3.2 carrera sport coupe.

I had some noise coming from my 915 transmission. When I opened it up I found that the larger bearing retaining plate had come loose. I am not sure if the previous mechanics torqued up the nuts properly or not. Anyway the bearing was damaged and the usual syncromesh parts.

I found that the large retaining plate had become bent so I straightened it. I then decided that it would be best to replace it and as you guys know it is NLA from Porsche. I remembered there being a USA part made & so I enquired about the Wevo XT-032. I had a few concerns about the two bearings not being evenly clamped down as one part was trying to hold two bearings, especially as one was new and the other AFAIK the original 1983 part. I took some measurements and compared with what Wevo told me and I happily bought their part.

http://www.wevo.com/Products/TransmissionProducts/WevoTransmissionProducts-Internal.htm



However, upon receiving their part I saw another potential problem that I need some opinions on. I have not contacted Wevo yet as they must think I'm a PITA for asking about all those dimensions previously... They were very reluctant to share dims with me to say the least. I understand their position but I needed help.

The problem I see and I hope that I am worrying about nothing is that where studs come through the holes in the Wevo part, where the nuts & washers seat onto it are not completely flat. There is a small drop in the very centre of the hole. Here are the pics I took. Maybe I am just worrying about nothing and being anal. I tend to be anal when it comes to my beautiful Porsches. I note that the stock plates were recessed, but flat.

I did some measurements & the difference between the heights is 0.06mm or 0.0024"









TIA

[RarlyL8]

I don't recall there being a step-up on my bearing retainer.
Send Wevo that picture and ask them directly. You're the customer, they should gladly answer that question.

[spuggy]

+1 what Brian said.

I had mine in my hand fairly recently, and I don't recall it having that step either.

Mike Bainbridge fitted mine along with a rebuild and other goodies. He checks here from time-to-time, maybe he'll chime in.

[Jim2]

Looks like a slight CNC progamming error as it's not normal to seat a fastener on an uneven surface. Like Brian said, this is grounds for asking Wevo, even if you are thin on cutomer time. Perhaps they have a reason for the step, but regardless 2.4 thou is hardly an issue.

If Wevo replies that this is an error, and shipping time to UK is a problem, a machine shop could clean these up with a drill press and a tool called a spot facer. It would only take them minutes.

Good luck Nathan.

[Mahler9th]

I'd suggest calling them or sending them an e-mail. I don't believe what you have noticed would make any difference but contacting them will help you feel comfortable.

I have one of the plates and I really like it. I also have their maincase and a few other parts. All excellent.

With my plate, I don't use studs, lockwashers and nuts. I use cap head screws and flat washers. I believe this is what WEVO use when they build racing transmissions. The high quality cap head screws are drilled for safety wire and I use a little blue loctite as well. The safety wire is a little bit of a pain-- but I I have gotten rather good at it. I am sure for 99% of applications, the studs and nuts are fine. My application is a pretty stressed one.

Since you had the original plate come loose, I would do a really thorough inspection of everything-- either yourself if you have the experience or have a really good shop do it. I know from experience that there are some subtle types of damage that can be existent but difficult to detect. These can lead to future mysterious and expensive failures.

Anyway, I doubt the characteristics you have noticed make a difference, but when in doubt, just send WEVO an e-mail. They are absolute experts, and really stand behind the design and manufactured quality of their parts. We are lucky to have companies like them making key parts for the cars.

[NathanUK]

You guys are great thank you very much.

I will send Wevo an email.

I replaced the studs with new ones and loctited them in.

If this tranny fails again I am going to replace it, parts are just too expensive and cleaning up all the mess (swarf) takes way too much time. I should have just bought a genuine exchange one from Porsche the first time it failed.

EDIT: Email sent.

[NathanUK]

I was asked to remove the email by Hayden of Wevo.
The outcome is that I am very happy. Hayden exchanged the part for me and helped me out with how to fix it.