[s-cars] RE: 1st gear tranny noises, cont'd

[Krasusky Paul (WQQ2PXK)]

Dave Forgie offered, then Fred further conferred:

<<<To elaborate on Dave F's post, there are two "tranny noises" associated
with
early UrS4 transmissions.

The first is the pinion bearing noise described in Dave's post. It is speed
related, independent of the gear the tranny is in, and when entering it's
terminal phase has been described as sounding like a jet engine during
take-off.

The second is first gear noise. As Dave mentions, it is caused by galling
first gear by over-enthusiastic use of the loud pedal while in said gear or
by spinning tires (on ice, snow, wet or dry asphalt) while in first gear. It
is only heard when the tranny is in first gear. Audi installed a wider first
gear in the late '95 cars to resolve this issue. The high performance Euro
cars (mit 6 speeds) got a hardened first gear set.>>>





To further elaborate...

I had my 5gang torn down by local tranny shop upon install of the 6gang.  My
1st gear was doing the 2nd noise noted above here for 25k of aggressive use
(90-115k, toward the end I was even TRYING to grenade the thing, literally).
They pointed out the most minimal and barely noticeable (to me at least)
galling on the mainshaft, not 1st gear itself.  Said would likely have
stayed that way forever, which is what I had suspected (never got louder).
Was amazed at the general condition of the internals considering the grenade
attempts I'd made...  looked fabulous, I was pissed.

So, if one can live with the noise associated w/ this issue, no need to
spend ~ $2,250 to address it (not including the removal / install labor).
Unless you just want a 6gang 8-).  Noise isn't that bad really, compared to
pinion noise at least.  Just ask Rossato, he who lives w/ galling 1st gear
noise at a mere 60k, while pretty new CMG sits sleepy in garage, lonely,
getting dusty, heh heh...


HTH, YMMV.

-Paul 6gang still loud via aluminum flywheel K.