IceShark

Many months ago, almost half a year, I posted about my 88TS being about impossible to get into 1st,2nd and reverse.

The board concluded that I must have thrown one of the small springs in the clutch. I never did anything about it since I wasn't using the car much and double clutching got me by when I did. Clutch jobs are no fun with these cars and my car just turned 40,000 miles this week, so I was putting it off.

Then a couple weeks ago someone posted about coolant running into the inspection hole at the top of the bellhousing and corroding up the pilot bearing or something like that. Well, I had disconnected the heater valve to get down to the bellhousing ground so am sure coolant ran down in there.

So I decided to run the car for a few hundred miles around town, which has stop and go traffic. Guess what? Things freed up! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

I don't know what exactly the problem was ... maybe if I threw a spring it got eaten up or the corrosion from the coolant spilling into the bellhousing got scraped off?

In any event, people: if you are working at the back of the motor cover up that inspection hole because there are so many ways it can cause headaches. <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> At least I didn't drop a bolt down there and have that headache.

mouse

Heh, congratulations. Hey, have you gotten my payment for the headlight kit yet? I sent it last week.

IceShark

Yup Matt, was in my mailbox tonight. I'll pack it up and send off, probably tomorrow. I'll send you the track number when I ship.

I'm walking a tight line with the woman here, if you have been watching that saga. But I have your whole kit on hand and ready to ship. Just need to pack it up when she falls asleep. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> And lets her arms and legs off me. <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Predator

Hey IceShark...Man, I hate to rain on your parade, but... I think that your problem is only a temporary fix. If it was a sezied pilot bearing and you broke it loose, it will fail again, and it could damage the end of your driveshaft. I know from experience. That little drop...drop...drop of coolant cost me about a grand in parts in 1999 to fix, not counting about 15 hours unger the car! Good luck

IceShark

Predator, Oh Boy, I was feeling so happy. Tell me more why it will fail soon.

mouse

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by IceShark:
<strong>Yup Matt, was in my mailbox tonight. I'll pack it up and send off, probably tomorrow. I'll send you the track number when I ship.

I'm walking a tight line with the woman here, if you have been watching that saga. But I have your whole kit on hand and ready to ship. Just need to pack it up when she falls asleep. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> And lets her arms and legs off me. <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Great, I can't wait. Good luck sneaking it out of the house...I didn't realize the delivery of the kit would be a covert op.

IceShark

Mouse, Covert OP is complete and you should see the package by Tuesday. I sent you the Fed Ex track number in an email message if you want to watch it cross the country.

I think she watched some TV show or was talking too long with her crazy girlfriends, but the program is now more climbing, hiking, diving, sailing and making babies. All of which are fun, so it is hard to argue about it. Making Porsche wiring not only didn't show up on the To Do list, but was included on the list of things to stop doing!

jabbadeznuts

It's always nice when something happens good that you don't expect.

Predator

IceShark... The pilot bearing is a sealed needle bearing that, when seized, makes the driveshaft a part of the flywheel. So when the pressure plate is engaged, the flywheel continues to drive the driveshaft (or tranny input shaft). Its more or less like shifting without a clutch at all. It is a pretty damn tough bearing, but with very close tolerances inside. Then it fails, the needles get so hot, they fuse together. Depending on the severity of the failure, it can break apart and allow the driveshaft to run free during a shift and allow the sencros' to slow down the next gear cog for a smooth shift, but eventually it will weld the driveshaft to the flywheel and thats it! Time for a new clutch and driveshaft. But please, don't depend on my analyist, Get someone with experience to troubleshoot for you before tearing apart. Its alot of labor, but a $35 pilot bearing can cause a $1000 worth of flywheel, clutch, and driveshaft. You must remove the tranny, torque tube, bell housing and clutch to get to the pilot bearing. Pain in the butt, however if you do the labor yourself (and its not that hard if you take your time),you may get out for a few $$$. If you do have to replace the clutch, get a sprung hub disc, not the POS rubber hub from Porcshe. Good luck

IceShark

Predator, I already have the OEM spring clutch as I have an 88 951S. Which just turned 40,000 miles a couple days ago. When you live in Chicago it is better to take the trains to work. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

I don't know what to do now, with your info. I had the local Porsche dealer look at things and they, of course, said new clutch.

I really don't want to drop the transaxle. It seemed to run great today.

I also wonder if the weather has anything to do with the problem? We are getting to 90F these days.