Thank you for your response . So there really isn't a confirmed third gear weld failure on any 981 gear box and theres no confirmation that the GT4s 3rd gear is any different than the std box? The weld failure is certainly a logical assumption but probably not the only possibility. Really wish we knew for certain i tracked my first GT4 and plan on tracking this one in a few weeks . I guess for now it sounds like the luck of the draw.

I went through the the E46 BMW M3 engine blowing up deal, where rods were breaking . First BMW blamed owners then did a recall and a 100,000 mile warranty as a constellation prize. carl

 

The standard 3rd gear is different because it is not the same ratio. All S,GTS,and GT4 3rd gears are the same.

 

Can I say it now?

FK PORSCHE and their disposable car attitude at the moment. The fact you can't even see these parts in the PET and order them individually, same on the pdk, to allow for repair is bs. I mean stuff fails. Parts break. You know what? Allow parts to fix. Thanks guys like matt keep these damn things running because Porsche doesn't seem to give a sht any more.

Rant over.

 

I haven't seen failures on the 981S did see one on this thread from a GTS.

 

Can someone add an arrow on the gear pic to show where the welds are? I can't tell by looking. Thanks!

 

how safe is it to track a car that has a higher probability of 3rd gear failure? A sudden deceleration with a car immediately behind under acceleration can't be a good situation.

 

Do we have enough information to consider this a "higher probability" issue?

s2ktaxi - you make a good point. I just wonder if the small number of instances compared to the number of cars out there is enough empirical evidence to think a failure is higher probability.

I don't know - that's why I'm asking. I'd be interested in opinions from some folks who have been around awhile, and experienced issues that might provide insight into where this is headed.

If it's a likely failure do we expect a recall?
Are there failures on cars that have not seen track time?

 

delete see below

 

What I gather from this thread is as it sits now the cause is still speculation.

To summarize :

-All S ,GTS and GT4 boxes have the same ratio and welded gear hubs. Yet with the exception of one GTS all the failures seem to be GT4s. The box has been in use since 2012 why no failures from the S's?
-No one has actually seen a failed box taken apart and seen a definitive cause so it's not verified that in fact the failure is a broken weld although that certainly is a possibility .
-There has been no calculated percentage of failures VS total US cars or Vs how many are tracked.
-'No determination to a specific build period or year.
- Does it only affect cars that are tracked?

If we can gather as much data as possible it will help those that have had or may experience the problem. This is just my opinion ...Carl

 

4Carl was mentioning 14 cases in this thread. How many owners worldwide do read this thread? For sure this thread does not represent a large percentage of the owners. Additionally, how many cars are sitting in a garage or for sale in an add and therefore not in a position where the problem might surface? Difficult to say obviously...

What is clear is that the problem appears not after a misuse, that gearboxes are lacking worldwide for replacement and that dealers haven't been reluctant to replace it within the guarantee.

To me the very question is: will the replacement boxes be the same or a modified one. I hope the delay (9 weeks) for delivery speaks for a modified version. Fingers crossed. But how would it be possible to know?

 

4Carl,
That is not accurate. There are boxes apart. The dog rings are breaking off. This is a fact.

 

Thanks for clarifying . So the actual gear design and construction is the same as the std 981S box but the failure is only with the GT4? Correct? Carl

 

No, look back in the thread and there is a guy with a GTS too

 

People who are having a problem with a product are more likely to take the time to research a forum and make a post than those who are having no problems. Relatively fewer people will take the time to make a post just to say "I love this product".

 

(From an earier post)I haven't seen failures on the 981S did see one on this thread from a GTS.