986 five-speed tranny - unmodified Audi 012?
 

As above, I understand the five-speed transaxle in the 986 is an Audi 012 unit. Most references seem to indicate it's externally identical.

Is it literally identical / off the shelf. Could you use a salvage 012 from, say, an A4 and stick it straight into a Box?

The short answer is yes as the A4 and VW Passat have the same transmission with one difference in the gearing of 2nd and 3rd gear. It will bolt up.

Note: If you have taken your transmission off you will see extra bolt holes on the housing. They will fit each of the aforementioned cars.

Gearing lower or higher in the VW Audi version?

Over here, good used Boxster transmissions are only running $400-$500 ea. My Spec Boxster racing friends have 2-3 spares each. When one fails, they just swap in a replacement. Broken units are sold for scrap since it costs more to rebuild (~$1,200) than to replace.

They're probably about £500 here. But you can probably pick up the Audi version for under £100.

Was just wondering. If it's a minor ratio difference - and especially if those ratios were lower - I'd have no problem shoving the Audi unit in. No problem with mine, was just wondering.

Here is what I have been able to find:

Porsche
five-speed transaxle or five-speed Tiptronic S dual-function transmission

Gear Ratios (manual)
1st 3.50:1
2nd 2.12:1
3rd 1.43:1
4th 1.03:1
5th 0.79:1
Reverse 3.44:1
Final Drive 3.89:1

Gear Ratios (Tiptronic S)
1st 3.66:1
2nd 2.00:1
3rd 1.41:1
4th 1.00:1
5th 0.74:1
Reverse 4.10:1
Final Drive 4.21:1

ETKA, but it takes a while, even for one specific tranny code - here are just the basic engine/tranny combos for 1999-2000 Passat 4-cylinder TDIs w/ manual trans (MKB = Motor Code, GKB = Tranny Code):

For example, the ELN / ELP transmission (6 speed) lists as:

Final drive: 3.875
1st - 3.50
2nd - 1.889
3rd - 1.231
4th - 0.871
5th - 0.667
6th - 0.561

The five speed EXC / EYZ list as:

Final drive: 3.625
1st - 3.50
2nd - 1.889
3rd - 1.231
4th - 0.871
5th - 0.667

As AUDI lists them:

Trans Type: 5
1st - 3.50
2nd - 1.889
3rd - 1.231
4th - 0.871
5th - 0.667

Thanks, Eric. So taller/longer final drive and taller ratios after first. Not ideal.

Might the petrol models have different ratios or final drive? Higher reving so....?

I'm not sure about cars outside of the US, but I believe the ratios for the 5-speed and final gear changed starting in 2000 with the debut of the 2.7. I don't have my proof of that readily available, but I'm pretty sure there were slight differences in the gearing for the 2.5's 5-speed and the 2.7's 5-speed.

I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere and post back here.

Wow that really is cheap! :cheers:

Well, I haven't checked, but you can certain pick up a five speed BMW manual box from that era at a breakers/salvage yard for about that much. They sold billions of A4s/Passats, so I would expect a glut of supply - especially given most people would just scrap a late 90s Passat these days if the gearbox failed. Can't see there being any demand for the things.

Yes, the 2.7 has longer gearing here, too. But then it's a bigger, torquier engine.

It probably explains why subjectively the 2.7 doesn't really feel much quickerm in any given gear.

Hmmm, The Audi A4 and Passat had top speeds of about 130mph with a 25" diameter wheel. Those might be ideal gearboxes for a swap if you want to maximize torque and don't mind a higher fwy rpm.

Like the ones you see in Santa Ana..?

.

Naw, The standard diameter of a wheel/tire combo is the same on a Boxster/Audi A4... 25" total diameter. :D

Bad pinion bearing on a 6 speed gearbox..?
 

It seems that the pinion bearing on my 6 speed tranny is failing (the differential has excessive noise when you unload it at low speed), a friend that specializes on P cars told me that you need a press with 40,000lbs capacity (..!) to replace the bearing...

I am planning to remove the pinion shaft, by any chance do you know where can I take it to get the bearing replaced?


.

Check with 911 Design in Montclair- Loren Beggs. If he doesn't do it, he will know who does. Replacing the pinion bearing is neither easy or cheap as I recall. For me, a replacement trans was cheaper.

911design - Porsche service, maintenance and repair