Transmission Noise & Steering

Guest · Dec 28, 2005

Hi, I have had my '84 944 lux for about 3 months now and few things are starting to surface. - The previous owner did 3k in 3 yrs.

The most irritating thing is a metallic knocking noise, that is transmission related. i.e dip the clutch and it goes away, the harder the engine/transmission works the louder it gets. Its an intermittent thing as you can drive for days and nothing happens, then its back. Had a local mechanic(Non Porsche) look at it and he said it the UJ in the middle of the prop. I'm a bit hesitant to take his word for it.

The other thing that really needs doing is the steering it doesn't seem to self centre and above 70 seems to be very vague. - Any ideas?

Also have a list of niggles that you expect with a 21yr old car.

Cheers Kevin
944 Guards Red with 17"cups

berg944 · Dec 28, 2005

he said it the UJ in the middle of the prop. I'm a bit hesitant to take his word for it.

No Prop. and No middle UJ on a 944

There is a torque tube with bearings, these rumble on tick over if worn.....never heard one knock.

The half shafts have CV joints, again more of a rumble than a knock.

IIRC you can swap them around to stop the noise, I can not remember if its left to right or end to end!

Best change the gearbox oil if its not be done in a couple of years.

Mike[:'(]

mik_ok · Dec 29, 2005

Welcome to the board. [

]

As Mike says - with the rear transaxle incorporating the gearbox, you don't have a prop-shaft.

Can you be more specific about the steering vagueness? Is it a general lightness, tramlinging, pulling to one side, undamped motion?

This vagueness and the lack of self-centering could be related (if your castor is miles out for example).

I'd suggest you get someone (trusted) in your area (not sure where you are) to do a geometry check. All four corners ideally, but front end (for toe, castor and camber) as an absolute minimum. A search should give you an idea of "who" and "how much". Hopefully they'll do a quick squint at any bushes before they start ('cos you can't set a car up if bushes or trackrod-ends are knackered) and advise.

The suspension on the 944 is full adjustable, which is simultaneously fabulous, and a bit of a pain ~ it can be knocked out of alignment, or accidentally mis-set by someone working on the car that doesn't know what they are are doing. I changed all my shocks recently, and had to set the front camber by eye. I knew this in advance, but even taking precautions I rolled the car out of the garage to find one wheel with +ve camber and the other with -ve camber. [&:] . So I rolld it back in and set it again. [

] It's due at the specialist mid-Jan, so I can wait til then for a proper front end alignment.

Unfortunately, the 17" cups you are running will highlight any irregularities more than the std wheels.

Guest · Dec 29, 2005

With the transmission problem and having not been underneath the car myself, was hoping to leave exploration of the underside until the warmer months, but I guess not. As I said before its a metallic knocking noise, that is replicable in any gear and porporitionable to the speed that car is going and on dipping the clutch it stops, re-engage a gear and its back.

Yes I guessed the 17"ers would emphasize any steering probs. There is a general play in the steering - similar to my old transit that I had years ago - but that was cured by tightening a screw on the box!
The car also tends to follow any irregularities in the road - tramlines, potholes etc.

I have done some research on here and found two names crop-up for the South West, Andy Moss and Martin Reed, both in Devon, also Porschtec in Bristol and Jon Mitchell in Charminster. Guess I need to make a call or four.

Kevin

mik_ok · Dec 29, 2005

Play in the steering - see HERE

I'm going to replace my steering shaft in the not too distant future.

Sounds like your car is tramlining. A "known issue" when moving up in wheel size. Definately go for alignment, and also strongly consider 968 castor mounts - see HERE (long one I'm afraid).

Fen · Dec 29, 2005

I didn't notice you were in Somerset. I wholeheartedly recommend Andy Moss in Honiton and at least that's the right bit of Devon for you (though Somerset is a big place). [FONT=verdana,geneva"]