Gearbox swap on my audi s3 8l?!!!

[Beany113]

Hi lads and lasses, just signed up to this anaing forum! Lots of good info here!! Just bought myself a nice audi s3
but unfortunately the gearbox whines a little. I'm just wondering how hard the gearbox change would be? I'd look at getting the single DMF while I was there and a sach clutch. I'm reasonably good with the spammers but just wondering if this is a specialist thing? I'd appreciate any help I can get please! Thankyou very much!!
Martin

 

[dancuz]

Many of these gearboxes whine. I wouldn't worry about changing it out until the box start to feel bad ie. notchy gearchanges. I ended up paying to have mine swapped with a second hand low mileage box which feels nice and smooth, but still whines a little.....

Dan

 

[kwistof]

How bad is the whine? Is it throughout the rev range and in all the gears?

When I had my car completely standard for quiet a while I don't recall my gearbox whining tbh. Notchy gear changes into 1st and sometimes 2nd gear yes....but not a distinctive whine from it.

What mileage is the car on?

Chris

 

[Beany113]

Thankyou for the fast replies! The gearbox isn't a loud whiting noise and not constant I don't think, car is on 139,000

 

[kwistof]

Useful thread about it here fella-

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-forum-8l-chassis/194103-gearbox-whine.html

Could be some others if you use the search bar in the top right hand corner....

 

[Beany113]

Thanks for that link! Ill be sure to read though it and use the search bar to give me some other ideas! You guys have been a great help thankyou!

 

[<tuffty/>]

S3 quattro box changes are not the easiest thing to do without a ramp but can and have been done on stands on drives as long as you have the time...

02M boxes are heavy and you will need to drop the subframe to get the box past... you are also advised to remove the transfer box at the back too as this gets caught behind the block when trying to remove making it difficult to get the box off... this is held onto the gearbox by 4 obvious bolts but there is also one in the centre of the drive flange that requires a special tool or very long 6mm allen key to undo else the transfer box won't come off...

<tuffty/>

 

[dancuz]

How bad is the whine? Is it throughout the rev range and in all the gears?

Chris

Mine only does it on over-run ie. when I take my foot off the loud pedal. Really only in 2nd and 3rd as well.

 

[kwistof]

Mine only does it on over-run ie. when I take my foot off the loud pedal. Really only in 2nd and 3rd as well.

Personally I'd carry on driving it - maybe drop the oil and replace it to see if it makes any difference.

Then drive it in the understanding it may need to be replaced/reconditioned shortly.

 

[roryscott30]

Hi there,something to think about are the tyres. I had my car in for a wheel bearing change yesterday as the noise was a whine very similar to a wheel bearing from a ll speeds. The garage phoned back and asked why i thought i was a wheel bearing as they couldn't hear anything from either side. They phoned again after a road test and claimed two mechanics had checked and it was 100% the gearbox failing. I checked for gearboxes online and was thinking the same as yourself however a failing gearbox doesn't seem to be common fault so i went for a second opinion. Recently i had changed the replica 19" RS alloys for 18" with worn tyres and the second garage mechanic suggested that all the tyres on the 18" wheels were ruined and were causing the noise. I changed them back to the 19" wheels last night and hey presto no noise. Just a suggestion before you go through the pain....