S3 Gearbox Question
Discussion
Its starting to get difficult to get into reverse gear and second gear. Is this likly to be just sycros or clutch, or both, or something completely different?
If its in the box itself, then what is thes best solution - does someone do re-furbs or is it bes to find a unit from a scarp car (which one for the S3C box)?
If its in the box itself, then what is thes best solution - does someone do re-furbs or is it bes to find a unit from a scarp car (which one for the S3C box)?
hello Andy
is it any easier to engage if you press the clutch then wait a while before trying to engage gear? If so, it's probably the clutch dragging, and I'd try and live with it for as long as possible. Also, is the gearbox making any odd noises? It tends to be the bearings that go first on the type 9, and you get a whining noise in most gears.
Have you checked the oil level? If the box needs topping up, it could cause engagement problems. I hear good things about redline MTL in a lot of gearboxes for improving shift quality, but you need to make sure it is currently running a mineral oil and not ATF (which is, oddly, what I was told to put in mine when it came back from rebuild)
As Chris says, check the hydraulics as well first
saying that, I don't think there is a synchro on reverse on the type 9, and second gear is usually the first one to go as it's probably the most used gear in the box.
I've just had my box rebuilt, cost me £325, but the labour costs etc are going to be quite high if you don't do it yourself.
Edited to add that I personally wouldn't bother with a box from a scrap yard...given the effort involved in getting it out, I think it's only worth fitting a box you are certain is new/good. I would change the clutch as well if you are going that far.
Cheers
Ant
is it any easier to engage if you press the clutch then wait a while before trying to engage gear? If so, it's probably the clutch dragging, and I'd try and live with it for as long as possible. Also, is the gearbox making any odd noises? It tends to be the bearings that go first on the type 9, and you get a whining noise in most gears.
Have you checked the oil level? If the box needs topping up, it could cause engagement problems. I hear good things about redline MTL in a lot of gearboxes for improving shift quality, but you need to make sure it is currently running a mineral oil and not ATF (which is, oddly, what I was told to put in mine when it came back from rebuild)
As Chris says, check the hydraulics as well first
saying that, I don't think there is a synchro on reverse on the type 9, and second gear is usually the first one to go as it's probably the most used gear in the box.
I've just had my box rebuilt, cost me £325, but the labour costs etc are going to be quite high if you don't do it yourself.
Edited to add that I personally wouldn't bother with a box from a scrap yard...given the effort involved in getting it out, I think it's only worth fitting a box you are certain is new/good. I would change the clutch as well if you are going that far.
Cheers
Ant
Edited by Tant on Friday 4th June 14:40
i'd go along with the advice above, could well be clutch, there is no syncro on reverse so i would think it can only be poor clutch operation. Replacing all the clutch hydraulics on mine made a massive improvement to gear change.
Get an "expert" to try it (not some dodgey Clutch Centre type of place)and if diagnosis is gearbox i have a good second hand one spare !
Get an "expert" to try it (not some dodgey Clutch Centre type of place)and if diagnosis is gearbox i have a good second hand one spare !
I have been fortunate enough to have both problems over the past 18 months.
Crunching into reverse and difficulty engaging first and second but gearbox quiet = hydraulics only.
Noisy gearbox sounds like dry bearings, easy to diagnose put the box in neutral noisy when clutch engaged noise stops when clutch depressed = gearbox bearings.
Will usually just be the main shaft bearings as the layshaft is submerged in oil. Mainshaft bearings and gasket set costs around £100 and the boxes are very simple to work on if you are handy with a spanner.
There could be other problems inside the box broken syncros etc which would become obvious but just noisy is more likely to be bearngs
Tony
Crunching into reverse and difficulty engaging first and second but gearbox quiet = hydraulics only.
Noisy gearbox sounds like dry bearings, easy to diagnose put the box in neutral noisy when clutch engaged noise stops when clutch depressed = gearbox bearings.
Will usually just be the main shaft bearings as the layshaft is submerged in oil. Mainshaft bearings and gasket set costs around £100 and the boxes are very simple to work on if you are handy with a spanner.
There could be other problems inside the box broken syncros etc which would become obvious but just noisy is more likely to be bearngs
Tony
Edited by merky300 on Friday 4th June 19:18
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