Author Topic: Grinding gears? (Read 3744 times)

denious · « **on:** June 23, 2007, 03:47:39 PM »

When I shift, 8 out of 10 times I can feel some kind of grinding in the gears, and the shifter's also constantly violently shaking until around 3k and then's just slightly vibrating. What could be causing this?

denious · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2007, 06:20:27 PM »

OK so I searched, found useful info in this thread, but magnum2066 never explains how he solved the thumping and the grinding...

So the versions are: failing pressure plate, slave cylinder problem, dead clutch. I'll verify all the fluids probably tonight, but how could I verify which one of the 3 causes the problem, if not all, which wouldn't surprise me on my car...

denious · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2007, 06:21:12 PM »

Also, any ideas about the vibration? It seems to be the worst in 2nd and 4th gears.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2007, 11:06:45 PM »

fer starters. get under the car, check yer tranny mounts and then check your shifter linkage

try double clutching when you shift, and that should help diagnose the problem (eg, is a problem with a gearbox itself or not).

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2007, 11:23:51 PM »

When idling, clutch in, is it hard to get the car into gear? Or does it feel like it has a few notches before fulling engaging? I have no idea about the vibration, but I imagine it is simply a piece of rubber that was on its last leg and decided to go. Where does your clutch engage as far as the clutch travel is concerned, bottom of the stroke, top? If the shifter bushing were to be completely removed wouldn't the shifter just shake around with the vibration from the motor? I recently drove an old 318i and its shifter bushing was completely shot and I could feel vibration in the shaft when holding it. Who knows, haha? Goodluck though.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2007, 12:07:29 PM »

Could also be worn tranny synchros if it has been getting worse over time. My car doesn't like to go into first gear whan it is cold, and when it is warm it almost feels like there's sand in the tranny

denious · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2007, 10:05:30 PM »

1: Double-clutching doesn't make any difference
2: Mounts and linkage will be checked tomorrow
3: It does sometimes feel like I have to get through 1-3 notches
4: Clutch is near the top and, well, when I have to parallel park and I go 1st-R-1st-R-1st it smells like something's burning, but nothing too bad and gears still engage rather smoothly
5: Also sometimes I can hear a thump when disengaging and then engaging back when releasing the clutch on lower gears
6: I believe the synchros are fine, depending on the way I drive it adjusts pretty well... Even though I feel what you're saying about when it's cold, the tranny feels 2x smoother.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2007, 03:18:34 PM »

#5 is proabaly a worn throwout bearing, although it is normal for them to make some noise.

denious · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2007, 04:05:18 PM »

Well the bearing is only $23 from Pelican, but something tells me if I'm gonna replace that I might as well get a clutch kit...?

Also, what exactly am I supposed to be looking for in the linkage?