Driving my GT with a Constantine refreshed torque tube
09-03-2010, 12:05 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Driving my GT with a Constantine refreshed torque tube
After much delay (car idle since March) I am finally able to drive my "new" '90 GT. Bought the car in November, drove it about 100 miles before winter weather arrived. Brought it out in March to discover horrible vibration at high rpm. Various issues kept me from the car until July when I got the tube out and sent it to Black Sea R&D. It was back to me in less than two weeks. I was finally able to complete reassembly yesterday. What a change! The car is much smoother and quieter at all rpms and sees 6000 with ease.
Those who answered my many questions on this board along the way will know that I stressed a lot about how to get the tube out. Turned out to be far easier than expected. I removed it with the clutch and tranny in place. Only removed the tranny mount to crossmember bolts and slid the trans back about an inch.
I must admit that my four post lift must be given a lot of the credit. Job was done with all four wheels on the lift and me standing up. I did need two extra hands to drop the tube and again to lift it back in place.
A big "thank you" to all who answered my many questions, especially fellow GT owner Rob Edwards. I can't say enough about the service provided by Constantine at Black Sea. Not only did he return a better than new torque tube in record time at a reasonable price, but he provided much advice along the way by phone and email.
Now to go for a drive.
Those who answered my many questions on this board along the way will know that I stressed a lot about how to get the tube out. Turned out to be far easier than expected. I removed it with the clutch and tranny in place. Only removed the tranny mount to crossmember bolts and slid the trans back about an inch.
I must admit that my four post lift must be given a lot of the credit. Job was done with all four wheels on the lift and me standing up. I did need two extra hands to drop the tube and again to lift it back in place.
A big "thank you" to all who answered my many questions, especially fellow GT owner Rob Edwards. I can't say enough about the service provided by Constantine at Black Sea. Not only did he return a better than new torque tube in record time at a reasonable price, but he provided much advice along the way by phone and email.
Now to go for a drive.
Last edited by Jim Chambers; 09-03-2010 at 03:04 PM.
09-03-2010, 12:16 PM
#2
Archive Gatekeeper
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Enjoy the ride!
09-03-2010, 04:31 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Jim, I know EXACTLY how you feel! Love Constantine's super bearings in my GT's torque tube. Funny how we get used to things wearing down on our cars, then finally get them fixed and it feels like a new car!
Drive that baby!!!
Drive that baby!!!
09-03-2010, 04:43 PM
#5
09-03-2010, 05:03 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
If you have a garage with 9.5 ft of ceiling clearance minimum (11 feet is optimum) a 4 post lift should be in your future. The prices have come down since I bought my first one back in '92. Brand is Autolifters and they were made in Kansas. Great product but went out of business due to inability to be price competitive with Chinese lifts. I bought my first one primarily to turn a 2 car garage into a 3. I soon discovered how it made so many jobs so much easier, especially as I got older (now 68). I even do "wheel off" work on the lift. I use a small jack on the ramp to lift the car and then remove the wheel.
Brake jobs, changing to winter tires/wheels , etc are much easier standing up. I spent plenty of time in my youth laying under cars on concrete and sometimes gravel. I would be long out of the hobby if I had to do that now.
Brake jobs, changing to winter tires/wheels , etc are much easier standing up. I spent plenty of time in my youth laying under cars on concrete and sometimes gravel. I would be long out of the hobby if I had to do that now.
Trending Topics
09-03-2010, 07:12 PM
#8
Former Vendor
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The bearings inserts that hold onto the drive shaft have lost most of their sizing and no longer grip the drive shaft as they should. This then wears the oxide coating off the drive shafts and lets rust into the shaft.
The bearing housings have lost their tolerances too and tend to move around the TT causing vibrations since the drive shaft is not supported correctly. We have a "rebuilt" unit in with the front bearing in over 25" and the owner complaining of severe vibrations.
Not too mention not having to-use the problem prone vibration dampener any longer.
We undertook R&Ding these new TT innards since we felt using all old parts and incorrect bearings wasn't the correct way to go for the money and time to do a TT R&R. We wanted to give those owners who wanted something better a great product for their money. And we think we've done it.
We also understand there are those that can't afford what we sell.
But we don't understand those who want to say something is as good as something else when they haven't used our products.
Cheers,
Last edited by Black Sea RD; 09-03-2010 at 07:29 PM.
09-03-2010, 07:16 PM
#9
Former Vendor
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jim,
Glad you were succesful with your TT R&R and appreciate the very kind words!
Hope you have many trouble free and enjoyable miles with your 928.
It was a pleasure working with you on your project!
Kind regards,
Glad you were succesful with your TT R&R and appreciate the very kind words!
