linderpat

What is a reasonable estimate to have a torque tube repaired/replaced (with Constantine's rebuilt) by a qualified shop, not a dealer? Someone who knows 928s. Car is a 105,000 mile S4 in otherwise very good condition.

daveo90s4

Assume you give the shop your complete old unit (tube, shaft, bearings) all as a single unit job lot, plus the new bearings, all ready to go. Assume also they know what they are doing and have all suitable / required tools at hand.

Disassembly (drive out central shaft, pull out bearings and carriers) :30 - 45 minutes
Press in new bearings and carriers to correct distances : 20 - 30 minutes
Press in central shaft to precise depth (2mm hanging out the back of the tube): 10 - 20 minutes
Allow 60 minutes minimum to 95 minutes maximum.
Excludes allowance for titivation - painting and the like.
Labour only cost - about 1 to 1.5 hrs, plus probably some recognition of cost of special tools (maybe).

Np doubt some have done it faster, some slower (me) but that's my extimate of the time cost a shop would charge.

linderpat

I'm talking about the whole job. Not just fixing the tube. In fact, I would just buy one from Constantine and have that ready to go in.
I'm talking about taking out the bad tube and putting in the good one. I'm told this is very expensive. I know what is involved. I studied Dwayne's write up and other source material here. Just trying to get some ideas of what a decent cost estimate would be to pay someone qualified to do the job.

Dictys

I have it down on my bill - labour 12 hours which equates to US$882 at the rate I was charged.

The new torque tube from Porsche was US$1950.

blown 87

With the tube out I charge 2 hours, some take less, but then you get that one that takes half a day to get the bearings out.

blown 87

Any where from 12 to 30 hours depending on what else needs to be done.

mx22

I asked local shop last year and was told it would cost somewhere in the range of $1500-2000 to have the torque tube replaced. That's if I give them a rebuilt torque tube - they were not willing to replace bearings.

I wonder if it's something that I can do on my own. I think transmission will need to be dropped for Constantine TT to be installed and I'm not sure how to approach that problem. Other then that, it can be done within a day (unless I'll start doing work on transmission when it is out).

dcrasta

You can do it yourself however you will need some tools. A lift makes it doable by one person but I cant imaging trying to solo this without a lift and transmission jack.
I would say this job is not as technically difficult as doing a timing belt , however the heavy parts and undercar work makes it tough.

mickster

Sounds like a good group project with a lift and transmission jack. There is a LOT involved from what I saw on Saturday.

linderpat

I am not interested in doing this job. I'm pretty sure I could - it looks tedious and dirty, but I just don't want to. It would tie up my garage for the whole summer, and I don't have all of the right tools, nor the inclination to try and tackle it (Dwayne makes it look easy)
Besides, the car needs other things, like a top end refresh, mm/pan gasket, etc. (not sure I'd do the mm/pan gasket either). I'd have enough other DIY projects with it.
The car is beautiful though, and it runs well.

linderpat

Michael - what did you guys work on?

mickster

Oh nothing yet. I was under ElGreco's 86.5 where it is already out along with the transmission and rear axle as well as exhaust.

Getting a good look at it all I formed that opinion.

With a few hands I am sure it can be done a little faster but not much.

Stromius

HB4 and Supercedar are experts here . Bill's car has a thread on the torque converter and related BSR&D TT.

supercedar

Stefan,

We are looking forward when yours needs to be done. It is a great time to clean all the under side parts. Try to work it where you are able to take the rear suspension away and detail it. A clean rear suspension looks awesome from behind and the sides.
Thomas

elgreco

let me know if you need a hand with the anything i got everytool at hand