Well, It started this week.
Each time I up/down shift into second it grinds like a ****.
For it not to grind I have toput it in nuetral and slow apply pressure as i try to move it into gear. It usually takes about 2 seconds to go in with grinding.

I am pretty sure there is no quick fix.
I am not familiar with transmissions so is this somehting that will be expensive to fix? Will it require a rebuilt or swap a part or two?

I was gonna try to search but the buttons disabled so no flames.

 

Uhm Have you checked the shifter bushing?? Mine also grinds but in 3rd if I shift up or down to fast. . . . But my shifter bushing is sooo toasted, theres no metal ring or ruber part. i got the bushing now I just need to replace it.

- James

 

Unfortunately, to replace synchros the transmission needs to be taken apart basically.

 

Here is my take on it:

You would have to do a full rebuild to fix it. I am pretty sure that it is the 2nd gear synchro that is bad. My 91 vert does the same thing too. Try switching to Redline or Royal Purple tranny fluid, it is supposed to make a big difference.
When I have to down shift to 2nd, I first put it in neutral, let the clutch out and rev up the engine to where I think the rpms would go if it were in 2nd gear at that speed. This is called double clutching. This makes it go into gear smoothly.
Also, I cannot shift into 2nd gear from first if I revved the engine above 4K rpm.

Just some things to consider.

 

Yeah pony thats pretty much what mines doing.
I can shift into 2nd from first over 4k but it grinds in.

I heard of Double Clutching but I dont fully grasp it.I understand its purpose just not how to do it.

What I usually do to get it into gear is put the clutch in and get it in nuetral and then slowly try to get it in gear(aka spins down to match speed). Is this pretty much double clutching?

So would the royal actaully make a difference?
I understand it is a temp fix.

So does anyone know what it usually costs to get a 88 GTU Tranny rebuilt??
My engines only got 80k So I have a while before a new engine and this is my daily driver so it needs to be in good running condition.

I'm in Arizona. Does anyone know local tranny guys that are good?.

 

my first and second gear syncros are near dead, first i HIGHLY recomend redline superlight shock proof gear oil, it makes a world of differnece. second, double clutch upshifts and downshifts. to do theis when upshifting from 1st - 2nd put shifter in neutral, let clutch out, put clutch in, put shifter in second, this will give you a no grind shift as fast as you can do it ( as long as the syncro isnt to bad, if it is just stay in neutral with the clutch out a lil longer) what your doing id using the motor to spin down the transmission internals insted of the syncro. to double clutch a downshift you place shifter in neutral, let out clutch, rev to the speed it normally goes to when you downshift ( rev match) put in clutch, select lower gear. both of theese work beter with an aluminum flywheel( which i have) but if you buy the flywheel, your halfway to a rebuild, it does give a very nice performance gain though( i got mine real cheap offa partstrader) Also double clutching will extend syncro life on a new transsmission, because your doing the work for them (this is how one shifted a transmission Before there were syncros, my dad was a round then, and he taught me) i double clutch downshifts in all gears on all cars , unless its a rushed shift to save my life or soemthing, its just generally good for the transmisson.

 

o, if your near oregon pineapple racing has some decent prices on rebiuilds, and for a lil more he'll even put a miata gearset in for ya

 

this is the exact problem that i'm having right now as well. Taking low speed turns for me is really a pain. I either have to grind my way into 2nd, or leave it in third and bog my way out of the turn. Not very much fun. While putting in Royal Purple and double clutching are all good ways to deal with bad syncros....the truth is...you still have bad syncros. I think I'm going to be getting a core from Pineapple Racing. I talked to Rob and he said he can sell a core for $150.

 

1,2, and 3 are bad on mine. let alone it didn't want to shift without 2 hands when cold. put some redline mt90 in when i changed the clutch this past weekend and man what a difference. i can still feel it catch and it isn't a fix, but it will help it last a lot longer and cured my cold shift problems.

 

just out of interest, how many miles on all these tranny's that have dead / dying synchros? Mines got 60k miles and is a little difficult into 2nd at high revs sometimes... but no grinding.

 

108k

 

My tranny does the same thing...I can downshift to second....but it grinds badly. If I shift to fast into second it will grind.

I put in some Royal Purple about 4 months ago and it helped...but didn't cure the problem.

Do you guys know of any good places to buy good used tranny's that can gurantee everything working fine? If not how much does pineapple racing charge for a rebuild?

 

180,000 miles on my trans and motor, never rebuilt either, both in great condition

 

i have all new syncros for sale and some bearings and lock nut i am missing one or two bearings but that should be every thing you need to rebuild your transmission or if you got worn out gears or hubs

 

my 2nd gear grinds too if I don't ease it in... I don't have to double clutch, but if I shift 1->2 at 6000 RPM it will grind..

how much would a tranny shop charge to rebuild that tranny? anyone know? I suppose I could get a new clutch while the tranny's out. hmmm.

 

My '89 TII was done by the dealer under warranty @ 84,000 miles. They did it all. Out, rebuild, in= $1200. I just had KD do a rebuild while installing new engine @ 155,000 a/c syncros. Changed syncros and a couple bearings $640. Bite the bullet, pull the trans and have it redone. It's not going to get any better, just gets worse, and could damage gears. If you have access to another trans, have that one rebuilt, and then just change them. I know it's a lot of money, but the car will be great when it's done.

 

double clutching (4th to 3rd for example)

1. clutch in, go from 4th to neutral
2. in N, blip throttle to get the shaft spinning
3. shift to 3rd
4. heel-toe if you must

im pretty sure thats all there is to it.

oo and all that happens pretty fast. someone tell me if im right, it seems like im forgetting a step, or wrong about something.... i dunno?

--eric

 

rx-7fc...where did you get all those syncros from that you're selling?