Rennlisters -

putting some miles on my new (20 yr old) '87 carrera and getting to know her better. one of the things that is bugging me a little is a metal on metal sound/feeling that i get from the shifter when i go to third gear. other contextual info: all other gears feel normal, the clutch isn't slipping, i get this sound on a cold/warm engine, car only has 30K miles on it.

the sound/feeling of the shift to third feels like the contact is somewhere in the shifter, not in the transmission. feels like a bushing or some rubber component has worn down or has failed.

sound familiar to anyone? expensive?

tx

 

Wait, you have an 87 with only 30K original on it? Wow.

From what I have heard all G50s have a bit of a notchy feeling from time to time. Some sounds are known to be emitted from it as well. You could replace all your shifter bushings I suppose, or rebuild your transmission. Another thought is to drive someone else's G50 to get a feel for things.

Personally I would just drive and enjoy your car. But I am sure the experts will chime in soon enough.

 

I don't remember the name of the thread, but we had a discussion regarding shifters/modifications/updates not long ago that applied to your year 911. A Rennlister was kind enough to post the actual bulletins that referred to the installation of a couple of rubber bands (aka o-rings) at strategic points in the shift linkage. If we can't find that thread pm me with your fax number and I can send the info to you. Don't worry too much about the linkage, there's very little that can wear, especially with only 30K miles!

 

Here's the article . . .

G50 Rattle Fix

Something I should do.

Ian

 

Yea I get that same "metal to metal contact" feeling going into third at times, I don't think its unusual.

 

great, now it's condoms and zip ties that are going to keep our cars on the road!!!!

 

You were expecting more?

 

In the above fix even the condom itself has to be broken to be used to do the fixen'. nothing a bungie cord couldn't fix is worth doing right I guess...

 

O.K. O.K. Is this the famed G50 rattle we here so much about? Is this something else?

 

Douglas: Actually, yes...and no... It's true that the linkage should be fitted with the required rubber bands, but even with them, if you want to hear your transmission more just replace your rubber hub clutch disc with a spring hub unit. I know, I'm not trying to wake up that discussion again (noise tolerance levels, some G 50s will be less noisy than others, etc.), but the modifications per factory service bulletin #8704 will certainly quiet things down.

 

Here's the discussion that I was thinking about: Click on "search," type "transmission noise, rattle," click on "go" and the thread will be #4 on the list, started by Joe Rose. Check post #54 for the bulletins...

 

thanks for all the help, I found the thread and the pictures of the service manual. I'll see if that helps.

tx

 

tx: The o-ring at the base of the shift lever was particularly helpful on the cars that we did the mod to...

 

I just went through this on my '88. I had (still have when cold) a notchy 3rd gear exchange. I put in mobil Synthetic gear lube and replaced the shifter bushings. My car already had the factory condom and zip ties installed! After this it is much better and feels less sloppy but still is notchy.

I'll take my time during warm up and it gets better. The bushings do take ou a little slop but I have 70K more miles on my car so it may not matter with 30K!

 

Switching from non-synthetic to synthetic gear oil certainly helps shifting quality, and that should be done in all cases when there is doubt as to what type of fluid is in a G 50 trans. That said, I would be really surprised if that cured a gear specific shifting issue. Some of these cars are now old enough to have had trauma due to different causes, I had to do a trans on a low-mileage car that had been mis-handled by a valet - the shift lever on that car was actually bent, in addition to internal problems in the trans.