Another gearbox thread but different.

[bilko1]

I have got my new ACE torque converter and now trying to decide what route to take with the gearbox. I can find no one in the UK that can uprate it like they do in the states so i can either go for a new Audi unit or a recon unit from one of the many auto box specialists. I've spoken to Grizz and Doug and they both have excellent reputations but have different opinions on this. What i need to know really is has anyone here had a recon gearbox fail again? The usual fault is the torque converter fails and takes the box with it as i have the ACE converter i should be ok. I've seen all the threads were people have replaced the converter but not the box and then the box goes a short time later. If i buy a new box from Audi i get a 2 year warranty but only if i use the supplied torque converter which we all know will fail again. What would you guys do?

[speedtrapped]

I have put 1k miles on my level10 trans and PO had put 4k miles on it, no issues at all, and I run decent power thru it

[DHall1]

What do Grizz and Doug say?

Miles on the car?

How long did you drive it with a bad TC?

What mods do you have on the car?

We need tons more info here.

There are many members that replace the TC and are fine for tens of thousands of miles. The upgraded Audi converter is really upgraded. Its not the same unit any longer.

[Aronis]

my TC was replaced at 102,000, now 118,000. All VAC-COM scan's negative. No slipping. Shifts fine.

Mike

[bilko1]

What do Grizz and Doug say?

Miles on the car?

How long did you drive it with a bad TC?

What mods do you have on the car?

We need tons more info here.

There are many members that replace the TC and are fine for tens of thousands of miles. The upgraded Audi converter is really upgraded. Its not the same unit any longer.

Doug says new box everytime, Grizz says recon ok and never had one come back but it's my choice. Problem with new Audi box is it is supplied with a converter which i don't want but is necessary for the warranty.

Car is driving fine atm but i had the torque converter stuck off code 200 miles ago, currently on 77000 miles
ECU is stock, TCU has a DNA chip, although just before i bought it a year ago the ECU was replaced due to checksum error and was running a DNA flash approx 500 bhp.
I have fitted full Milltrk cat back non res and ITG panel filters the car also has Forge diverter valves.

When the box / converter are replaced i'm going catless with a stage 2 MRC tune.

[Brav]

There is a thread about just upgrading the valve body, maybe this and the upgraded TC would be a good and simple compromise? Valve body can be sent without the trans, from what I recall. Am I wrong?

[DHall1]

Since you have the TC already.....give it a go.

I assume you plan to upgrade the ECU/TCU mapping as a matched set to MRC.

[TozoM8]

New or rebuilt is the same thing. All clutches, steels, seals are replaced during the rebuilt.

[ben916]

New or rebuilt is the same thing. All clutches, steels, seals are replaced during the rebuilt.

I was under the impression that you could use more durable components to beef up the transmission???

[na1mt]

Level 10 does not replace with stock internals when they rebuild... Everything is upgraded

[Aronis]

Level 10 does not replace with stock internals when they rebuild... Everything is upgraded

I always find such 'rebuilds' interesting. If they replace all the 'stuff' with upgraded parts, who makes those "better parts?"

How much more could it have cost at the time of the orginal assembly to simply use those better parts in the first place? When they choose the off-the-shelf-transmission for the RS6 project, I bet at least one engineer spoke up but was dressed down by the bean counters!

Mike

[Brav]

Do they have different alloy compounds or gear cut angles? or do they take the stock parts and harden/coat them?

[ben916]

Do they have different alloy compounds or gear cut angles? or do they take the stock parts and harden/coat them?

Interesting.........When I had my OEM rotors frozen, their website offers to cryo a ton of stuff... but does that make it more brittle?!?!?

[JSRS6]

Nope, stasis offers o1e rebuilds that feature cryo treated parts, as well as micro polishing.

[TozoM8]

This is how it works. A rebuilt from a ZF rebuilder with ZF parts is $ X . If you have a business name that suggest higher level and a good marketing guy then the price is $ X + $ Y. If they just do the regular rebuild, but charge you for $ Y they make a lot more $$$. Let's say (because of the hight HP) 1 out of 20 rebuild fails and it is still under warranty, it will cost the a faction of $ X to do it again, but they already made 20x $ Y. Marketing and a wisely chosen name will make more $ than just rebuild it to factory specs with factory parts and tell the customer that it is rebuilt like new.

[DHall1]

^^ What he said.



That would be Level 10 exposed.