Mongo

this morning my mom broke down in the parking lot at her work and noticed an obscene amount of ATF leaking from the rear of the car near the torque convertor. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> We towed the car over to our friend's shop hoping he would make sense out of all this. I had talked to him recently and found out there is a leak in the transmission and that the torque tube is noisy (growling and chattering) and must be replaced. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

Right now my family's in shock, and I think my mom is gonna kill my dad and me for wanting the car. But first I need to find a torque tube for the cheapest price, rebuilt preferrably. I have found one at 928 International for 495 on an exchange basis. The time won't come to do this job until my family gets back their tax return. I have read Tony's steps on doing it and have decided that I'd rather have the shop do it.

I don't know what would be a good price for replacement since I have seen anywhere from 2000-3000 for replacement. My friend says he can do it for around 1000-1500. I'm wondering what's the average time to do a job like this??? I don't have shop manuals left but I've heard around 12-20 hours. Anyways I'm inshock just like the rest of my family and a little stumped at how a transmission can leak a large puddle of ATF within 30 min, completely draining the reservoir and torque converter and Torque tube.... <img border="0" alt="[oops]" title="" src="graemlins/oops.gif" /> Sorry for my rant... <img border="0" alt="[soapbox]" title="" src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

Barry Johnson

Oh no! VERY sorry to hear about that! Thats one of the biggest 928 fears... I'd say if you don't want to do it and you know a guy who can do it for around a grand, that could be your best bet, and it would also be very nice if he could only charge you for the time spent on the car, and not on what the book might say to charge. My friend can drop his tranny and suspension in 3 hours, so I think your friend could do it under 10 hours for the total job if hes actually done it before, right guys? Man, that just sucks! Heres a tip though, when you replace the TT, make SURE you have the thrust bearing replaced too. Those can eat away into your block and destroy that nice engine, and its very good insurance to make sure thats taken care of. I think some other listers can back me up on that. Hope you get it taken care of soon! Best of luck buddy!

Randy V

10-12 hours labour to R&R the torque tube is typical.

Jim bailey - 928 International

A massive leak sounds more like a burst rubber hose than a transmission failure . The central tube can make noise for quite a while before it gets really bad . It is not lubricated so the loss of trans fluid did nothing to the tube . 10-12 hours to remove and reinstall the transmission and central tube is pretty standard . The comment about the thrust bearing needing changed is incorrect . That would require removing and rebuilding the engine since it is one of the center main bearings on the crankshaft . It is important that the crankshaft not be loaded by incorrectly installing the transmission central tube . Rebuilding the transmission is often $2,000 or more plus the 10-12 hours remove and install .

Nicole

I'm not sure, if I would trust "a friend" who would do the job for cheap, because doing this job wrong can cause a lot of damage later on.

I once test drove a 928 which had gotten a new torque tube, but made some consistent whining sound. The seller told me they had forgotten to replace some little bearing, which would only cost a few dollars. Naturally, I ran...

My transmission leaked at the torque converter, and a new seal was installed. I suspect the bolts for the half shafts were not torqued correctly, because one half shaft came off last year. I was lucky to be really slow at a traffic light - otherwise this could have been a big deasaster.

Eric Dvorak

Last year my 87' blew the trans. hose while I was driving home from work, I would check this first as it's not that difficult to replace (replace both supply & return lines). Fill the res. up and have someone start the car while you look to see where it's coming from, if I recall correctly they run up the pass. side right next to the torque tube.

Joe '87 S4

I'm with Nicole on this one. Have some one do it so it's done correctly. Mine is in the shop right now getting the TT done.

Jay Wellwood

Be not afraid of doing the job yourself. it can be done, just takes a little time (well, okay - at least a weekend).

The most cost involved by having another do this job is the labor. I did my TT, based in part on Tony's experience. It's really not that bad of a job. $2-3K for parts (about $550 in parts, the rest labor) is a good payback. Besides, you'll get the chance to 'get intimate' with the shark.

Not a bad deal IMHO...

Steve J.

My major leak turned out to be a cracked ATF reservoir. Tried a temporary fix with some RTV but didn't hold. Replaced tank and o-ring. Careful not to over tighten.
<img src="http://www.flash.net/~ego/atfres01.jpg" alt=" - " />

Sab

A sudden significant leak really sounds like a broken hose, the trans cooling lines get really brittal being so close to the exhaust. My torque converter started leaking, but it took a year to really get bad and I replaced it. I ended up replacing all trans cooling lines, since they looked like breaking while the car was on the lift. If the cooling lines are your problem you can probably fix them and only remove your exhaust and the heat shields.
In regards to your noisy TT, if it's only making noise and not causing vibrations it could also be a loose rear pinchbolt.
I would recommend you investigate it a bit further before having someone take it all apart.
Good luck,
Sab.

tdelarm

EuroSpec944,

Email me if you need help with getting manuals. Also, you're links are dead and need reposting as they had a hard-drive crash...I know...lots of fun.

Mongo

Hey guys I have an update on my bleeding shark And it's not good. The car drove home today fine, but there were two leaks: one coming near the grill that houses the torque converter, the other coming from the front of the car near the bellhousing which seems to be near the origin of the torque tube!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

He took the car out for a test spin and no leaks were present after cleaning it and removing the exhaust system!!! <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> The car was also shifting smooth but still had the growl and chatter. If the torque tube is the case, I am working on getting a rebuilt from 928 International but the core and shipping is what I'm worried about, so when the tax return comes in, I intend to drive to Van Nuys and pick one up myself, put 300 down for the core, and haul *** back down and have my mechanic put it in. BTW my mechanic is my friend. But he doesn't think it'll be a grand anymore, maybe around 1200-1500 bracket. I'm praying to god that it's around there, not including the repairs of the seals. But, he said he'll do that also. Guys I never knew these cars ate torque tubes like this...it's kinda scary and its really starting to discourage me since I get the title when I graduate CalState San Marcos. Tell me this is the most of my woes that will be gone for a long period of time when it comes to the drivetrain. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" /> I hope everything turns out ok with the car in a couple weeks because thats when it will go in.....when we get the money. for now my baby shark *944* will have to rough it..

<img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

Barry Johnson

Yeah bud, thats the only drivetrain related problems you'll have to really worry about. Also make sure your timing belt service is done on time and you shouldn't have any problems like this. You'll love the 928, the longer you own it, the more you become a fan. Trust me.

Jessa

And past a certain point, the longer you own it, the "newer" it gets - all the those shiny new replacement parts!

Jay Wellwood

There are a couple of things to consider when doing the TT job...

1) Be sure to replace the Torque Converter bearings while you're in there.

2) Replace the o-ring seal.

3) Since you're going to have everthing out, look at the transmission mounts.

4) Consider the CV Joint boots, although they can be done at another time.

5) Parking Brake shoes and inner hub condition.

Good Luck!