Keep missing 3rd gear
 

Hi guys under heavy throttle,, i keep missing 3rd gear when shifting from 2nd to 3rd and hitting 5th.
I replaced the Diff bushes,, should i replace the engine mounts to fix this, is there some good upgraded engine mounts, i dont want solid bushing.

Chances are you have a broken left side mount.

If you want to reduce trans movement and prevent future motor mount damage, install our crossmember Transmission Crossmember

You can also add our poly motor mounts and diff brace to futher reduce drivetrain movement.

http://www.banzai-racing.com/store/m...m_install6.jpg

I have the same problem as well, I need to look into your diff and tran brace.

Same thing use to happen to me until i installed the Banzai transmision and diff brace, no more missing 3rd gear now.

I seriously thought I was just terrible missing third and sticking it into 5th all the time. I'll take a look at driveline reinforcement. Thing is, I'm only at stock power levels :/ I'll check out my mounts though.

Matt

and keep in mind that is how the 5th gear syncro shatters and why so many third gens grind going into 5th.

take it easy on that particular gear change until you replace the mounts or add a brace. the engine lifts on the driver side under load so when you let off the throttle and prepare to shift the engine is sitting down and twisting your shifter to put the gear lever into the 5th/reverse gate instead.

I find that even at stock power levels the tail shaft of the trans"flops" around far too much with aggressive shifting. Keep in mind that the entire drive train is held in by only 4 liquid filled mounts, 2 at the rear of the motor and 2 the rear of the diff. This leaves a lot of opportunity for movement. Adding just the crossmember to the tail shaft of the trans will drastically reduce the sloppy feeling and improve shifting.

Good call. Ive attempted that quick second to third 3 times. I missed it twice and on the third time took my time finding third. I'm always extremely careful with my shifting at normal driving speeds. Good to know I have another reason not to want to shift it like a honda. :P

I just peaked under my car. My 93 has an aluminum driver's side mount. It appears that resealing the oil pan is a recommendation when swapping to the poly mounts as well as an oil pan brace. I guess my mounts will have to remain stock until its rebuild time then!~ ::KNOCK ON WOOD::

Matt

Never really shift into 5th from 2nd, usually just get stuck in between 3rd and 5th and I'll have to slow down to find 3rd again.

I've had poly engine mounts, banzai diff brace and the garfinkle engine torque bar. Nothing made a difference like bazai transmission crossmember. No major increase in vibration only when starting off in 1st gear I feel a bit but after that its smooth. Def a great mod.

Also important to note that FD's have had the misshift to 5th problem since new. This is why many 5th gear synchros break.

Mazda updated the synchro as well as the spring that controls how much force it takes to push the shift lever to the right from neutral, that updated spring makes a BIG difference. I've driven cars with the original spring and it's VERY easy to shift into 5th from 2nd even when not trying too hard.

The part from Mazda isn't too pricey and if memory serves it's a super easy part to replace from under the car, you don't have to drop the transmission or anything. Also, if your shift bushings are shot, this will also cause mis shifting and make the shifter feel like a broken stick in mud. New shift bushings make a MASSIVE difference and they're cheap and easy.

Dale

^Mazda called it the "Shift select spindle". Only two 10mm IIRC, and it wasn't much but it helps.

In case i dont have an original tran, how do I know if my tran has the updated spring or not?

I wouldnt mind that banzai trans brace,, but dont really want vibration

There is no vibration, poly motor mounts transfer more vibration than the Crossmember.

Here is what other users have to say https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...-986058/page2/

You're driving the wrong car, my friend :lol:

Is this a problem that only happens with the FD....or does the FC experience the same problems as well? I seem to be having shifting problems similar to OP. I'm pretty positive I have broken motor mounts, which I'll be replacing asap. Could that be the cause of hard shifting into 5th?

the FC has a completely different drivetrain mounting system, yes you still can easily mis shift into 5th but the FC stock shifter has a longer throw so gear changes are more difficult to miss. the shifter itself on the transmission is also different between FC and FD trannies, although the weak 5/rev gate spring is still apparent.

My FC's trannf was so weird... I think I had the lemon of them all...

Visually they were identical. The spring tension was all that was changed. Not aware of any other way to check.

Are there any issues in installing the crossmember brace in FDs that are auto->manual swaps? In short, will it bolt up?

I have not tried it personally, but there should not be any problems. The chassis and PPF are the same, those are your mounting points.