Friggin' A. Rebuild tranny or find a used one?

AaronM · 12-31-2003, 08:19 AM

Took my car in for a new clutch master and slave cylinder (yeah, I know, should have done them myself but the mechanic has a nice heated shop and I don't and it's bloody cold here), figured while it was in I would have them change the oil and the transaxle fluid.

Everything went fine until they drained the transaxle when they found metal particles in the fluid. Lots of them. The clutch was replaced just under 3,000 miles ago and the transaxle fluid was clean then so I can only assume that a bearing let go. Should I consider re-building the transaxle or should I try to find a good used transaxle?

I'm tempted to just find a used transaxle to make the swap easier, but at the same time a used transaxle will probably have a weak 2nd gear synchro (the reason I wanted new fluid to begin with) and trying to find a used one may take longer than rebuilding. I like the idea of rebuilding this transaxle simply because I would effective have a new transaxle when finished, but if it's going to be an absurd amount of money then I may be better off with a used transaxle.

The current transaxle has non-standard gear ratios, 60 mph in 5th is 3,000 RPM and 80 mph is 4,000 RPM, the car has a bit more "snap" to it, and the cost in fuel mileage isn't terrible (25 mpg no matter how I drive it). Another point in favor of re-building.

At this point I'm taking suggestions. Anyone been in this position? Anyone have a spare transaxle for sale? Thanks to everyone.

Aaron

will944 · will944's Garage

I would buy a rebuilt unit....just so you know it's in better shape than some used one that could have been beat on.

I replaced mine with a used unit and it went 8 months later while driving 35 down the street....I was pretty frustrated and replaced it with a rebuilt unit from Vertex.....best choice I've made!!

gearhead290 · 01-01-2004, 08:51 PM

buy a junk one, rebuild that one and contine to run yours while you rebuild it. I'm talking about going all out on it, Cryo-treat all gears (I don't konw if they'll do syncros) and buy a good LSD (I know KAAZ used to make a 1.5 way, not sure if they still do; but I would try to avoid a TORSEN). I've got 2 extra trannies (both with bad R&P) and only one has a good diff (open). However, the gears are in excellant shape, I'll sell them both real cheap if your interested.

AaronM · 01-01-2004, 09:10 PM

Gearhead, thanks for the offer, but I think I have decided to buy a good used transaxle and re-build the one that is dying right now. Good used transaxles have been in the $500 range and it would let me re-build the currently failing transaxle at a more leisurely pace.

Aaron

tab tanner · 01-02-2004, 05:49 AM

Hey AaronM I live very close to you in Ohio, and I have a trans that will work in your car You can call me if you are interesed #419-894-6816 Thanks TAB P.S. I'm down buy Findlay about 40mi. from you

speedy007 · speedy007's Garage

and my torsen works fine...

924Sman · 01-02-2004, 09:42 AM

Do you have all the special tools to rebuild it?

And can you make sense of this......Sman

AaronM · 01-02-2004, 02:15 PM

Well, I was initially hoping that I had a problem with the main gearsets, but as I suspected the transaxle shop (works pretty much exclusively with Porsches) pronounced the problem to be a worn bearing in the R&P. I'd heard that the differential portion was the really problematic part.

The transaxle shop actually said not to worry about it and to just drive it, said they had heard 924/944/924S transaxles that sounded much, much worse than mine and that those transaxles kept going for 50,000-60,000 miles before the owners of those cars just got tired of the noise and replaced them without a failure. I actually wish they had pronounced it dead because that would have made the decision easy.

Now I'm left hanging again, I hate to keep driving the thing with this hanging over my head. At the same time, I have a perfectly good Lincoln that was free and is so much more practical that I hate to keep pumping money into the 924S. After all, the 924S was never supposed to be a project, that's why I have the 914. I'm half tempted to sell the 924S and the Lincoln and buy a newer 944 or 944S but I'm thinking I'll need something bigger than the 924/944 and the 914 soon. Blech, this was not a decision I wanted to be making so soon.

Aaron

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Tough call...

I personally feel that the NA transaxles are VERY fragile. I recently broke the transaxle in my turbo too, but maybe I just drive too hard. Anyway, getting them rebuilt is an option. I would be tempted to get out of the 924 for a 944 in better shape. But as you know it's a car, and all cars break given enough miles/time.
Ahmet

speedy007 · speedy007's Garage

ive got the ring and pinion diff carrier thing for sale for $50. if it helps.? want a pic?

ronin · 01-03-2004, 12:25 PM

Ahmet. please expound on breaking the turbo transaxle so I don't do the same

AaronM · 01-03-2004, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1.2gees
Tough call...

I personally feel that the NA transaxles are VERY fragile. I recently broke the transaxle in my turbo too, but maybe I just drive too hard. Anyway, getting them rebuilt is an option. I would be tempted to get out of the 924 for a 944 in better shape. But as you know it's a car, and all cars break given enough miles/time.
Ahmet

Yeah, I keep going back and forth. I've fixed so much on the 924S (PS rack, front brakes, tires, clutch and clutch hydraulics, fuel pressure damper and regulator, plugs wires, distributor cap and rotor, sunroof gears) that I can't help but think that the transaxle might have been the last "surprise" waiting for me. I hate getting rid of a car from "financial exaustion" because financial exaustion usually occurs exactly one repair before you have fixed everything that will break for the next 50,000 miles. In other words, I can't shake the stupid feeling that the car just needs "a little more love" and then it'll be OK.

Aaron

ronin · 01-03-2004, 01:14 PM

go with your gut on this one if you really want to keep the 924, as you're probably right to assume that you're almost done. however, if you're thinking of upgrading anyway, then sell the car, as you have done a lot of work recently and it should pay off if you do decide to sell

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

Ronin, I have a couple of possibilities though it's probably a combination of them.

The pump filter looked slightly clogged, and if this were the case it appears that the mainshaft gear by the reverse gear would be some of the earliest stuff to not get enough fluid.

216k (inappropriate fluid at times? who knows, bought it as a no records car).

I always drive the ***** out of the car. Even had to drive it w/out a clutch for some time when a slave cylinder failed.

All that said, everything else in there looked practically new. Also as a side note, this wasn't the first time that transaxle had been off the car.
Ahmet