follow up to transmission dead? probably not clutch 89 90q

[Huw Powell]

> 1)  Are the transmission and the torsen all part of one big piece/in the
> same housing?  If I were to buy a used transmission, could i get both?

Yes.

> 
> 2)  With what degree of certainty is it the torsen or the input shaft?

none. could be the "typical" clutch failure, ie the release bearing is
in bits and strewn about the inside of the bell housing.

How to check this?  Well, you could put the car in first and start it
(watch out, you're gonna start moving!) - now you are driving in first,
have a simple little route planned that returns the car "off road"
safely and see how it feels.  Oh yeah, that's right, it's making all
that noise so it is hard to tell.

> 
> 3)  Is it worth it to have the car fixed, have the transmission/diff
> replaced, just start looking for audi #2?

sure do it.  having a line on a used tranny would be good - pull the old
one, then take a look and see if you figure out what broke.  if
necessary use the "new" tranny.  If not, don't need to buy it.

> 
> 4)  How much of a pain is it for one to swap transmissions in this car?

It's a regular barrel of laughs.  Marc, Nate & I have all acquired cheap
90Q's in the last year, all required some sort of work in this area
(mine bad clutch release, Marcs bad tranny, Nates - ?).  Nate and I took
12 hours together to do mine.  Marc did his alone (!) in his garage. 
Nate probably did his with one hand tied behind his back to make it
interesting.

> I'd be replacing clutch as well, what are the chances that it's something
> else and that this wouldn't fix it?

once the tranny is out, you might be able to tell what broke, and also
spin the input shaft in gears and see what it looks/spounds like.

> 
> 5)  I believe Aamco is being unreasonable, am I right in this opinion? 

I think so.  $900 (roughly) = 18 hours at $50/hour.  that's only 25%
more efficient than Nate & I working on jackstands with no tranny jack! 
They should be embarassed, unless that was including all the clutch
parts and reinstallation.  A pro should be able to do this job in 6-8
hours.

New:

clutch/pressure plate/release bearing/pilot bearing (about $250)
rear main seal (10-15)
rear main seal plate gasket ($1)
tranny input shaft seal (under 10)
maybe, release bearing guide thing (10-15)
tranny lube, just over 2 qts.
maybe CV joint gaskets :-)
clutch slave cylinder (50-70)
a good time for a new shift linkage if necessary, though it easy to swap
later (about 70?)
two new tranny mounts (12-15 each)
new locknuts for tierod bracket bolts, tranny mounts.
lube prop shaft u-joint while it's exposed
technically you are supposed to install new flywheel bolts (2 each x 8
?)

and have fun!

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/