rubber damper
 

turns out i need to replace the rubber damper on my auto trans 83. just wondering how important is this to be fixed? i really dont have the money right now and its only making noise under 1000 rpms but anything above that the noise goes away. so is this a urgent fix or would i be alright driving for abit and what type of damage can get done driving with the damper being broken?

RE: rubber damper
 

If this is the rubber damper that is a "damper plate" that connects the torque tube to the transmission, which it sounds like it is, it will cause you to need a tow home and could cause damage to either the input shaft to the trans or the torque tube. I dont know how long it will last once you start feeling it, even at low rpm's. I would park it till it can be fixed

RE: rubber damper
 

Hi my first post to a forum so please bear with me, i have, i think, the same problem with the rubber damper.
I have had two people look at it and as they cannot see anything obvious they assume it is the damper, the symptoms are: a tapping/chattering/knocking below 1000 revs, not consistant, very irregular. Over 1000 revs its fine and runs lovely. It happen kinda all of a sudden in that i have a problem with the idle and it would go to stall, make a knocking noise then idle normally. one day after nearly staling it started to idle normally but the noise was there.
I have been quoted between £450 (GBP) and £650 (GBP) for the labour and about £650 for the part.

RE: rubber damper
 

I dont know much about the prices where you are at, but it is involved to change the damper, Porschedoc may be able to give you an Idea about how much time it would take labor wise.
are you thinking of doing it yourself?

RE: rubber damper
 

Sorry, been very busy thanks for your answer, not thinking of doing it myself at all, i just wanted to know what the symptoms were, didnt want to buy the part and employ someone to do it if theres a chance it could be something else.
Also if it is this part, does it just "wear out" or is it due to how the car is used?

RE: rubber damper
 

I had the same problem in the wife's 86, check for rubber shavings in the bell housing behind the mtr. These rubber dampeners are supposedly only good for about a hundred or so thousand miles before they start deteriorating, and when they go, you will hear a tinging sound. They are set up to still solidly connect even after they come apart, but I think that is just a safety, and it is the metal connection between the two metal plates hitting together that you are hearing. the reason it seams to go away at higher RPM, is the two plates are held together while under power, and are loose when idling. Hope that helps out.

Gord.