transmission carrier

[JohnR156]

Who can tell me the purpose of the transmission carrier? Not the center carrier support on the driveshaft but the carrier thats attached to the rear lower area of the transmission. I heard a vibration coming from underneath my 86 Spider. When I took a look the transmission carrier was hanging by one end. The other end had broken off. So I removed it and I don't notice any difference when driving it. Am I possibly doing a harm by driving it?
Thanks

[crashmctavish]

Yes, Its called a transmission carrier because it carries the transmission. the whole lot is now hanging from the engine mounts & propshaft !

[Tifosi]

What Keith said:

Get that thing fixed or replaced now before you do some serious damage to the mechanical parts, and quite possibly you depending on certain situations!

[maxwedge]

The engine and trans are held in at three points, the two motor mounts and that one. The driveshaft bearing support is desiged to hold up the driveshaft, not the whole back half of the engine and trans.

[JohnR156]

Ok, thanks guys. I will certainly get right on it. Thanks for all your help.

[JohnR156]

Wait a minute here. I need further explanation. After looking at it a little closer, doesn't the rear tranny mount do the supporting? The big round bushing with the rubber insert? After looking at how the carrier mounts I'm still not sure of it's role.

[maxwedge]

Yep that's what I thought you were talking about. Not sure what you mean by transmission carrier. There is a bracket on there that's designed to hold up the stock exhaust system, could it be that?

[JohnR156]

Here is a picture of the piece. It is number 3 in the drawing. Exaust hanger would make sense as I just had exaust work done.

[JohnR156]

Apparantly the picture from the workshop manual didn't upload correctly. It is on page 13-8, drawing on bottom left corner of the page, part number 3.

[Tifosi]

I see nothing but a blank white page :shrug:


Do you see the item in question in this picture?
(pic curtesy of Green Dragon)

[shadowburn]

Does it look like any of these? 3rd from the top is the carrier you may be talking about and the bottom is the bracket. That is if I'm looking at the same page 13-8, bottom left picture, and part number 3, that you mentioned. If it is, its for your exhaust and you should be alright without it.

[Tifosi]

Oh, sure, get all artsy and designer layout on everybody.......

Zat paint or powdercoat on them there items?



If it does turn out to be the exhaust hanger, you can indeed do without it, but you'll wanna check the joints at the center muffler and manifold periodically to make sure they're staying tight and sealed.

It's absence will also put a bit more stress on the manifold proper.

Instead of the exhaust turning/twisting with the engine and trans under torque when the bracket is there, the exhaust will actually fight the torque a bit and that stress ends up at the manifold.

This can result in frequently loose manifold nuts at the head, and worst case scenario, that sexy crack that the S3 manifolds sometimes get.


Not trying to throw a scare or anything, just trying to impart that there's potential issues that could arise in it's absence over the long term.

[shadowburn]

LOL. Actually just a pic I grabbed from somewhere. Ebay maybe? dunno. Wanted to get a decent pic of the brackets to see if I could get a new one made.

[Tifosi]

I got one (both parts) laying on the bench that's waiting for installation next week when some new exhaust bits come in if you want any close up pix or dimensions before then.

[shadowburn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi I got one (both parts) laying on the bench that's waiting for installation next week when some new exhaust bits come in if you want any close up pix or dimensions before then.