924S diff whine / pinion bearing

[Guest]

Hi All

After recently joining the 924 fold it is time to get some work done on the car to get it back to how it was meant to be.........

The car in question is a 1986 924S and as well as the usual safety first issue of getting the belts done it has the all too common issue of Diff Whine. Whilst the belts are not a problem it would appear that the diff problem may be a bit more expensive to repair and wondered if you have any advice on how to approach it. The problem can be described as a whine that is there on acceleration and trailing throttle but disappears when there is no load on the diff (when feathering the throttle). From this I believe it to be the pinion bearing.........

Is it economical to get the gearbox repaired (any idea of cost) or am I better buying a replacement 'box? If it is the latter do you have any suggestions of a reliable source of a replacement 'box so that I can guarantee I won't be replacing with a item that is worse?

One last thing - is there any chance of the diff giving way completely (car done 96k miles) and if so what is the damage likely to be?

Any help or advice would be grately appreciated.

Cheers

Andy

 

[dawn lang]

Hi, my 944 has a similar problem and there are two ways of looking at this.

As far as I know, providing you arn't caning the car you shouldn't have any real problems (if any one else knows differently then please advise!).

You can reduce the amount of noise with a simple cheep solution. I tended to find when the gearbox was cold that there was less whine, therefore the oil being thicker reduced the noise. Subsequently I dropped ot the old oil, got the thickest gear oil I could (EP90, I think), and added an oil thickening addative (used by motor traders to increase the viscosity on the engine oil to prevent it going pass worn rings and bores). The addative is like treacle so it ideally needs to be warmed and mixed before insertion in to the box.

Since then the noise is greatly reduced (to the point where I can't hear it with the stereo on), and the gearbox feels 100% better.

In an ideal world it is the best idea to replace the box altogether, which you can buy from a breakers yard (or Ebay) and rely on the seller telling the truth about it never being noisy, or buy from a reputable 2nd hand parts seller (expensive). This is my ultimate goal, but as always time and money..........

Steve (Dawns Hubby)

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve

Thanks for your suggestions. The whine isn't too bad now that I have got used to it and I plan to change the GB Oil asap. It is exactly as you describe - the noise is all but non existent when the gbox is cold so I may go down the route of using thicker oil.

The problem with the 2nd had gearbox route is as you say - honesty of description by the seller and it's a lot of cash to lay out if you end up back at square 1!!

I had a look at the 944 area the other day and the general concensus seems to be "turn up the music"

Thanks again

Andy

'86 924S - Guards Red

 

[geoff Ives]

Don't worry. It's all part of the joys of 924/944 ownership. Mine did it for years but has now stopped. NOW I am worried.

 

[924nutter]

When you ask an OPC for the price of a recon box be sitting down. The last time I asked the price was over £2k. Ask yourslef this, if a transaxle whine is part of the joy of 924 ownership, what are the realistic chances of getting a s/h box that is quiet? That said, my current lowly 924 lux has one of the quietest I have ever driven, and I once test drove a 924 many years ago for a freind, which was a quiet as the grave, so those boxes are out there. Once you get a good one keep the oil level topped up. I am not certain, but I think part of the problem may be premature wear caused by running for prolonged periods with a lower than prescribed oil level without realising. I remember my first months of 924 ownership, back in 1988, well. A clue to a my low oil level was the gear-lever becoming slightly stiff to operate after a longish journey. If, like my first 924, the level/filler plug siezes solid, then all you can do is squeeze, and I do mean squeeze, a pint or two into the box through the breather on the top of the box. It is a bit of a fiddle and a tight squeeze, but it is possible. Eventually the 3rd gear synchro baulk rings succumbed and I had to change the box. £175 then, from Simon Butterworth, (now trading as Porsche-a Part) but guess what? A lovely easy to remove level plug, but just as noisy. The gears however did at least select properly.
Sad to say, that first 924 is now 924 rip as it was carted of to the knackers yard last year (yes it did serve me well for 15 years) as a rusty body shell on two Ford escort wheels. I wore it out, plain and simple. Nothing is ever too far gone if one throws enough money at it, but after quarter of a million miles, yes 250,000 , I dedcided enough was enough.
It's spirit lives on in my current 924 lux as the headlights, refurbished Le Mans wheels, Rear hatch with spolier, (on a '79?) Wiring loom, starter motor and door locks. My it now rust in peice