Hi

Can anyone please advise on what sort of costs are involved in a Beetle transmission rebuild? Or replacement with a reconditioned unit from somewhere that sells them?

Is it a $1,000 job? $5,000 job?

I am guessing with a transmission it is not worth replacing with another 2nd hand unit.



Just curious on what roughly something like that is to do from somewhere.



Would just be interested in hearing what sort of figures people have paid to have this sort of work done.


thanks.

Hi Des,
Less than $1000 I should think...
Make sure You go to a VW gearbox specialist..
there are a few about on here...
not sure about Tasmania though...

Many people do use 2nd hand gearboxes...
especially if you install it yourself...

but You wouldn't want to pay someone to install a used box... in case it wasn't any good...
sometimes You can find an early gearbox that was going fine before someone replaced it with a later box...

What is wrong with your gearbox Des??

LEE

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

Not beetle, but I did a recent gearbox exchange for a type 3. I was given a choice: ~ $500 for an average reconditioned one with 30 day warranty or ~ $700 for a good one with 3 or 6 month warranty (I forget). I went for the good one and never looked back.

it should be mandatory for vw drivers to learn how to double clutch

nearly every gearbox around has a rooted 2nd gear syncro
the old 36hp bugs used to have a sticker on the dash saying do not shift into 1st gear whilst vehicle is in motion

all those faults are just common old age vw quirks
my last rebuild cost me $500 but that was 10 years ago and i had a perfect 2nd syncro just very noisy bearings and a reverse gear with a missing tooth that used to pop out on hills
was good for scarering passengers

Thanks Joel, sounds like very common issues then?

thanks for your help.

yea old age get us all unfortunatley

if you can find someone who is willing to rebuild it i'd go for it if price is decent
makes them so much more pleasent to drive

ive never understood so many ppl are happy to rebuild engines for 1000s but when it comes to the gearbox most are happy to just learn to drive with the little idiosyncrises (sp?) instead of a rebuild that would be less than $1k
same with changing gearbox oil, they hold the same quanity as the engine and should be done every 2 or so years, but ppl go for 10 or even more years without changing it....swing axels are really prone to containimation when the axle boots split

a 2nd hand box may have the same problems or if it doesnt could in the near future

sorry rant over

Quote:

Originally posted by matberry Quote: Originally posted by desh [ rebuild should last the rest of the cars life, Thats what the last owner to reco the box said.

Des
Have you checked whether there is enough oil in the gearbox...?
a lot of the bearings etc are splash fed...
so if its low on oil that wouldn't help...

also the oil should be hypoid oil
so it should smell terrible,,, lol

LEE

and maybe check the shift bushes as well

The last quality swingaxle rebuild I did used $800 worth of parts and 20 hours of labour.
Swingaxles take more time than IRS though.
Most boxes need a lot of stock used parts as well as new bearings synchros and re-bushing housings.

A reconditioned box is not a mainshaft bearing($78) and gasket kit($13).

Thanks guys, haven't checked the oil actually, didn't think of that.



Going into see Bocchino Motors tomorrow with her, to see what's what and get a service and report.

What year model is the gearbox ??

Oil will make all the difference, wife had a reno 12 once that was giving big probs changing gears and sounded like the box was about to drop out of the car, checked the oil nill.. none.. zero came out, filled it up and all probs fixed, went on for 10 years with no probs b4 we sold it still going strong, oh yeah, we swaped mechanics after that too.