Backmarker

I had my transmission and diff oil changed today, and stuck on the drain plug was a small chunk of metal. Small means about 2x5x1 mm

19000 miles, about 15 track days (16 this weekend)

Anyone else seen this in their car?

No HTwo O

You could have sent the trans fluid to a lab like Blackstone for an oil analysis, just like engine oil. I will be doing this exact thing on Friday. The drain plug is magnetized, right?

Mr Michael B

I just had a Testarossa transmission drain plug show me 3 sheared bolt heads & a retainer on the magnet (all from the ring gear)... So it could be worse.

Drive on Captain.

Backmarker

Planning to drive on, just looking for other data points thanks!

GTgears

Backmarker,
Did you save it? Can you post a picture? The most common thing in that size range would be a tooth broken off of a dog ring. Have you ever had a gear crunch real hard and loud on a crummy shift?

Erik@GBox

Well depending on when the last time you had your gearbox serviced, it may be time. That piece of metal could be several things, some worse then others as you might imagine. As I recall your gearbox should be at least inspected for wear and damage about every 30 hours of use or so. If you do have a part that is giving away, and you wait for it to completely fail, you may run the risk of doing substantially more damage to your gearbox. I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but gearboxes do need to be looked after a bit more often in a race car then they do in a street car.

I would be happy to help you with this if you do not already have a builder that you trust. Feel free to give me a call to discuss this in more detail.

Warmest Regards,


Erik Johnson
GBox Sales Manager
(303) 440-8899 work
(303) 895-4828 cell
www.gboxweb.com

Bernie930

Let`s say this is a street car, 30 hour service intervals would be retarded, you are correct, 30 hours is the inspecion standard, but that is pretty much full rebuild time for a 997 sequential box (per porsche service). Depending on the driver and amount of track days, sure you could warrant an inspection after 30 hrs on a street car, some even a lot less (I like those customers). But in the case of finding a big cunk of metal on the drain plug, Ì would rather be safe than sorry. May guess, you broke a thooth of 3rd gear.
Bernie

Glen

Seen pieces of ring gears about that size, not good. Pull it, drop into a walmart large white cooler and send to trans builder of your choice. Toppracing@gmail.com is who I use. Autometrics, chris Cervelli, or Copans also are very good depending on your preferences..

85Gold

+1 And as for service time I had my 996GT3 Tranny inspected around 15,000 miles and all was well. That was a good feeling. Little pieces make big pieces and the $$$$ go up quick.

Peter

GTgears

Yeah, this is where I was going with my line of thought.

Your profile says you are in S.F. You could take it to Jerry Woods, or any other number of very good shops in the Bay Area. I wouldn't even consider ripping it out of the car and shipping it somewhere with the number of good mechanics you have within 100 miles of you.

85Gold

Look at this as a benefit. Regear the tranny to better track specs. I mean as long as you are in there.

Peter

996FLT6

85gold-how did they inspect tranny? Just check oil or they literally open it up? Thanks. Mike

85Gold

Opened it up to check bearings, synchro's and gears. Didn't have the budget to change gearing.

Peter

Backmarker

Well it didn't blow up at the track today, though Sears Point did claim another GT3 victim

I will have it checked out over the winter, what's ballpark cost to re-gear? Would be nice to have a little taller 3rd for Laguna and Sears Point.

996FLT6

9-10k including labor for regear. Stock
3rd gear is already long why go longer? U don't want to do 4th gear? Regear usually is set for shorter that way your always in the Trq band and matches well with lwf. Mike