Gear box shot

[JamesO]

Hi all,
Last sunday my transaxle went south so Drained the oil (3 month old oil) and it was full of brass glitter. Pulled the box yesterday, removed driveshafts to re-pack. Fitted new shocks.
Measured the wear indicator on the clutch insp window at 26mm.
So would you do the clutch whilst its halfway there?
Get the box rebuilt?
Replace the box with a used unit maybe s or s2 unit or standard lux as original?
Any other jobs worth doing whilst transaxle is out?
Thanks

(1989 2.7 lux)

 

[Peter Empson]

I've been through a few gearboxes so I can sympathise with you [] (I'm not an animal, honest...). When I was looking around a good basic rebuild would be from £600, but by the time worn/damaged parts are replaced I think you might get into 4 figures. I'd definately look out for a good used box as the prices have really fallen recently (I once had to pay £650+vat for a Lux box as it was all I could find []). If you have the space buying a spare (which could be rebuilt at your leisure) is a sensible precaution (and on my own ever lengthening todo list)

I don't think the S2 box would be ideal as the final drive is much longer. When I had my 2.5v engine I bought a 944S box and it was great, don't know if they used any better parts in them but it was a good one with only slightly longer gearing.

I'd suggest giving the linkage a good going over whilst it's in pieces too, but can't comment on the clutch wear I'm afraid.

 

[sawood12]

I have a turbo gearbox (minus the diff) lying around the garage (though I do have a good diff as well). It was is full and fine working order before it was removed (it was the diff that packed up). It didn't cost me anything and I don't think i'll ever use it so you are welcome to it if by any chance the parts are of any use to you. If the gear ratio's are too long for your lux maybe you could use a different sized crown wheel to compensate. Could be a nice little project to get an LSD in the car!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Clutch may have a lot of life left, but the rubber center could give up before it wears out. Please tell me the 2.7 has the rubber center, or I could look foolish......[&:]

On that basis it might be worth replacing, and think about fuel lines. They are going to go soon, they all do, and you could use the original parts to replace rather than going for flexi-pipes to avoid dropping the transaxle again.

 

[JamesO]

Thanks for the replies, been working away past couple of days.
Good idea on the fuel lines are they available as a kit or do you have to make them up?
No idea if the clutch is the rubber centre or not. The rubber part fell apart on my last 944 after I changed the engine hence my 'while i'm in there' question (Big lesson learnt the hard way).
Thanks for the offer on the turbo box. Will have a look for an 's or lux box locally first as I'm down south but I'm still very tempted.

 

[rcsalmons]

Not too much advantage having the gbox out when doing the fuel lines - its the torsion bar/tube you need to lower.

Rich

 

[JamesO]

Hmm not been under car since last week, how big a job to drop the Torsion bar?

 

[JamesO]

Well just spent half a day very well by pulling the clutch out, was indeed the original rubber sprung thing and the rubber had indeed started to break up.
Would have been well cheesed off to put in another gearbox then pull it 1000 miles later for the clutch.
BTW the wear indicator as i read it showed plenty life left (26mm, 34 mm max wear in manual) but the material was down to the metal rivets (117000 miles).
Hope thats of help to anybody looking over a possible purchase/clutch.