Something Broke

[robs944]

OK,
Yesterday while driving my 89 951 a short trip in town, came to stop sign, my turn to go, put into 1st gear and started moving, all of a sudden a "pop" sound from under the car and the engine revs but car doesn't move.

Fortunatley I was able to coast to side street and have it towed to mechanic.

Here are the specifics:
No clutch or transmission issues prior to this
I can depress clutch pedal without a problem (doesn't stick to floor, etc)
I can put car into any gear without resistance w/o using clutch.

Basically when putting the car into any gear it doesn't move, it feels like linkage
or something popped loose, but not sure what.

I've heard issues about the clutches that had the rubber center instead of the spring loaded ones, I don't think it's the clutch because from my past experience with clutch issues it will start to fail slowly over a period of time.

So what could it be, clutch, tranny, broken linkage???

Talked to my mechanic this morning but he won't be able to get to it until later in week.

Let me know if you need more info.

God I love this car

Thanks

[ronin]

most likely the rubber center in the clutch is coming apart. this problem does not start slowly. when it starts to separate into chunks, one of them will eventually wedge the clutch open and the car can act as if you have the clutch pedal depressed at all times (even though the pedal is fine). kinda like it's doing now

[robs944]

Thanks Ronin,
I guess I have been waiting for the classic symptom of higher engine rev's but speed not keeping up over time with the smell of burning clutch.

So I know that I should go with the spring centered clutch kit are there any recommendations for brand sachs, centerforce, etc?

Thanks

[944 boy]

Could be the CV too. Recently I had one of my CV joints come loose. I thought that if that ever happened it would be noticeable. However it was rather silent and sudden. All the bolts just backed out...... Easy repair though. Its easy enough to have a friend listen under the car and push the clutch in and out with the engine running. You should be able to hear if things are spinning or not. If there are no noises then its the clutch. Also, is the shifter loose? Like a stick in an empty cup? If so then a bolt backed out on the tranny linkage. I would also check the small bolt that holds the shift linkage to the tranny. If it backed out it would produce noticeable slop in the shifting.

[Todd157k]

Did you look under the car? Mine did this last week and all it was... the bolts backed out of the half shafts (which I guess is common but I hadn't heard of it) and the "clunk" was the last, and only, bolt holding on broke. Unless you have LSD, the car won't move. My half shaft was laying on my exhaust pipe.. .which it also broke the weathered exhaust hangers.

[many944s]

^+1

I have seen this happen several times on the 944. Unless you get the grease out of the bolt holes, the bolts will often back themselves out. And as stated above, there is often a "POP" sound as the last bolt brakes. Definitely check your axles BEFORE the mechanic tells you that you need anything else!

[robs944]

I did look under the car (best I could) and didn't see anything hanging down or any noticable problems.

The shifter feels fine, don't notice extra play or problems. If I run the engine and shift into gear I do hear things spinning, just doesn't "catch" if you know what I mean.

The car is LSD equipped.

I called the mechanic and asked him to call me when he is ready to start working on it so I can stop in and take a look while he has it on the lift.

Thanks for the helpful replies, hopefully it's not a huge issue and is just bolts
backing out. I'm going to try and stop by the shop before dark this eveing and take another look under there.

Thanks

[robs944]

Well my mechanic called and said he could look at it today, since I couldn't get away from work to stop by I told him to get started.
He just called back and said that the 6 bolts to the cv joint backed out and the
6th one is what snapped, just like you guys said.

So is this a common problem? Would using locktite or a lock washer on the bolts prevent this?

As always thanks for the help.

[nynor]

interesting. if the car has LSD, why wouldn't it move with the one side undone?

[WaA420]

Originally Posted by ronin

most likely the rubber center in the clutch is coming apart. this problem does not start slowly. when it starts to separate into chunks, one of them will eventually wedge the clutch open and the car can act as if you have the clutch pedal depressed at all times (even though the pedal is fine). kinda like it's doing now

Yah I've heard about those rare rubber center 951 clutches, just never seen one.

[robs944]

Originally Posted by nynor

interesting. if the car has LSD, why wouldn't it move with the one side undone?

that's a good question, I know I have LSD.
Car wouldn't move at all yesterday, I'm going to the shop tomorrow and check it out. I'll let you know if they have any insight on that.

[toolboy62]

I too had problems in the past with those bolts repeatedly backing out, I had some reman halfshafts in there that had gaskets on the CV joints, fix was to remove gaskets and throw them away. Some low strength loctite might not be a bad idea as well.

Currently I have Porsche original halfshafts on the car and I don't know if the guy used loctite or not. No problems for over a year and a half (knock on wood.)

nate

[ronin]

Originally Posted by WaA420

Yah I've heard about those rare rubber center 951 clutches, just never seen one.

keep lookin'!

you have any good red hoods?

[924Sman]

The car goes into gear but not spinning the shafts/CV's. You heard a pop at take off, consider the ring and pinion.

Dal