Gearstick squeak

944cabby · 03-09-2005, 03:02 PM

I had the clutch changed in my 944 s2 cab about 2 months back and the gearbox felt nice and tight afterwards but now when i "wiggle" the gearstick in neutral there is a very loud squeaking noise from underneath - i can't work out if it's from the gearstick area or from the gearbox.Any ideas?

IceShark · 03-09-2005, 03:33 PM

Is the car running or off? Get someone else to wiggle and see if you can determine where the squeaking is coming from.

One area would be the shifter. To do a clutch job you need to totally remove the shifter from the torque tube and slide the main shift linkage forward. Twist and forward a lot. There are enough components there to cause squeaks if things didn't go well. The plastic socket the shift lever base is held in as well as even the shift lever are wear items.

You can pull off the leather shift boot and nob, and the inner rubber shift boot. While there is still a bunch of foam sound proofing you should be able to tell if something there is the problem. Clark's Garage tells you how to remove things. Pretty straight forward - just be careful you don't snap the plastic tabs that hold the plastic surround the leather shift boot is attached to.

You are in Wales, I'm pretty sure this is all still applicable to the RHD cars. Good luck, mate.

944cabby · 03-09-2005, 03:42 PM

Thanks, iceshark.The squeak is when the car is turned off.I've had no problems up until the past couple of days though.

IceShark · 03-09-2005, 04:12 PM

The squeak might not be related to the clutch job but it is a good guess. The 'ole whatever-you-messed-with-last theory.

When you look at the gear shift you can see where noises might arise and it is a delayed reaction in your case.

FYI, I was chatting with a Porsche parts guy that has been in the business for ever. It is fairly common for the gear shift lever to actually wear out! This sort of took me aback.

944cabby · 03-09-2005, 04:24 PM

Should the gearstick mechanism be lubricated with anything.I'm tempted to remove the leather boot etc and spray some penetrating fluid down there to see if that makes a difference.When the clutch was put the gearstick felt much tighter than before when changing gears.I'm wondering if it's just starting to loosen up.

IceShark · 03-09-2005, 04:57 PM

Yes, I would definately lub the pin off the lever that connects with the link to transmission. With grease, not a penetrating oil.

The base of the lever fits into a socket bolted to the torque tube. That has a plastic liner that breaks up and wears with age. The plastic socket is only around 2 or 3 USD from the dealer. That I would be a little afraid of chemical attack depending on what grease you have on hand. Leave it be with a new plastic socket or maybe use grease designed for plastic sway bushings. Someone with more chemical knowledge can chime in here.

As far as tightness with the shift linkage that is now getting easier, that is probably normal. You really need to do one of these clutch jobs yourself to fully envision what could be going on. You need to twist and shove forward the shift linkage. Then twist and shove back, in VERY tight quarters, the torque tube. All the while this sound foam at the top of the shift hump is getting pushed around.

If you took this to a mechanic that wanted to get the job done as fast as possible you can see where things may be jammed up to start out with and after time and use they get back to normal.

When I did my clutch job, Tony W. and I spent around 10 minutes getting that foam back in its proper place. He from the bottom and me at the top inside the car. I doubt a mechanic for hire would bother.

944cabby · 03-09-2005, 05:30 PM

Thanks iceshark.I know that the job wasn't rushed as it was in the garage for over a week and a half.Is replacing the plastic socket etc that you mentioned and lubing the lever easily done and from underneath the gearlever boot inside the car or will i have to jack the car up and work underneath the motor.

IceShark · 03-09-2005, 06:14 PM

Real easy if you don't let a circlip fly off to parts unknown. So hang onto those. You can do it all from the seat with normal tools. No need to get under the car.

Should be able to do it in an hour or two, depending on how many beer breaks you take. I can probably do it in under 30 minutes now as I've done it a few times.

How is the weather over there? I spent a month or so working in Merthyr Tydfil and you guys really have cold rain. LOL!

