transmission issues...HELP!

[DriftChicken]

It's a '92 coupe with a "new" black top SR. I have an Excedy stage 2 with Fidanza flywheel(don't laugh...it was affordable). The clutch and fly are brand new. The car sounds good and drives well...except...

Issue # 1 - When I shift it into reverse, sometimes it grinds. Doesn't happen shifting into 1-5th. While I move forward a little bit then let the clutch out then step on the peddal again in and try to put it in reverse it grinds a little bit. My first instinct is maybe a Synchro but after a bit it stopped doing it as often. One thing I noticed with teh pedal is it feels kinda light I did have it adjusted some so it's a little bit stiffer but I don't think that the problem, maybe it's an indication of teh underlying issue? I read in another thread about bleeding it. Should I try to bleed the system? Any tips? ideas?

Issue # 2 - When I have it at a stop and in gear with the clutch all the way in(to the floor) when I release the clutch just at the stall point it makes this horrible sound. something between a chatter and a scrape. then when I push the clutch back in all the way it continues to make this sound. Once I throw it back into neutral and let the clutch out all the way the sound goes away. It also makes this sound when I'm backing the car out. While driving forward there is a very slight hint if the sound as well, seems like a very slight chattering. but not as noticeably...maybe bec of the exhaust lol.

Not sure if the 2 issues are related but I have a feeling they are in some way.

Things I'm thinking of...

- wishful thinking tells me that maybe the clutch just needs to be worn in. Although I have never heard of clutches making sounds like that before during break it. Keep in mind it is an excedy 2, which is not that much more than stock I believe.

- The bearing may be bad? I threw in a new t/o bearing along with the clutch and flywheel(I believe people usually replace that along with the clutch anyway) so I want to think that this isn't the problem. But if I knew for sure I wouldn't be here. Maybe the main bearing or something?

Hell maybe it's as simple as the system needing to be bled. Wouldn't that be nice?

Any ideas? comments or concerns?

Thanks guys!

-Chunky

[burgy240]

I have the same problem as your first one.....I've been told it IS the synchro. Sometimes it goes into Reverse fine and others it grinds a touch.... I don't have the other problem though...GL

[slider2828]

Nah that is the TO bearing. Basically it goes away after awhile, but the Throw Out Bearing is gone. Basically synscros will grind when the clutch has been let go all the way. You know its a TO bearing when it grinds when you are stepping down all the way on clutch and shift into gear and you hear a grind.

O and exedy's TO Bearing sucks ass. Either get a Z32 T/O or a stock SR throw out bearing. Just junk the exedy T/O bearing. Same exact sympton on my car.

[gotta240]

Heres a tip for you guys who grind when going into reverse.


Put it in 2nd. Let the clutch out lightly just till you feel the car want to move.

Then push the clutch back in and shift to reverse. Worked most of the time on MANY different reverse-grinding cars for me.

[Blk240racer]

this might be similar or it may be something different... when i try to shift in reverse sometimes it doesnt want to go in, and other times it goes in no prob. usually when it happens i just pump the clutch and go through 1-5 then nuetral and then i put it right in reverse with no hassle then. does that sound familiar to anyone? im thinking of draining the tranny fluid and filling it with some redline or lucus gear oil. thanks in advance guys

[DriftChicken]

Nah that is the TO bearing. Basically it goes away after awhile, but the Throw Out Bearing is gone. Basically synscros will grind when the clutch has been let go all the way. You know its a TO bearing when it grinds when you are stepping down all the way on clutch and shift into gear and you hear a grind.
It only happens when going into reverse though. Other gears go in just fine. My main concern is that I dotn want my tranyn blowing up on me while I'm driving it.

Any ideas on problem # 2? When in ANY gear, when I let the clutch out to its friction point, right when its about to stall, I get a scraping sound.

Another note(that I think may have something to do with #2)... I talked with some friends regarding my soft pedal feel. I was under the impression that the stage 2 would produce a stiffer clutch feel over stock. Mine right now feels just like stock, maybe a touch stiffer but not that much. Is this normal?

I'm thinking the clutch hydraulics needs to be bled. I'll def try that first since it's simple. Think that will help? Does # 2 sound like something that would occur with an improperly bled clutch? It kind of makes sense in that with air bubbles the clutch line it isn't engaging/disengaging fully/properly thus leading to that scrapping sound. What do you think? Or do you think it's all related to that TO bearing?

