Ring and Pinion?

[JWP 944]

I have a 1986 N/A 944 with a bit of a problem. From the searches I've done here and elsewhere so far, it SOUNDS to me like a dead ring and pinion, but I want to get some opinions, since I haven't seen anyone with my exact symptoms.

I was rounding a corner in my neighborhood, nothing fancy, just on my way home from a quick drive to the gas station. I put the car into second gear, and as I let the clutch out heard a very high pitched grinding type noise. It sounds almost like an impact wrench, only higher pitch. I put the car in neutral and coasted the rest of the way to my house (about 200 feet). I had the radio off and the windows down when it first happened...I don't remember hearing anything strange other than the grinding.

The engine starts up and runs fine. The clutch feels fine and the shifter feels like it goes into all the gears with no problem. However, when I let the clutch out, it makes the grinding noise. If I do it very gently and slowly, the car will move about an inch just as the clutch is engaging, but then it will make the noise and not move any more. I've tried 1st, 2nd and reverse...same results in each.

Any thoughts or similar experiences? Thanks for the help.

[Britwrench]

Sounds like a ring and pinion. Jack the car up and look at the driveshafts. If they are still connected and aren't broken, take the rubber cover off the base of the transmission housing, put your hand inside and try and rotate the torque tube. If you can turn it, or it has excessive rotation (in other words, any) the clutch rubber center has failed. If ok, put the car in gear, jam one wheel and try and turn the other, if you can the r&p has failed. All of this is done with the engine NOT running. Buy a used trans and swap it into the car.

[EuroShark]

Same thing happen to my 84 944. The ring and pinion stripped and the car didn't move. I've got another tranny coming to me this weekend. If you need a 86 tranny i know of one that i could get you for fairly cheap. Like britwrench said put it in gear and see if when you turn one wheel the other turns. If it doesn't you need a new tranny.

[Zero10]

I've also seen the splines strip off of the stub axles causing a similar problem. Have somebody check whether the CV's are rotating when it is grinding before going too far.

[JWP 944]

Thanks for the replies so far. I have a little more information.

I was just outside running the car. I haven't jacked it up to look at anything yet, but I did notice a rattling noise from the rear end when the car is in neutral and the clutch is not depressed. When I put the clutch pedal in, the rattling noise goes away. From outside the car, it sounds almost like a train going by....sort of that clicking/rattling type noise trains make as they go down the tracks. If I rev the engine in neutral, the rattling speeds up with the rpm.

This is, of course, a mystery to me. Again, any wisdom is greatly appreciated.

[Britwrench]

They all rattle....you need to look at the car to find out what has broken.

[Razorback1980]

With the car in neutral and the clutch out, the input shaft SHOULD be the only thing turning. However, friction is involved and may try and turn the other gears with no pressure to hold it from turning they probalby are which is turning either the r&p or the broken stub axle as mentioned previously. The only way to tell what it is....follow the instructions given to you already. This shouldn't be hard at all to figure out.

[AFJuvat]

or here is an easier method.

drain the tranny fluid and look for metal chunks that resemble a hypoid gear tooth.

AFJ

[JWP 944]

Hopefully this weekend I can get it pushed into the garage and start to diagnose. I'm sure my neighbor is getting sick of it being parked out in front of his house....I'll post what I find when I get a chance to go over it. Thanks, everyone!