Just got off the phone with G-Box. I might owe you guys a beer!

 

Care to share what they told you? Just curious as it sounds like they gave you an easy/cost-effective fix?

 

Be careful to compare apples to apples. The CMS estimate is likely higher because it covers more work and parts replacement than other bids. I get a lot of rework sent my way after "the other guy" did only a part of what was really needed. The 996 transmissions are difficult to service, to some measure because of the interference fit of the gears to the pinion shaft. So it is not uncommon to see work done that avoids replacing the POS front pinion bearing, the one sitting under that gear stack.

 

Will plan on getting Gbox ready to ship
rebuild in future. Install transmission myself as
it doesn’t seem that hard but I am sure I’ll be cussing a storm once I’m in there.

 

CMS rebuilt my G50 gearbox. It was not cheap; in fact it was almost as expensive as the purchase price of the car; parts are fantastically expensive for that gearbox. Their work appears to be topnotch so far. CMS even replated all the hardware and brackets with fresh zinc chromate.

 

Here's to hoping you bought an extremely cheap 996 turbo

 

Unless you know the mechanic well, I would question the advice from this mechanic. How could he have difficulty finding one used??? They aren't difficult at all to find. Did you see the shavings? Are you sure the noise is coming from the transmission? If it is shifting well otherwise, I would definitely try a transmission oil change first. Only 3 quarts required and it is a trivially easy job. I don't think transmission failures are that common on the 996.

 

Adding on to my prior post, the whine issue seems to be fairly easy to fix with just bearings according to this thread => https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...read-this.html

I would definitely find another mechanic if the transmission is otherwise okay.

 

CMS says this on their website..

"The most commonly reported problems are excessive noise and or 2nd gear grinding or popping out. Noise is almost always related to a worn out pinion bearing, the double row ball bearing with dust shield. The misconception is that the bearing is sealed and does not receive proper lubrication. That is simply not the case. The differential spyder gears prematurely wear on model years '99-'01. As those gears wear and as the diff turns it loads the bearing with debris. The dust shield does not help; therefore we remove as part of the rebuilding process. All wheel drive and cars with Limited Slip Differential (option M220) are not affected by this. However contaminated oil can lead to the same problem."


It looks like a new transmission from Porsche is about $8k if you get it from the right dealer (https://www.getporschesilverspringpa...le-99630001003)

If it's $7k all in for a rebuild, seems to me it makes more sense to just buy a new one ready to drop in vs going through the hassle of shipping, unless I am missing something.

 

Note my $7k invoice includes replacing the open diff with a wavetrac, that's almost $1500, I thought it to be worthwhile since the transmission was already out but could be omitted for a street only rebuild.

 

If the new gearbox is $8K, I would just buy that instead of rebuilding.

 

Sorry for the delayed response. I'm looking at about $4,500 between GBox rebuild, shipping, and paying my local shop to do the heavy lifting under the car. This car is primarily my wife's Sunday car, so we're fine with a light rebuild. It's not going to see a track with us at the wheel.

The problem my mechanic ran into was that the transmission shops he has used and trusts didn't have anything on hand. He makes no claims to being a transmission specialist, and I appreciate that honesty. He understandably didn't want to put just any used transmission in there.

 

Keep us posted @WinfieldScott ... appreciate you starting the thread. I have same issues as you, considering same options (Gbox, CMS).. I intend for same use (no track). Good luck regardless!

 

Rebuild wound up costing a bit more than initially estimated because second gear needed to be replaced along with some other parts, but the work is done and the car is drivable again. No complaints. Breakdown below does not include labor for my local guy to drop, drain, pack, and reinstall, which came in right around $1,500 (plus the cost of a large Igloo cooler to ship it in).

Item Description Unit Price Quantity Amount
Product PINION BEARING 487.00 1.00 487.00
Product 2ND GEAR 796.00 1.00 796.00
Product 1/2 SHIFT SLEEVE 881.00 1.00 881.00
Product CONE RINGS 99.00 2.00 198.00
Product SEALS 33.00 3.00 99.00
Service LABOR 1200.00 1.00 1,200.00
Service FED EX FREIGHT SHIPPING TO AND FROM 189.50 2.00 379.00

Total 4,040.00

 

FWIW, Thought this may be of interest from FCP on the 996 transmissions for those that want to gain a better understanding. I for one haven't paid much attention to them. But they are all getting older and probably should study up.

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/the-definit...-transmissions