88 S4 engine

[brian1128]

This is a warning and a plea. I have an 88 S4 automatic, a lemon unlike my first one that was destroyed by a suburban. Several thousand$$ later, now the car wont start barely turn over. I have found out that either the last person to do the torque tube is a complete moron or the flex plate clamp walked it self, over time, toward the flywheel/engine and pushed the crank against the bearings and burn them out. I have had the car for the last 5,000 miles of 95,000. Not sure how the block is yet I am not sure what to do, have this one rebuilt or find a used one and pray my luck has to change It is a simple check and I would if I were you, my mechanic claims that if one had the wisdom to do such a job as a torque tube he surely would have known not to smash the flex plate against the flywheel and then tighten the clamp. Now he is not a full time 928 guy and this maybe more common than we know, but he is very smart has worked on them in the past and he is very willing to work with me, will use my parts and so on. Any love left out there.
Brian

[Iggy]

Brian:

Sorry for your misfortune. Your experience sounds a lot like the dreaded Torque Tube Thrust Bearing Failure.

[john928]

Brian,
Sounds like a thrust bearing failure. Sorry to say that the block will be junk. Let me know if you want to sell the complete motor if you buy a replacement. I'm looking for the top end of an S4 motor.
Good luck.

[john928]

Brian,
How did you make out?

[..P]

I'm eavesdropping on this thread, because I don't have a S4 motor, so someone please explain why the block will be junk, and why there is not some way to save the block.

thx, P