Kevin Baker

When I decel, in gear, I hear a whine from the rear of the car. Is this the clutch, transmission, torque tube? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

tifosiman

Is it a loud whine or a very slight, muffled mechanical whine? If it is slight, probably the normal "mechanical" sound that all 944's have. If it is fairly loud, though, it may be your pinion gear bearings. Don't let that go if that is the case. If the bearings are left in that state, you will eventually get to experience transmission failure (ask me how I know all about this). Cheaper to have it worked on now if they are bad than to let it go and have to buy a new/rebuilt tranny.

When was the last time you changed your trans fluid?

Tifo

IPSC

My 944S has a "whine when decelerating" and in my case it is the torque tube. For your trouble shooting I would check and change your gear oil in your tranny today. If the whine is still thereit may be the torque tube bearing. I have done nothing because it hasn't got any worse and after the clutch job the idea of removing and replacing the torque tube is even less apealing. I think I would rather pull the engine. Anyway get the tranny checked and rule that out as a source and go from there.

IPSC

Kevin Baker

Fairly loud? I just got the car two weeks ago. I will change trans oil on Sat. Where is the drain, and what should I refill it with?
Thanks for the advice. BTW it kinda sounds like the school buses we used to ride in as kids.

Steve Cattaneo

A wining noise on coasting is usually the rear, worn ring and pinion, excessive back lash or low on oil. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Kevin Baker

Steve, thanks. How to change,add oil?

Skip

[quote]Originally posted by Kevin Baker:
<strong>How to change,add oil?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Try this Tech-Session: <a href="http://64.226.197.185/Paragon/Tech/944_transaxle_fluid_change.htm" target="_blank">944 Transaxle Fluid Change</a>

Good Luck!

Damian in NJ

I guess I thought the pinion problem was mostly affecting some 968's with the Getrag 6 speed trans. Drive along around 65, let off the gas, and if it sounds like a jet trying to land in your backseat-voila, you've got pinion bearing problems.

User 41221

It seems like 944's just like to whine... at least mine do. On my '84, its whined loudly from day one. Of course that was a major concern to me at first, but pretty much everyone I talked to about it (this was pre-rennlist, btw) said as long as the car is driving fine, don't worry about it. I still worried about it, but drove the car anyway. The car currently has 300k miles on it (I have driven it approx 150k miles) and the whine is still the same.

On my '86, its not nearly as loud, but it still whines and rattles too. The tranny is very tight and will probably last forever (darnit! no excuse to use on the SO to buy that LSD I want). Its not as loud as the '84, but its definitely there.

As far as *what* your whine is... does it go away when you are decelerating and push the clutch pedal in? If so, its most likely your torque tube. If not, its in the tranny and is most likely one of the outer bearings. If its your ring and pinion, trust me, you will find out in short order, as once they start to go, they go quick. To find out if thats the problem, change your tranny oil... if you have metal slivers, start saving your money, as you will be spending it soon. If its fine metal particles, its a bearing, and its really not a big deal to get fixed (a couple of hours of labor if you have access to a lift).

My advice will run opposite of what everyone else will probably tell you, but I would say change the tranny oil if it makes you feel better, but other than that, I would just drive the car. If you really have something going out on the car, you will know it soon enough. In all the 150k miles that I have driven my '84 waiting for the *worst* to happen with that whining... all sorts of other things have gone wrong, but the tranny/clutch is still going strong.

Regards, ...Scott

User 41221

Hey Skip,

On your tranny fluid tech session, you say "Most shops and seasoned owners will recommend that you use a higher grade synthetic gear oil like Swepco or Red Line (75W90 for LSD and non-LSD)."

Good advice and I like Swepco myself, but if I recall correctly, Swepco isn't synthetic, is it? Just going from memory here, so if I am wrong, please correct me.

As for Swepco, I saw a rep do a demo with the stuff once... he took a plain kitchen mixer with the egg beater on it, turned it on and put it in a bowl with just a little Swepco in it and we watched the oil climb up the beaters. Once he turned it off, it held in place very well. He then did the same thing with regular tranny oil (Texaco plainjane gear lube, if I recall correctly), and no only did it not climb up the beaters, but it ran off the beaters quickly. I pretty much just run Swepco in my '84 and '86 now. Not the most scientific of tests, and I believe I have heard of Redline doing the same sort of demo, but I was still impressed.

Regards, ...Scott

Kevin Baker

Scott,& Skip, Thanks a bundle. I think the noise does go away if I depress the clutch, I check in little bit. If it does go away, you say it is the torque tube, how to fix that, or could it be the TO bearing, the car still has the original clutch (I belive) rubber center and all. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

crazandy

On step 2 it says "Before removing the drain plug, check to see if you can remove the fill plug. If you can then it would make refilling impossible... these things do cease." but shouldn't that be "If you can't then it would make refilling impossible"?

Steve Cattaneo

If you have LSD and you use synthetic oil there is no need for a friction modifier. (Unless it chatters) Synthetic oil is very slippery. If you use dino oil you must use a LSD oil modifier, if not the differential will chatter. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

User 41221

If its the torque tube, just wait until you need to do the clutch and then take care of it at that time, since the torque tube has to come out to get to the clutch. Chances are, you won't be facing a catastophic failure with it anytime soon. I have only heard of one torque tube bearing failing to the point that the car was rendered undriveable in the entire time I have been playing with Porsches, so I think you are pretty safe.

If I recall correctly, rebuilt torque tubes seem to be selling for about $500, altho you need to ask someone who has bought one to be sure. Also, from time to time you hear about people rebuilding themselves, and if you search the archives, you will probably come across Martin's posts on doing so. If you feel like shipping your torque tube to Canada, Markus Blazak rebuilds them for about $250, but by the time you get done paying for shipping, you may as well have bought a new one. lol

And as mentioned before, when changing tranny fluid, MAKE SURE YOU LOOSEN THE TOP (REFILL) PLUG FIRST! Its not a lot of fun to drain the fluid and then find out that you can't put any fluid back in. I put anti-seize on the plug threads, and never have a problem.

Regards, ...Scott

Kevin Baker

Scott, many thanks. You don't think it could be the clutch (TO bearing)?