Operator

Well, I'm pretty sure it is but here are the symptoms:

Yesterday, for the first time, I noticed a clank sound as I engaged 2nd gear while moving. I also noticed it engaging 1st but only if I abused it (which I never do anyway, partly because my clutch has always been a bit jumpy). The other big thing I noticed is when I let off the throttle while moving or engage it again while rolling in gear the car bucks and jumps a bit, depending on speed and how smoothly I let on/off the throttle. Lastly, when rolling downhill in gear at certain rpms I hear a slight unfamiliar grinding sound.

In any case... it seems like the bucking, and the metallic clank when engaging the gears while moving points to my rubber center being pretty much gone. Correct?

The clutch in this car, ever since buying it, has been a bit finnicky in that I could, if done incorrectly, get the car to show a lot of slippage in first, even when starting it off nice and smoothly - if it wasnt dont "just right" the car would slip its way up to speed. 2nd has never been pretty either, had to revmatch, but thats a worn synchro issue right? Ohterwise it was fine.

Well anyway.. could it be anything else? Motor mounts? Tranny fluid? Doubtful at this point, that clank really sounds like rubber center breakage.

Oh yea, the other thing I wanted to ask, if it is the clutch, where is a good place to buy the parts and what is the average shop time in hours for a repair? I seriously doubt I'll be doing it myself but I want to know what to expect from my trusty mechanic. Also should I get the extra parts people say to replace in addition to the sachs kit? You know, the rear seal and the guide or whatever it is? Whats a good price for the kit? I see it on ebay for $450... Paragon for $650.. etc.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

ZV

CLutch center is gone.

I bought the spring-center 3-piece kit (clutch, pressure plate, and T/O bearing) from Pelican Parts for ~500 when I did my 924S. I'd get one from them or from someone like them or Paragon, given how much of a pain it can be, I'm not ready to trust an E-Bay clutch.

Whatever you do, don't get another rubber-center clutch. Firstly, why risk it? And secondly, many of the rubber discs are "new old stock" which means they're from the 80's, but have never been used in a car. Since time wears out the rubber more than use, even a "new" rubber-center clutch might not be long for this world regardless of how good the friction material is.

As for shop time: If you use a shop that does a lot of 944 work, it should be do-able in slightly less than one full day (if they start the car in the morning). If you have a good mechanic who doesn't specialise in 944's, you can expect it to bleed over into a second work day. So 7-12 billable hours.

Aaron

Peckster

Why not let your mechanic buy the parts? If you supply them, does he still warranty his work?

ZV

In my case, it was an abortive attempt to do the work myself (just didn't have that much time available all at once and it's not a job for "an hour here and another hour there...").

That said, any good mechanic will guarrantee his work as long as you're giving him all-new parts. Some draw the line at rebuilt/used because of variability though.

nathan944

most places will charge you what the book says. Does anyone know how many hours the Porsche manuals say for a clutch job?

Operator

I've heard 15 book hours but I'm not sure which 944 model that was. I think turbo is longer.

I would love to let him buy the parts but then this will turn out to be a $2K+ job instead of a $1.5K job.. mechanics mark up parts, even if they like you. I had my waterpump/belts service done by him and he didn't like the idea of me buying the parts so I didn't.. but he said if I did he would warranty the work and not the parts, fine by me I guess since the clutch has a 12k mile warranty. But yea, is the bad blood worth $500+ dollars? Maybe.. maybe...