sendarius

Greetings all,

I would appreciate input from the wise ones of the list on the issue with my '89 ROW 944S2.

Recently begun experiencing the on throttle/off throttle lunging and lurching that I have always associated with the rubber damper in the clutch disk failing, BUT the clanging noise is coming from the left rear NOT the bell housing, and is accompanied by lots of transmission whine, particularly on over-run.

I am also experiencing the occasional difficult shift (where the clutch seems to drag, and the lever won't come out of gear) and sometimes a crunch on shifting (where the transmission grinds and the lever won't go into the next gear).

Taking things slow and rev matching helps the shifting, but the lurch is ever present.

My best guess is that I have both a failing clutch AND a collapsed pinion bearing or other fault in the transmission.

Can anybody offer a better diagnosis?

Tom R.

when my clutch went on my first S2 a week after i bought it, i couldnt shift gears, then i could shift gears, then i couldnt... it was a chunk of rubber jamming things up.

Jfrahm

The windup from a bad rubber center can do a number on your R&P or axles, I would not drive far with that problem. It should not be hard to get the car up on a lift, pull the starter (check for rubber bits) and look for looseness in the driveline.

-Joel.

JimV8

The gear box is fu*ked. R & P probably.

sendarius

Thanks all. My only hope is that the pessimistic worst case (R & P failure) isn't the problem.

If it happens to be that the trans is toast, and given the availability of parts and the scarcity if cash, is a transmission rebuild a DIY job?

I have a pretty good set of tools (except for a press), I have a garage to work in (not that it normally gets too cold in Oz), and I have access to the workshop manuals and the Internet, and I can read (and even write).

Am I crazy to even contemplate it? ... oh and before anybody says "get a used transmission", remember I am in Oz. There weren't that many S2s BUILT, let alone imported to Australia, so a good used transmission will NOT be cheap, even if there is one available.

924RACR

Start by removing the clutch access plate (bottom of the bellhousing) and see how much powdered rubber falls out. Not exactly the same set of symptoms, but we replaced a torn up rubber-center clutch on Erik's S2 that was diagnosed by a supposed local 944 guru as a blown box.

sendarius

Just done that, no debris in the bell housing, so it looks like a transmission rebuild is in my future.

Pelican has a whole lot of the bearings and bushes, but I guess I'll need to make a list from PET to be sure I have everything.

I am planning to buy another car to drive while I rebuild the 944, so I will be able to take some time over it, and I'll do the clutch anyway.

Hey, just noticed that I don't have Rennlist Member below my screen name. What's up with that? I've been a member since 1999, and have a current membership card. Did I upset someone?

greenshoes3

why rebuild it??? just buy a used one

sendarius

Read post #5.

There were VERY few of the 944S2 imported to Australia. Getting a used transmission will probably NOT be an option, although I'll try.