Need a second opinion

TR89-911 · 07-01-2002, 09:37 PM

I asked my mechanic to check out a noise I was hearing from the rear wheels that sounded a bit like a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle. It definitely related to the turning of the wheels. He has said that it is something called the "half-shafts" that have begun to break down. He said that I will need to replace this part for something north of $1,000.

I asked him if this was a safety issue and he said, "Not really. The noise will just get louder and ultimately the wheels will lock up." I consider unanticipated wheel locking a safety issue, so I am reluctant to wait although he said I would likely make it into the fall. Miraculously this noise has ceased with a recent increase in drive time for the car.

Any thoughts on whether he is right, if this is a common problem, and whether this should be fixed without delay?

Trying to anticipate a sudden stop,
Tony

john70t · 07-01-2002, 10:20 PM

Yes this is a common problem(see todays great posts by Roninlb) and Yes you should take care of it yesterday. I've heard of halfshafts -which tranfer turning force from the differential (in the transmission) to the wheels- which didn't make any noise at all before they let loose.
I think Porsches are strong, but if there is any looseness in the CV joints it is magnified because they turn at the speed of the wheels.
If the inner one breaks, the shaft could lock against something and skid your vehicle into another. If the outer one breaks that's probably not the case.
Either way best senerio: trashed wheel well, tow, repair, and then replace.
Try our sponser for parts.

and do it yourself. You can do it!

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 07-02-2002, 04:09 AM

The click-click-click sound is exactly the marker for a failing CV joint. I can't imagine not fixing it asap, even if the noise has gone away, since failing CVs don't "fix themselves." The absolute "least worse" case would be that it breaks at a low speed and you simply stop wherever you are--third lane of a freeway, middle of an intersection, whatever. The worst case would be that it broke at speed, and imagine what a halfshaft still attached the the engine--or the wheel, whichever--would do while it flailed around in there like a steel baseball bat at 80. Of course, it can also fail while staying attached at both ends, and then you simply revert to the former situation.

Stephan