MainePorsche

Guys,
Simple question which I think I know the answer to, but since I'm not absolutely sure, I post to you.

After measuring tension and (lack of) endplay initially, I put the PKlamp on. I checked three time since and the was no change in spline length.
Do I have to release both clamps for tension check, or is having the exact same spline length enough without releasing the clamps good enough ?

Thanks in Advance
Craig

Tom in Austin

When Sean looked at mine the other day he looked for flex plate deflection. Had one mm and he readjusted the pklamp so there was no deflection ...

FredR

Craig,

When you set the stock clamp you paint the shaft protrusion white either side of the clamp as a visual guage. I dare say you can do this with the pklamp fitted but have not seen one close up. The mark then acts as a visual cue to tell you if there is any slippage which I very much doubt will ever be the case with the pklamp fitted.

The exact same spline length in effect is the same measure.

Regards

Fred R

MainePorsche

Fred,
Thank you for the confirmation.
Craig

GregBBRD

Put a staright edge on the flexplate. As long as the flex plate is flat, you need to do nothing. If you need to re-flatten the flex plate, even minimally, you will have to loosen both clamps.

Bertrand Daoust

Craig,

If you're sure that it is at the same place, then I would not touch anything.

Like Fred said the best thing to do is to put some white paint on the spline.
That way you will see if anything moves.
+1 on the straight edge test.

Mine didn't move since the PKlamp is there!

MainePorsche

Guys,
Thanks for the confirm.
I've marked two splines on their length to measure the same ones. Both have been 7.4 mm on three checks post PKlamp application. I just wanted to be confirmed as to what I thought.
Greg, I will straight edge it as well for double assurance.
Thanks again.
Craig

brianrheffron

Like Greg said.
You could have a problem with the clamp at the rear
and the white paint method would not alert you to that.
If you gone as far as to expose the front clamps for
inspection why would you not release then retighten
them just to be sure.

MainePorsche

Brian,
Thanks for your input.
I have on my three rechecks measured, then loosened the clamps just to be sure. I think what I'll do now, as part of the routine, is to measure spline length first. Then straight edge the flexplate second. I'll then act according to the results found.

FredR

Brian,

I do not agree with your observation here- when the clamp is on the move it moves forward & you will see the gap in the paint line very clearly- been there- done that- got the tee shirt 11 years ago.

Once the Pklamp or Constantine clamp or the loctite mod are deployed I have never heard of the assembly slipping. In my heavy crash 6 years ago that wrecked my late S4 the impact bent the drive shaft but the loctited splines did not slip through that trauma!

Regards

Fred

MainePorsche

That's kind of what I thought.

the flyin' scotsman

the rear pinch bolt fits in a notch in the shaft setting the shaft in place. The bolt can loosen which causes other issues to the driveline.

I check the front flex plate and all the clamps including the PKlamp......all good

Bill Ball

I'm still in the habit of loosening both front clamps (stock + PKlamp) about once a year to check the crank endplay, even if there is no apparent movement (break in the paint mark and/or bowing of the flexplate - the two should be coincident). I'm still just a bit paranoid even though my crank endplay has never changed (0.008"), even before the PKlamp when the flexplate routinely would accumulate 3mm of preload.

GregBBRD

Without preload on the flexplate, the endplay will never change. If you are like me and have a ten page list of things to do, go do one of those other things, instead of wasting your time here.

At this point in my life, after looking at this stuff for so many years, I can "peak" up through that little hole in the cover, rotate the engine to the proper position, and know if I even need to lower the exhaust and remove the cover.