I have found these new style bearings in only two of the trannies that I have rebuilt. The old style input shaft bearing at the intermediate plate has a fragile brass cage for the balls. This new style, of which I have never seen a failure (in the two that I have seen on high milage trannies) has a steel cage for the bearings. I was reacently able to order the new style from GPR so I figured I would take some pics for posterity.

First, the old style bearing cage and its common failure -disintegration.
Notice the sharper peaks on the cage when comparred to the new/old style bearings in the next pic. The peaks could be due to wear, but I am not sure.

Here is a close up of the new/old style bearing you will usually get if you just order a replacement.

Notice the peaks are more square on the ball cage.

In a full shot of the new old style you can see that there may be another advantage to the new style in that the steel cage acts as a cup to hold oil on the bearing longer.

Here is the new new style bearing for comparison

Without the race installed.

And the cage ala cart.

Thanks for the photos Dr. Evil. Transmissions are still a mystery to me. One day I have to take one apart.

I wonder why on the outer race has a series of "X's" engraved over what looks like a series of numbers underneath? (Next to last photo.)

Mike,
that is a good question. I don't know. I do know that for the longest time Red-beard and to a smaller extent I have been looking for replacements for this bearing that resemble the new style due to the aformentioned problems with the old style. He found that the flanged bearing was not offered by any vendors as it was a Porsche specific bearing and was proprietary or somthing along those lines. Having a non flanged bearing flanged would negate any cost savings so we gave up. Now these have surfaced and are not as expensive as they used to be. They are still about $150, though (same as the old style).

Great photos and write up.

I can't tell by the photos the actual size of the bearings. Nothing to use for a referance.
Put a beer can (if you can find one ) next to it and take a pic.

One day I'll take my tranny apart.

Paul

Paul,
I don't understand why you would want/need the measurment? They are the same size

QUOTE (Dr Evil @ Mar 21 2006, 07:55 AM)

Paul, I don't understand why you would want/need the measurment? They are the same size

I don't need a measurement. I just wanted to know is the bearing 3" in diameter or 1" in diameter?
Just to get an idea what we're looking at.

P

Gotcha, it is a bout 2.5-3 inches.

nice pictures! what ya using to take these?

Cannon elph. I would take a pic of it for you but I dont have a mirror

it was a X-mas gift from mom.

Paul,
here is one for better scale (btw, my hands are HUGE! )

Damn, where are you finding these for $150 new? Last I looked I was seeing prices close to double that. Oh well, $150 is probably still expensive enough that I wouldn't have gotten it over the perfect condition old style that I ended up using.. I'm a CSOB just like everyone else.

GPR has these for $169 (same price for the old style)

QUOTE (bondo @ Mar 21 2006, 06:14 PM)

Damn, where are you finding these for $150 new? Last I looked I was seeing prices close to double that. Oh well, $150 is probably still expensive enough that I wouldn't have gotten it over the perfect condition old style that I ended up using.. I'm a CSOB just like everyone else.

These have been available, off and on, for years. They were far cheaper than "the real thing" when they were first available. The reason the numbers are "x"ed out is so you will have a tough time identifying them, or the OE supplier has an exclusivity agreement with Porsche, so they have to "lose' the identification in order to sell them on the aftermarket. $150 is about 10% off of list. I would sell them for that if 10 people wanted one and were willing to pop for them up front. The pinion bearings are the same price. The Cap'n

$169 was actually one of the higher prices that I found for this part. the only reason I mention it is because GPR had this type in stock. The other places only had the OE style as far as I could tell.