Hi,
I've been looking at a 92 968. I love the car and it seems well cared for, however.....I'm deeply concerned about getting smacked with a 3K repair bill for a lit pinion in the future (there currently is no indication of a problem).
Has this problem been overstated or should I be treating this like all 92 six speeds likely have this issue now or will soon from now? The car has over 85000 miles now, when can you say its probably okay?
With the cost difference between a 951 or S2 and a 968 is this possibility enough to stay away from them if you would be happy in either of the other models as well?

Thanks for the insights,
SSchulze

 

First off, let me make this clear. There is no such thing as all 92 cars having this problem. Any year 968 can have this problem. Some people use this as a ploy to try to sell a trans from a different model year car.
The fix should not be more than 8 hrs of labor and another 4 hrs of R&R. Add to that the cost of all gaskets, bearing and seals, you should never be paying more than $1500-$1600 for this job.
If the car has not had this fixed, take it into account when you price it.
I would not let a pinion bearing problem stop me from buying a 968. A 951 clutch could cost you more and based on mileage the probability of the clutch going bad are higher than the pinion bearing. Just remember a clutch job on a 968 is only 4 hrs compared to 16-18 for the other. So, you gain a little here, you lose a little there.
Get what your heart wants and deal with whatever comes your way if and when it happens . Take care and good luck.
Raj

 

It is not a rule, but the pinion bearing failure often happens way before 85K miles if it is going to happen. It certainly is possible that it will not happen to the car you are looking at. And as Raj said, changing it is less expensive than a 951 or S2 clutch.

 

I believe it was www.968.net discussion group that had a thread a while back where 968 owners posted the mileage of their 968, and mileage when the pinion problems occurred (if any). Most who posted did not have a problem. There were some examples of it occurring in the 157K mile range, but my impression was that those that had problems had them between 40K and 75K

I have owned my 968 since near new and now it has about 100K and never a pinion problem - or any other problem for that matter. I did need to get a new starter motor.

 

Raj

Since some 968 have had the problem and presumably both fixed and fixed correctly, and since other 968 have not, and if the probability based upon the 968.net survey is about 25% of 968 will get the probem, then the expected cost for a 968 whose pinion bearings have not been reset is (25%)x($1,600) = $400. So, under uncertainty, and between two identical 968, one that has been fixed and the other not, then the one not fixed should be $400 less. Of course if you get more off, all the better.

In other words, since the problem does not occur in all 968, the seller does not need to reduce the price by the total amount of the cost of the fix. Remember before you buy, the 968 is a Porsche and not inexpensive to maintain.

 

At 85k and 12 years I think the danger has largely passed. Chances are much higher that the car will need a clutch soon. The previous owner of my car had the pinion bearing repaired at 57k, just before I bought the car. Cost just over $2000.
I would not dwell on this possible problem. Buy the car if the price is right.

 

My 94 coupe had the pinion bearing problem at 105,000 miles. My experience is that with any 968 it is only a matter of time before the repair is necessary. Unless the car you are considering has all records then there is obviously no way to know if the car had the problem/repair until it goes in for the repair. Evidence seems to support that most failures happen at lower mileage. The $1500 to $1600 cost of repair is more realistic and certianly better then $3000. I am agreement that if the price is right buy the car and enjoy.