Hope you have many trouble free and enjoyable miles with your 928.
It was a pleasure working with you on your project!
Kind regards,
09-03-2010, 07:46 PM
#10
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congrats! You gotta appriciate how much development happens to a car that hasn't been produced for 15 years.... It's all really fueled by passion for the cars. I don't think anyone that makes the parts are doing it to get rich.
If all of the items now available for the 928 were original equipment on the car (i.e. Contantine's clamp & superbearings, Gates new high strength belt, Porkensioner, lift bars, shearable drive water pump, aluminum radiators and resevoir, sharkvent, drop links, etc, etc, the 928 would have been one of the most reliable cars on the road, maintained higher value, and subsequently a lot of us probably couldn't afford them right now. I'm glad history played out the way it did, because I love my shark!
So here's to you Porsche 928 trick replacement parts makers! Keep doing what you do!
Making the shark a better car one innovation at a time. SALUTE!!!!
If all of the items now available for the 928 were original equipment on the car (i.e. Contantine's clamp & superbearings, Gates new high strength belt, Porkensioner, lift bars, shearable drive water pump, aluminum radiators and resevoir, sharkvent, drop links, etc, etc, the 928 would have been one of the most reliable cars on the road, maintained higher value, and subsequently a lot of us probably couldn't afford them right now. I'm glad history played out the way it did, because I love my shark!
So here's to you Porsche 928 trick replacement parts makers! Keep doing what you do!
Making the shark a better car one innovation at a time. SALUTE!!!!
09-03-2010, 07:51 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
Good point, heres some more, Velour carpet kits, Sharktuner, rebuild of brains, new Lasso pump, SS Y canister tube joint, X-pipes, MSDS, chips, door and console metal reinforcements, spare tire cover, Superchargers, wheels, Champagne seats/panels.... Gotta love these bearings, though. I'm saving for them.
09-03-2010, 08:01 PM
#13
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
The original stock bearings are no longer available. What is being used are bearings with incorrect tolerances and shields.
The bearings inserts that hold onto the drive shaft have lost most of their sizing and no longer grip the drive shaft as they should. This then wears the oxide coating off the drive shafts and lets rust into the shaft.
The bearing housings have lost their tolerances too and tend to move around the TT causing vibrations since the drive shaft is not supported correctly. We have a "rebuilt" unit in with the front bearing in over 25" and the owner complaining of severe vibrations.
Not too mention not having to-use the problem prone vibration dampener any longer.
We undertook R&Ding these new TT innards since we felt using all old parts and incorrect bearings wasn't the correct way to go for the money and time to do a TT R&R. We wanted to give those owners who wanted something better a great product for their money. And we think we've done it.
We also understand there are those that can't afford what we sell.
But we don't understand those who want to say something is as good as something else when they haven't used our products.
Cheers,
The bearings inserts that hold onto the drive shaft have lost most of their sizing and no longer grip the drive shaft as they should. This then wears the oxide coating off the drive shafts and lets rust into the shaft.
The bearing housings have lost their tolerances too and tend to move around the TT causing vibrations since the drive shaft is not supported correctly. We have a "rebuilt" unit in with the front bearing in over 25" and the owner complaining of severe vibrations.
Not too mention not having to-use the problem prone vibration dampener any longer.
We undertook R&Ding these new TT innards since we felt using all old parts and incorrect bearings wasn't the correct way to go for the money and time to do a TT R&R. We wanted to give those owners who wanted something better a great product for their money. And we think we've done it.
We also understand there are those that can't afford what we sell.
But we don't understand those who want to say something is as good as something else when they haven't used our products.
Cheers,
09-03-2010, 10:44 PM
#14
Pro
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Redmond, Oregon
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hearing about Constantine from Jim made me want to deal with him in the future. I think I know where I will be going for my 924 and 944 when it's torque tube time in the near future 
Constantine if i wish to press my own bearings out and in do you sell them individually?
After working on that torque tube I'm jealous. I wish my 944 was a less of a pain in the butt.
For what it's worth, those bearings were gliding butter smooth. It was night and day, the old tube was definitely a wonderfully grinding/noisy SOB. You couldn't hardly hear the new one turn. Very impressive. Mine currently sounds like ballbearings in a folgers coffee can, i'll be in contact soon, LOL.
Constantine if i wish to press my own bearings out and in do you sell them individually?
After working on that torque tube I'm jealous. I wish my 944 was a less of a pain in the butt.
For what it's worth, those bearings were gliding butter smooth. It was night and day, the old tube was definitely a wonderfully grinding/noisy SOB. You couldn't hardly hear the new one turn. Very impressive. Mine currently sounds like ballbearings in a folgers coffee can, i'll be in contact soon, LOL.