Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

So. Cath's done some TLC on the coupe and it looks good and i have the peace of mind that comes from a proper service. Then she says "it needs a DMF - it's breaking up."

Blimey they're pricey. Does anyone know of a DMF source that won't need me to remortgage? Would anyone trust a secondhand one?

How can i check whether it's really necessary?

Tim

There is a Luk one on American ebay but when you add all the costs still pretty pricey. If you think the DMF is expensive wait til you get a quote for fitting it's a long job. I have a LWF on the 993 which replaced the original DMF. As I understand it signs of failure are noise and vibration. A used one would be false economy, there are all the other bits (clutch, seals, bearings) that should be done at the same time. One of those while you are in there jobs. I could change a Maxi clutch in 30mins a 944/968 one will take all day and half the night.

968 clutch is a piece of cake compared to 944, the parts are still pricey though.

Yup 968 is much easier to change. Book time for the 944 turbo is 10 hours

What's the book time to pull and refit the engine ?

OK so here's the position:

- History: car has done 132k miles
- new clutch at 118k but DMF not changed, so the pair have done 14k miles with the new clutch and original DMF

Given the problems diagnosed by Cath Burrows I've been trying to find a DMF whilst she tracks down a clutch.

- Couldn't find one at sensible money.
- Been offered a 50K mile one for £200, but Cath's dead set against fitting something with unknown history.
- All sources say they are no longer made (neither by Sachs nor LuK) and it's unique to the s2 and 68.
- Tracked down an anonymous supplier via Amazon (!) and placed an order - 2-4 weeks delivery and £400. Sounded promising.
- After 6 weeks it hadn't arrived. Surprise! I was offered the opportunity to cancel the order, or wait another month.
- Bolton OPC say there are very small stocks in Stuttgart, but they can get one in a few days - albeit at £750.
- Tempted to cancel Amazon and go for the OPC source.

It's beginning to look like a £1500+ job, with clutch and associated bits. I don't mind spending money on things that need fixing, but on something that's not definite I am cagey.

As I said somewhere else there's low-speed, low-frequency driveline shunt (that induces travel sickness in my wife), but no odd noises on gearchanges or drive take up, so I have to trust Cath in her diagnosis. I asked Grant at Hartech and his view was that if Cath says it needs a DMF then it needs a DMF. Oh - and she agrees that the clutch is heavy.

On top of all this, it seems that Cath's so busy she can't do it before August now anyway...

Any thoughts?

Tim.

p.s. I should be taking the car to the Bowling Green next Friday (19th) for the NW Friday Feast, if anyone thinks they can help.

The S2 doesn't have a DMF. And AFAIK you cant remove the 968 flywheel through the hole in the bellhousing. If the 968 DMF isn't unavailable I'd think about fitting an S2 flywheel/clutch/crank pulley.

Do you have to fit a DMF in a '68? excuse the question if it sounds stupid I am not familiar with those cars, I am with rear engine DMF options........just a thought?

Pauly - I may have got the s2 thing wrong, but it's definitely a 944 prefix on the part number.

Sam - if Porsche say it's needed to keep the transmission smooth from the pulses of that big 4-pot then yes, it needs to have one that works.

Cheers, Tim

Which suggests a 968 part. The 968 is a 944, remember.

Id buy new only, and only a Luk - remember that the 964 DMF has terribly unreliable until Luk started to supply them.

Also, you do not need a DMF on a 968, but you would need a suitable replacement flywheel.

Thanks. I have seen on other forums that the car gets awful rough without a DMF. This is a fair weather cruiser and occasional cross-country hare, not a track day weapon.
I've decided to get a new OPC one - I'll check whether it's Sachs or LuK. Ta for the tip.
Tim.

Ordered from OPC Bolton. To them it's just Porsche-branded: they couldn't say whether Sachs or LuK. I have the LuK part number though, so I can check it. Due in next Tuesday.
Tim.

That's why I said you would need an S2 crank pulley, it has a harmonic damping effect. I don't think S2 owners have issues with rough running. RS Barn sell a similar new crank pulley.

Thanks Paul, but I've had to make a decision, and the OPC one won the day.
Tim.