FIA-F1

I recently drove a 2011 Boxster and found the shifting to be ultra silky. It traveled from gear to gear, effortlessly, went into gear almost by itself. My 944 shifting by comparison is clunky, requires some effort to push the shifter into gear. It has 101K miles. I replaced the shifter with a Only944 replacement kit with the roller bearings. I would say it is twice as smooth as it was but still not like that Boxster. I have changed the fluids twice. I don't particularly mind the shift, just appreciate the buttery smooth ones. How smooth can a 944 shift feel? Am I pretty much there? (I know there are preferences out there but that's not the question here)

Van

I think you're pretty much there. It will never feel like a Boxster or 996.

Ish_944

How about syncro rings? If they wear out smoothness is gone I think.

Do you guys change syncros at every rebuild? Are they subject to excessive wear in street-only cars?
I'm very interested in others' experience!

Van

Worn synchos will slow down getting it into gear, but they don't really contribute to the "silky" feel the newer transmissions (with the cable shifters) have.

Typically the 1st and 2nd synchros wear the most. You'll go to shift, and, eventually you'll hear a grinding noise as the synchro ring's teeth collide.

morghen

I apreciate the 924s for their rawness, clunkyness and how visceral they feel and drive...compared to the modern cars that are made to be driven by women with long nails and on high heels and you literally cant feel anything driving them.
I love the almost bolt action rifle like feel my 924 gives me trough engaging gears and i hate how my VAG(i) Passat feels so smooth.

each to their own i guess..

BoulderGeek

I think that my synchros are exhibiting age. i try to rev match my shifts, and have learned not to fully pull off the throttle 100% when shifting. I keep about 20% pressure on the throttle, so that the revs don't dip below my target.

The difference between shifts where i heel & toe the revs or rely on the synchros are substantial. And I have full and fresh Swepco 201 in the trans.

I drove Carlos Danger's 996 on Saturday, and didn't have to do that.

odonnell

I've never driven a 944 with nice feeling synchros (I should say, never had the privilege because there have to be many out there). On mine I can't even put the car into first below 3 mph, even with double clutching it's temperamental. 2nd gear is really sketchy, it takes almost a full second to go in when downshifting. The trans has 180k+ on it, it's out of an undocumented parts car so who knows. The linkage had more play than I had ever seen in my life when I pulled it off.

Noahs944

"bolt action" hehe... totally!

ilikemy944

Not gonna lie.
55k on my Cayman and every time I change the ratio I wish it had the 951 feel. Cables suck.
I edited this to include the fact that my 951 has 82k on it and shifts like straight up butter in comparison.

V2Rocket

I've been disappointed by a lot of newer cars on their shifter feel, vs the 944.
Although the 944 parts are worn-in pretty well, with a tightened up shifter lever the action is very smooth and easy between all gears.
I've never needed to go back into 1st gear once already moving, I don't slow down that much for speed bumps LOL

I drove a 968 recently and its shifter action was TERRIBLE. Really had to force 1st and 3rd and 2nd/4th were really vague, like the lever didn't go back far enough to really tell you the gear was engaged.

Drove a 650HP 996T once and it had a nice smooth shifter though, but I was focusing on other things

Arominus

I have noticed that the choice of gear oil can really help. Hell just changing it for some fresh Mobil 1 in the S2 helped it a bit, these cars are hard on the oil so its a good idea to change it fairly regularly.

Redline, Mobil 1 (cheaper) or swepco it up and see what happens with your ability to get it in gear sausage.

odonnell

Hmm, yes I have been wanting to try some Redline MT90 after all the praise I've read on here and Pelican. When I first installed this transaxle about a year and a half ago, I gave it a fresh fill of Mobil Delvac which has no friction modifiers and plays nice yellow metal...a lot of track guys use it and I believe it's factory fill on a lot of 911s. But then again, I do believe I'll see some sort of improvement with MT90. This thing also whines worse than a Tumblr feminist, and I've read that MT90 quiets up the bearings.

Arominus

The whine is the gear lash for the big ring in the diff. My 924S trans did the same thing, it needed to be reset. You might be better served finding another transaxle, 944NA or 944S (stronger but slightly taller 1-4 gearing) would be your ticket to killing that whine. The gear oil won't really help that.

Edit: bonus points for the tumblr ref.

odonnell

Definitely looking for another box. This one is unknown mileage (came out of a 180k parts car) and the fluid that drained out looked like Coca cola syrup. I definitely am keeping my eyes open for a low miles 944S or S2 trans, even a 951 trans if the right one comes up. If I come across a high mileage S2 trans for the right price, I may send it to Kevin Gross for a rebuild, the last trans I'll ever buy for this car.

pdxfj

I just got a TA back from Kevin Gross and haven't driven much on it since I need to do the clutch now. With the little bit of driving I've done on it, I can say it's much smoother, tighter and much, much quieter.