Kevin in Atlanta

1987 S4 5 speed TT with super bearings pinned (Mike Simmard's work). (Not super bearing!)

Noise is more of a whoosh. Not a rattle. Sounds like it's coming from the PS floor.

Noise started after a local shop swapped a '89 in for the '87 transmission. TOB, pilot bearing and guide tube all replaced before the swap and there was no noise then.

Noise presents itself at a stand still while clutch pedal is released and disappears when clutch is depressed - classic TOB, right?

Rolling downhill with car in gear, clutch pedal released or not, the sound is present. TT, right?

Trying figure out if in the process of doing the swap the shop did something unexpected or is there a problem with the donor '89 transmission.

Ideas?

Mrmerlin

hopefully they didnt bend the driveshaft,
this can easily happen when the weight of the transaxle rests on the input shaft to driveshaft

granprixweiss928

or bad input bearing on the trans ?

Kevin in Atlanta

More data: I can modulate the sound louder with the clutch out while pulling the gear shift up. This car has a Mike Simmard shifter that eliminates the front ball cup like Han's.

I need to take a look at the shifter.

Petza914

Any chance they changed the transmission mounts at the same time and used a semi solid or solid version? That would transmit this type of noise to the car with the clutch pedal released and it would go away when the clutch pedal is depressed.

Kevin in Atlanta

No, although that makes me wonder. I need to look at them.

Kevin in Atlanta

Here's what it sounds like. When the clutch is depressed - silence.

GregBBRD

What is all that hardware inserted in the very back of the torque tube, right at the transmission?

There's certainly no bearing that far back and even the frequency absorber should be further forward.

Kevin in Atlanta

Mike Simmard pinned the super clamps is what I was told.

Mrmerlin

pull the rear rubber plug out and see if the pinch collar is rubbing

Kevin in Atlanta

Will do.

Kevin in Atlanta

Stan, you were right to ask me to look at the rear coupler.

Here's a picture of the rear bearing. Clearly the inner portion has moved rearward.

I'm going to guess that my shop stood the TT on it's end. And I'm sure that's NOT Constantine's Super bearing. (Just got off the phone with him)

SeanR

I laughed when I saw the bolts added to the tube. No way in hell are those in the right place.

Kevin in Atlanta

If I made you laugh my day is complete. :-)

I was able to push the bearing forward a bit with no change, so I assume the other bearings suffered the same movement.

I know where the TT came from and who reportedly did the work. I think it would have been fine except for the standing the TT on the forward end.

I have a couple to manual TT's and I'll drop one of them of with Constantine shortly.

SeanR

Tell him I said hello and his latest shipment has made my customer a very happy man.