tda1

Well I took my car to ASG to have them do the torque tube. Good guys there. They got it apart yesterday and did a diagnosis this morning. Turns out the noise I was hearing was resonating down the tube from the tranny.
They took it to their transmission guys and now I'm likely looking at a major expense. So much for the supercharger .

Lizard928

It is likely just the torque converter bearings. Fairly easy to replace.
Also replace the rivets while you are in there.

James Bailey

Changing the front input bearings on the torque convertor is a SMALL job one which I ALWAYS recommended be done at the SAME time as the torque tube....Because part of the time one hides the sound of the other. Or is simply misdiagnosed and after the torque tube is replaced and all back together they start up the car and the noise is still there......

Imo000

Usually you can see if the front converter bearing is gone. There will be signs of grease coming out between the inner race and the seal.

Avar928

Brett,

Don't forget to mention the 10% off labor coupon for first-time visitors, if that helps.

SMTCapeCod

Is that really the information they provided to you?

Something's wrong, we're packing it off to our trans experts?

wow...them's some skilled technicians ya got there, top notch.

Seriously...this is mid-eighties technology...and a trans that, while I'm sure they prefer manuals, was pretty prolific given the number of Benz and Porsche installs. Assuming I'm right in following others' indications that its an auto.

Captain_Slow

Just in case you find yourself wanting to get a second opinion. Taylor Chapman (Chapman Autowerks...just off Rt. 28 west of Herndon) can do this job in house and he will recommend you order a rebuilt torque tube from 928International because the price is very reasonable and it comes with a warranty.

tda1

They checked and said there is nothing wrong with the tube...they ran the car disconnected from the transmission and there was no noise from the tube whatsoever.

Landseer

Can you say more about how the car was acting before you brought it into the shop?

The TT typically is assessed by spinning by hand, removed. Should have been the first disconnection they made up there under the bell housing cover, along with commentary about flexplate and endplay measurement.

Even bad coil wire or injector can make the engine run such that the transmission seems like it is on its last legs. The shudder my 85 was experiencing ended-up being two clogged injectors. Felt like trans, honestly, could feel what I thought was grinding thru the gas pedal.

Wondering about misdiagnosis here, leading straight to the thick part of your wallet. Car needs to be in the hands of 928'rs. Shop has some pictures online, looks like they have specfic expertise ( and five star reviews ) with all kinds of 911 variants. 911-ism, on its own, has very little connectivity with 928. Hopefully they really know this car.

Hoping to slow your shop guys down a bit. Not so much about the money, but so far nothing says you had trans problems and if they got there so quickly, chances are they nor their transmission shop has a lick of knowledge about these cars. Just sayin, hope I'm wrong, there's got to be more to the story here.

Awesome looking car in your avatar, BTW.

Leon Speed

This might be too easy reasoning since the transmission and wheels also exert force on the torque tube.

tda1

At Idle, the car would make a rattling sound as if something was loose. I checked the heat sheilds, exhaust, and got under the car while it was running. The sound came from the vented area near the transmission housing and the sound resonated up the tube. It sounded like it was right between my seats. It went away while the car was going but it returned each time I stopped.
As for driving, there was some hesitation off the line as of late but nothing major. The car seemed to shift fine, no clunks and smooth thru all the gears.
Flex plate check showed less than 2mm of bow

Avar928

If the problem is the bearings like what James and Lizard said then their assumption may be correct.

I'd convey the community suspected findings to them so you can establish dialogue. Considering you only have just over 60k on that trans I doubt it's anything serious.

ASG has hosted Frenzy events for several years in the past. When I was there they gave me the run through and they have 928 customers, though not as abundant as their 911s of course. I'm fairly sure they know what they're doing with 928s.

Lizard928

It's either the torque converter bearings, or the plate rivets. Which all should be done at the same time.
I normally also replace the front seals on the transmission.

tda1

Thanks guys...On monday morning I will contact them to make sure that's the first thing they check.

SMTCapeCod

There is a TSB on the rivets, might be a good plan to hunt that down and provide to them. That seems like it would be a little easier to miss than the converter bearing. Again, not sure of the necessity to pack of the trans for either of those.
Not to speak for others, but I think some of us are on this because there are a couple known failure points that can present with the symptoms you describe, yet low mile failures of major mechanisms *seem* to be very very rare. I think I recall one pinion gear adjustment issue, but not much else. Of course, I'm sure the folks that run and work in the shops have seen a bit of everything and could offer counterpoints. Good luck, hope you'll keep the thread rolling!