CV joint rebuild Torque converter ?'s

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

I'm in the process or doing some long delayed rear-end maint on my 84 N/A automatic daily driver and have a few questions and was hoping I could get some advice.

I have a clunking noise in the rear when turning that I would guess is CV related. They seemed fairly stable before removal, with a small amount of play. When they came out, the outboard ends both had grease that was way loose and gloopy, it actually dripped. I'm guessing this is not normal. How do i clean up the joints prior to a repack? How do I know if a repack will suffice or if i really need a rebuild?

If i do need re-build or replacements, it seems that cv's are getting hard to find. They are either a fortune, out of stock, or they want me to send in my cores for re-build. Anyone else seeing this? Advice? PP doesn't list the halfshafts for the auto, but seems to list the joints and kits themselves. At 4 required that's 300$. Anyone try rebuilding your own? Rock Auto does something called a Return and Rebuild service, where you send your part in and if re-buildable, they will do for about 60 bucks or so each side. Anyone have any experience with them?

I am also looking into what Porsche dealer called a Torque Converter problem after replacement of engine mounts did not fix a light clunk on acceleration. The PO had replaced the front damper. What is the dreaded Torque Converter failure? While looking for cv's on rock auto, I ran into something called a "torque converter repair sleeve". Anyone ever hear of it and or know what it's supposed to repair?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give....

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

Ok, found a place to do cv rebuilds and should be done Monday.
Any ideas on what goes wrong with a torque converter and if the torque converter repair sleeve will fix it?

ibtisam.jawad · ibtisam.jawad's Garage

You can get the new half shafts off of a VW Vanagon from 89 or so, the 2wd version. New ones are about $60 each and you need only two.

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

Darn, wish I knew that before having mine re-built. $100 each, ouch (the shop said they were real bad)! I do have them now and I'm ready to install, but have another question; should there be gaskets of any kind where they mate to the trans-axle or wheel? There were none that I remember when they came off but I think that a PO had them off at one point so there is no guarantee. I haven't seen any in any parts diagrams, but then again I haven't seen any diagrams that show the axle and the points they attach to. Any and all help is appreciated!

ibtisam.jawad · ibtisam.jawad's Garage

944online.com Exploded View Porsche 944 Diagrams.

TheSamba.com :: View topic - Porsche 944 axles and 944 CV's for Vanagons

Volkswagen Vanagon Axles - JCWhitney

Hope the first link helps. Rest are for future reference.

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

Awsome guys, thanks. Installing tomorrow!

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

OK, so the rebuilt cv's eliminated a tick that I had on turning but I still have a clunk on acceleration, pretty bad.... not jarring but definite speed related clunks from the rear, not front (prev owner replace the damper 15k miles ago) So now I'm, thinking flex plate or torque converter. So I removed the transaxle (curse thee Hanes manual, the cables need to be removed from the bracket, not just disconnected). The Flex plate looks fine, no cracks evident. How do I know if in-fact the torque converter is bad? Also, I did not notice before but the passenger side output from the transaxle has some side to side play, about 1/8 inch? Is this normal or horrible? Something I can fix? Or is it time for a new tranny? Time for a change over to a manual? I found someone parting out a beat 86 944, he will gather all parts I would need for less than $500... Thoughts?

arttrout · arttrout's Garage

I have been trying to read-up on auto to manual swaps as I am leaning in that direction. Read lots of "Can it be done?" posts with lots of "Yes but" and "Sure, lots of work but do-able", but no posts of actual experience. I know I read a longish thread about it a few weeks ago detailing the process by someone who has actually done one it but I can't find it here, in clark's garage, or renlist. Any one know who did it/have a link to it? I'm thinking since mines an 84 and the donor is an 86 I won't have the speedo probs, but will I have torque tube issues? Some posts say they interchange, others that the most definitely wont. Help please? Pretty please?