Torque Tube Expert Help Needed!!!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
Torque Tube Expert Help Needed!!!!!
Well I seemed to have got burned on my recent purchase from a member of the forum. I am upgrading from my 10mm 97' torque tube to a 12mm model. I was toying with rebuilding my 10mm unit but came across a good deal on a 12mm unit. I was told it was unused, new. Had been sitting in this guys garage as a backup for his track car. In my conversations, he said he was unsure if it was new but had been told it was. I asked if he had opened it up to inspect the couplers and he said it had never been opened up. Well, I pulled the trigger and it showed up today. Right off the bat I knew I was screwed. No input shaft and I could hear something inside the tube. I unboxed it and the propshaft was hanging out. One of the rubber couplers was floating around in the tube with the 3 bolts that hold it to the propshaft. Also, one of the gold colored weights (I think) was also floating around. No bolt for it. The couplers???, no cracks but who knows if I can trust them.
So what am I missing here? Obviously the input shaft and bolts on that side. On the output (trans) side, what am I missing? Don't see any snap ring and isn't there another flange or something?
Here are some pics of what I'm dealing with. Any advice?
So what am I missing here? Obviously the input shaft and bolts on that side. On the output (trans) side, what am I missing? Don't see any snap ring and isn't there another flange or something?
Here are some pics of what I'm dealing with. Any advice?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
If I can find a correct input shaft for it, am I gonna need to have this thing rebalanced???
Should I just fight this guy for a refund and find another?? Or is this a simple fix, just rebuild it and move on???
Should I just fight this guy for a refund and find another?? Or is this a simple fix, just rebuild it and move on???
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 1,245
From: Southern Ca
Contact Patches from the forum , he can probably help u with the shaft. He is doing some major modding on his car.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Just get your money back. If the guy told you that it was "like new" then he committed fraud and shouldn't get away with it. It's quite possible that there was an issue with that torque tube and that's why it's in pieces.
The ring in the middle is to keep the shaft from bending too much when the shaft is over-revved. That can happen if you downshift into a lower gear at too high a speed even without releasing the clutch and over-revving the engine. At any rate, it touching the outside tube means it has been used hard best case or has a slight bend in the worst case.
The rear bearing carrier should just go into the tube on that step with the big snap ring behind it. I believe you're also missing a plastic bushing that goes over the pin on the end of the shaft to center it in the input shaft flange. And the shaft would likely have to be balanced again.
If you use Paypal then make sure the comments include a full description of what you're paying for including condition and the shipping method and prices for all. You could also put text along the lines of "by accepting this payment you agree to provide" before the description. Covers your *** and if you do run into a lying scum seller, he can't claim you got what you bought when he is lying and ripping you off.
The ring in the middle is to keep the shaft from bending too much when the shaft is over-revved. That can happen if you downshift into a lower gear at too high a speed even without releasing the clutch and over-revving the engine. At any rate, it touching the outside tube means it has been used hard best case or has a slight bend in the worst case.
The rear bearing carrier should just go into the tube on that step with the big snap ring behind it. I believe you're also missing a plastic bushing that goes over the pin on the end of the shaft to center it in the input shaft flange. And the shaft would likely have to be balanced again.
If you use Paypal then make sure the comments include a full description of what you're paying for including condition and the shipping method and prices for all. You could also put text along the lines of "by accepting this payment you agree to provide" before the description. Covers your *** and if you do run into a lying scum seller, he can't claim you got what you bought when he is lying and ripping you off.
Last edited by lionelhutz; May 20, 2014 at 11:03 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
The input shaft bearing is right around $100, the o-ring, slinger, snap ring are about $7 each...just to give you an idea on parts cost.
Those prices are from GM Partshouse and for the 10mm TT.
Those prices are from GM Partshouse and for the 10mm TT.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
sorry to see this
when in doubt get pictures of absolutely everything and every part
buying, or selling car parts, for any car is risky
lot of deadbeats on both sides of the transaction. you have to be ultra careful
when in doubt get pictures of absolutely everything and every part
buying, or selling car parts, for any car is risky
lot of deadbeats on both sides of the transaction. you have to be ultra careful
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,451
Likes: 410
From: Portland OR
I think the early tubes were all 10 mm and bolted. 97-98 maybe?
A4 tubes were all 10mm, my 2000 has a snap ring.
That's really sad what the seller did to you. No input shaft? Is he not a C5 owner?
Ron
A4 tubes were all 10mm, my 2000 has a snap ring.
That's really sad what the seller did to you. No input shaft? Is he not a C5 owner?
Ron
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
The seller offered a refund f I shipped it back to him? I told him I'm not eating the shipping. He claims to have another from his 04' that he flipped with 43K miles. The reason he is selling off parts. Either way, he is gonna send me pics of that one to see if I would take that one. At this point, I just want a 12mm complete TT, even if it needs new bearings and couplers! Just need one to either swap in with my new clutch or rebuild before doing so. I'll be back!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
I'm not being a smart *** and know nothing about torque tubes. I'm just curious. I'm here to learn.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 15
From: New Hartford IA
The black ring is a bumper to prevent the shaft from whipping too far. Its ok to have a few marks on it, but a lot of marks probably means it's seen quite a bit of abuse. I've yet to take apart a tube and not have at least a few marks on the disk.
I didn't know we could get input shafts for $100 or so. Crazy, is that a new thing?
I didn't know we could get input shafts for $100 or so. Crazy, is that a new thing?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
All he did was cover it with cardboard. It's not that heavy but needs a bit more than he did. The bell ends on the tube need more protection. They need to at least be doubled up on the cardboard as they were breaking through and exposed when it arrived.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,785
Likes: 8
From: Sacramento California
Just got some pics of the other tube he has. Says it's out of an 04' Z06. He is going to remove the bellhousing and slave then send me another photo. Does it look like it's missing anything on the trans end? I'm switching from an early 10mm tube to a 12mm so I need to make sure I have everything I need.
Last edited by IRON MAIDEN; May 22, 2014 at 01:26 PM.