Buying a Used Tranny

[mindset]

Ok. Found someone with an AWD Tranny. He claims it has 20k miles, 23 spline, OEM, and dealer installed on his car. But I have some questions. I know this is a hit or miss thing but what should I be looking for when I buy a used tranny? I'm going to move the levers into gear and spin the shaft to see if it spins freely. Anything else?

Thanks.

 

[Redwidow]

If you can check the fluid, as well, for metal shavings and discoloration too. Other than that you cant really tell until you drive it or tear it apart.
-Andy

 

[DROOPY209]

When you move the levers, make sure that there is no drag going from say, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th.

Also, look at the seals. Make sure that the output shaft doesn't have any beat up looking splines and that all 23 are there. Look inside where the axles go in. Make sure that they spin correctly and that no splines are chewed out.

Also look inside the bellhousing and look for any scuffs or metal that the PP could have scrapped off. . Make sure that the input shaft isn't beat up, or that the TOB didn't eat it up. Look at the fork and pivot ball to see how beat up they look. Look at the splines in the input shaft, those are normally ok, but you never know.

Look at the fluid and see if if there are any metal shavings in it. Normally there will be some on used transmissions...stuff inside wears and tears.

Once you drain all the fluid, get a magnet and see how many shavings will stick to it.

If the owner still has the transmission on the car, test drive it. If the trans is out of the car, ask the owner to see the clutch and see how the clutch disk, PP and flywheel look. 20K miles shouldn't have worn them out much. Heat marks and/or cracks on the PP or the flywheel could indicate that the clutch was beat on hard.

 

[mindset]

When you move the levers, make sure that there is no drag going from say, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th.

Also, look at the seals. Make sure that the output shaft doesn't have any beat up looking splines and that all 23 are there. Look inside where the axles go in. Make sure that they spin correctly and that no splines are chewed out.

Also look inside the bellhousing and look for any scuffs or metal that the PP could have scrapped off. . Make sure that the input shaft isn't beat up, or that the TOB didn't eat it up. Look at the fork and pivot ball to see how beat up they look. Look at the splines in the input shaft, those are normally ok, but you never know.

Look at the fluid and see if if there are any metal shavings in it. Normally there will be some on used transmissions...stuff inside wears and tears.

Once you drain all the fluid, get a magnet and see how many shavings will stick to it.

If the owner still has the transmission on the car, test drive it. If the trans is out of the car, ask the owner to see the clutch and see how the clutch disk, PP and flywheel look. 20K miles shouldn't have worn them out much. Heat marks and/or cracks on the PP or the flywheel could indicate that the clutch was beat on hard.

Thank you. That helped out a lot!

But, what if he used the same clutch for the previous tranny? I mean is it common for people to change out the clutch and flywheel when they put in a new tranny?

 

[Auto RS T]

Droopy covered it pretty well, but I'm going to add that you should not be able to pull any shafts out of the transmission and they shouldn't have any play when you wiggle them. Also inspect the entire case for cracks or holes. I've received a tranny in the past in "good" condition, but was able to pull the output shaft right out of it. Here's a little more identification help.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...w-read-transmission-serial-numbers-codes.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-drivetrain/244022-how-identify-90-transmisson-91-a.html

 

[mindset]

Droopy covered it pretty well, but I'm going to add that you should not be able to pull any shafts out of the transmission and they shouldn't have any play when you wiggle them. Also inspect the entire case for cracks or holes. I've received a tranny in the past in "good" condition, but was able to pull the output shaft right out of it. Here's a little more identification help.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...w-read-transmission-serial-numbers-codes.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-drivetrain/244022-how-identify-90-transmisson-91-a.html

Thanks, I'll be sure to check that.

I see your from Northeast Ohio, do you ever go to Forced4's?

 

[diambo4life]

Recommend a 92+ tranny. Almost all the 91 trannies I come across have really bad or questionable synchros especially in 1 and 2. You can easily tell when you shift it manually through those gears. It will not feel solid even with the tranny off the car.