944cabby · 03-09-2005, 06:22 PM

Hi iceshark, i'll have a look at that on sunday then.The weather's been pretty poor of late - snow, rain, gales - you name it we've had it although its just starting to get milder.I'm about 2 hours drive from merthyr - took the Cab for a spin down there end of last year.What were you up to in merthyr?My best mate works in Brecon which is only 20miles or so from there.Thanks for the advice, best wishes, ade.

IceShark · 03-09-2005, 07:09 PM

Ade, i was working on a theft of a few million quid in parts from the Hoover plant. Made the papers and that is about all I want to say about it.

I was treated nice but I was the big dog in that fight so was to be expected.

944cabby · 03-10-2005, 12:24 AM

Hi iceshark, Can't say i heard about it, but it's a nice part of wales.The circlip you're talking about - is it part n 012 437 3 and the plastic socket is that the "bearing shell" - 477 711 231 a?I've been scouting through the parts catalogue.cheers.

944cabby · 03-10-2005, 02:01 AM

Just checked underneath the car whilst someone sat in the drivers seat and wiggled the gearstick left to right.It's actually coming from the front of the gearbox but is not there when you engage any gears just in neutral noving the gearstick left to right.Quite loud almost like "metal on metal".If it's anything to do with the selector mechanism would this be caused by low gearbox oil perhaps?

IceShark · 03-10-2005, 05:59 AM

I don't have the part numbers handy but you shouldn't need a new circlip - I was just warning you not to let that thing go flying and lose it when you pull it off.

Gear box: oil level is easy enough to check. Pull the top fill plug (left side of the case and takes a 17mm allen drive) and stick your finger in to check for oil. The level should be a little below or at the fill plug level. This plug can be quite difficult to remove in some cases. You need to clean out the socket before you put the drive in and hold the drive very square. You probably will also need a long breaker bar or pipe to crack it free. The problem is the plug is tapered pipe thread and the hole is straight thread so the plug can really be stuck in there.

The shift link goes through the forward portion of the bellhousing on the transaxle. There is a plastic pipe there that it rides inside of before it exits at the top and is bolted to the gear lever on the transaxle. This plastic pipe is really a pain in the arse when you pull out the tranaxle and stick it back in, which I'm sure was done in your clutch job. Maybe the repair shop screwed that tube up or broke it, which wouldn't be all that hard to do.

So there are my thoughts. at least you now know the noise is from back there. Since you are not that familiar with things and the possibility this may be related to the clutch job, I'd take the car to the shop and ask them what they think they may have done. Then make your decisions on what to do.

Good Luck!

944cabby · 03-10-2005, 02:59 PM

Cheers, ice - one last question - would the forward bell housing section that you mention have any type of lubricant in there ie gearbox oil or is that contained in the rear of the gearbox etc.thanks, ade.

IceShark · 03-10-2005, 07:11 PM

I don't know if this will post as Pelican is dropping down every minute.

No, it is a big empty space other than the drive shaft and the shift link going through that plastic tube I mentioned. You can pull off the rubber access plug on the bottom of the case and take a peek inside and see what I'm talking about.

No oil or grease in that forward bell housing and lots of empty air.

944cabby · 03-11-2005, 03:54 PM

I've just been for a spin in it and when i stopped and turned the ignition the noise was there but not as loud as it was.When you move the gearstick you can hear movement underneath though.Is this normal? when you move the stick in my 924 you can't hear a thing.I've bought some swepco gearbox oil to go in it so i'm hoping this helps.

944cabby · 03-13-2005, 10:44 AM

Done as you suggested iceshark - had the gearstick out today, the plastic liner was not broken, but i greased all around the socket and refitted it.I also bought some 3in1 penetrating oil and sprayed all along the linkage (where i could see) underneath the car and across the top of the gearbox where the linkage connects.The noise has completely gone and the gearchange is much smoother - very strange.

IceShark · 03-13-2005, 12:13 PM

Well great!

It really isn't that strange that what you did worked when you see how long that shift link is and all the places it could encounter problems.

944cabby · 03-13-2005, 12:23 PM

Thanks again, ice.