* - does Exedy come with a TO bearing? For some reason I want to say that I didn't get an Exedy TO, but then again I cant remember what I got. I just know that the TO was replaced with the clutch, but I don't remember specifically buying a new TO bearing... I guess it must be an Exedy then...

Thanks for the insight guys!

[DriftChicken]

bump. Any other ideas? Comments?

[slider2828]

Yah, I am sure at the beginning is just reverse... THen ultimately it will do it will do it on other gears, but sometimes might not.... Don't trip its the TO bearing. Usually if you guy the kit, it comes with it and like I said Exedy is crap.

Per the other guy where its hard to shift into second, pretty sure its syncros.... sorry new tranny unless you didn't adjust the clutch right, but if it is just second, its syncros.

[DriftChicken]

So should I consider my car not drivable? Meaning will my tranns blow up on me? I would assume it's not the healthiest thing in the world...

I assume TO bearing work is pretty much one step short of clutch replacement right? Grrr... sucks that I just got the clutch done =(

Sorry for the stupid questions, I hate making assumptions(although Ive made several already).

[nissantfsx]

haha...i thought i was the only person with a bad sr tranny... =P

my symptoms are very similar to your first issue...
sometimes when i shift right into reverse, it seems like it doesnt want to go in.
sometimes it grinds before I can get straight into reverse, so now (my own method) I just shift into third gear first before going into reverse. When that doesnt work, I would step and release clutch pedal a couple times, before going to third gear then reverse.
sometimes it's hard to get into first gear on the first try (therefore, i have to release the clutch pedal and step on it again then shift into first).
And when i am shifting from first to second gear while driving, it grinds at times...but it doesnt grind when i go from second and on.
I tried changing tranny oil...but nope, the problem is still there.

Some people told me its the synchro, some said its the clutch goin bad, some said its the throwout bearing, some even told me it might be the master or slave cylinder...lol
well, i will find out as i change them one by one...

never experienced ur #2 issue tho.

[BattleRoyale]

yes on number 1 for me, but it comes and goes

[slider2828]

Just to clear things up.

#1 is hard to get into reverse or other gears WHILE the clutch is pressed to the floor and makes a grinding noise as you let go. = TO Bearing Only... Just gets worse or better. Its just annoying and eventually all gears will do it. Gotta replace only the TO Bearing, would do it earliest as possible.

#2 If you can't put it into gear except you force it in and when you let the clutch go all the way near the top and it makes a grinding noise. = syncros

[RPS1392]

On most transmissions, reverse does not have a syncro. Thats why if you clutch drags at all, going into reverse will grind. By habit, I always shift into first, then right into reverse.

[slider2828]

I usually do that s well.

[grnappletree14]

my does the grind noise going from 1st to 2nd. some times it doesnt want to go into 2nd. y is that.

[apexi240sx]

mine does the same, drift chicken, your 1st prob. problem is my trans. just got rebuilt. its going back tommorow, the guy at the shop said its bad clutch disc, so that gonna get changed, ifeel like its not gonna solve the prob, also the TO bearing makes alotta noise on my car, only when i have the clutch pressed all the way in, the noise goes away. gotta change the TOB as well. sucks dude

[slider2828]

Its not just the noise, its when and where the clutch is depressed that tells you the problem.

[Dream240]

On most transmissions, reverse does not have a syncro. Thats why if you clutch drags at all, going into reverse will grind. By habit, I always shift into first, then right into reverse.

bam....exactly what we have here. You have a clutch kit problem. No your tranny will not blow up, explode, flywheel isn't going to come off and sheer your feet off, and any other tranny myths you've heard.

You need to get a T/O bearing soon cause it will get worse. Also just note some aftermarket clutch kits will give you this reverse grind no matter what. My SPEC stage 2 grinds if I try to put it in reverse without holding the shifter over to the reverse drop point for about 2 seconds. IIRC, unsprung clutches are worse, hence the reason they're designed for the track. Sure you can run them in your daily but be prepared to have some differences when comparing to stock.

I'd go with a Koyo throwout bearing, all the T/O bearings I've gotten with clutch kits have been crap. Here you go.

http://shop.nissanpartstore.com/buy.php?make_text=nissan&model_text=240sx&ml=240-sx-002&year=1991&part_name=release_bearing&brand_name=koyo&r=1&make_code=NI

hope this helps.

my does the grind noise going from 1st to 2nd. some times it doesnt want to go into 2nd. y is that.

your 2nd gear synchro is worn out. Get another tranny before you lose 2nd altogether.

Or you can just rev really high from 1st and jump to 3rd. :) Will save you some money for now.