Service 02 of 11
Gearbox rebuild and repair
A crunch going into gear, a gear jumping out, a whine under load: most gearbox faults can be put right without replacing the whole unit. We open the gearbox, check gear teeth, synchro rings, bearings and casing, and repair what the measurements call for.
Whether a targeted repair is enough or the gearbox is fully rebuilt is decided by gear teeth, synchro rings and bearing clearances — not by assumption. This page describes manual gearboxes. For the PDK of the 997/2, 987 and 991 the price is on the prices page; for other automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes, please ask first.
Prices
What it costs
Per engine, for the scope described. Click your car to see what the job covers — and every other price for it.
Porsche — with noisy gears
All prices incl. VAT.
Symptoms
How you notice gearbox damage
A crunch going into gear
The gear only goes in with force, or crunches as it does, often in one particular gear. The typical picture of worn synchro rings.
Jumps out of gear
Under load or on the overrun a gear pops out. Usually worn dog teeth, selector sleeves or selector forks; end float in the shafts or worn mounts are possible too.
Whining or howling
Only in one gear: usually that gear pair or its bearing. The same in every gear and louder with road speed: more likely the final drive, the differential or a wheel bearing.
Rattle at idle
A noise at idle that disappears when you press the clutch often points to an input shaft bearing — or to the dual-mass flywheel.
Oil under the gearbox
Leaking shaft seals let gearbox oil escape, and running low harms bearings and gears. If it drips between engine and gearbox, it can also be the engine's rear main seal.
Gearbox, or the clutch after all?
Tell us in which gear and at what speed it happens — a video from the passenger seat helps too.
Send a message
Scope
What is checked and renewed
Every part that becomes accessible when the gearbox is opened is checked. Shaft seals and wearing parts are renewed as sets as a matter of course — a new synchro ring beside an old bearing will not last long.
- Gearbox out of the car, opened and stripped as far as the diagnosis requires
- Gear teeth checked for wear and chipping
- Synchro rings, selector sleeves, selector forks and gear linkage checked
- Bearings and shaft clearances measured, casing checked for cracks
- Final drive and differential: bearing preload and backlash checked, reset with new bearings
- Worn parts replaced, gear sets reconditioned where needed
- Shaft seals, gaskets and wearing parts as a set
- Gearbox oil to manufacturer approval, road test through every gear
Series
Gearboxes we know this job on
The manual gearboxes we rebuild and repair. Give us the gearbox code if you know it — otherwise model and year will do.
- Porsche air-cooled
- 901 · 915 · 930 · G50 · G64 – manual gearboxes of the air-cooled 911
- Porsche water-cooled
- G96 · G97 · G86 · G87 – manual gearboxes of the 996, 997, 986 and 987
- Other makes
- On request
Method
Four steps
- 01
Inspect
Road test, then removal, opening and measurement. Only then is it clear what is worn.
- 02
Approval
Scope and cost in writing, labour and parts separately. Repair or rebuild — the decision is yours.
- 03
Repair
Replace worn parts, recondition gear sets where needed, renew seals and wearing parts as a set.
- 04
Handover
Refitting, gearbox oil to manufacturer approval, road test through every gear, the parts fitted documented on the invoice.
Questions about it
What people ask about gearbox work
Repair, or an exchange gearbox?
Most gearbox faults can be put right without replacing the whole unit: synchro rings, bearings and seals are wearing parts, the casing and most of the gears are not. An exchange gearbox makes sense when the diagnosis shows damage that would cost more to repair. We lay that calculation open for you.
Is it really the gearbox — or the clutch?
That can often be narrowed down on the road test. If it crunches in individual gears, it is usually the synchro rings; if it crunches in every gear, the clutch is often not separating cleanly. A whine that follows road speed can also be a wheel bearing. Nothing is opened until the picture is clear.
Can I keep driving until the appointment?
If it only crunches going into gear, usually yes — with a gentle hand on the lever. If a gear jumps out or the noise gets louder, better not: the damage is progressing, and it gets more expensive with every kilometre. We will sort out transport with you.
Gearbox rebuild and repair
Crunching going into gear?
Repaired, not swapped.
Related
Related services
- 01
Engine and gearbox rebuilds
When the engine has to go on the stand anyway — engine and gearbox in one go.
- 10
Repairs and maintenance
The clutch sits exposed once the gearbox is out.
- 11
Diagnostics and fault finding
When it is not clear whether it is gearbox, clutch or wheel bearing.