walrus108

My tranny just started grinding when I shift into 4th gear. It's like you can feel the gears contact in the shifter and one's spinning and one's not. Would a simple rebuild fix this? What would have to break in a t-5 for it to do this? I checked all the usual things it could be. The clutch is fully disengaging and it is full of fluid. I recently installed this tranny. It was used and part of a Hawk's conv kit. I think it was just tired when I got it and now it's gotten worse. Should I look for another used one and rebuild this one? Any advice or info would be highly appreciated.

chevymec

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like a scyrnonizer (sp?) is gone bad. It can be fixed.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

So, when you installed the pilot into the crank, did you install a bushing, or was it a bearing?

walrus108

I used a bearing. I have already checked that out and it is spinning freely. I know why your asking though. I have been able to determine that the prob is in the tranny and just with 4th. It actually grinds worse when you try to go back from 5th to 4th by the way. I am a prof volvo mechanic and have access to a whole working garage of tools. I've also worked on GM's my whole life but I'm not certified in manual trans and don't know much about them. I was just wondering what inside the tranny would have to break to cause my symptoms? Isn't 4th direct drive through the shaft? It would seem that whatever locks the shaft together must be grinding. I have read the instructions to rebuild one and it seems like something I can handle and I have all the tools. I just want to have no surprises. I read a post that said grinding into 4th, if it's not pilot bearing/clutch not releasing, it is not syncros and this prob won't be addressed in the standard rebuild kit. I just need more and more definitive info on this. Is my tranny junk or can I get the parts and rebuild kit to fix it?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yes, 4th is direct.

99.99999% of the time, the reason 4th ONLY grinds, is because the shafts are not held stable with respect to each other; and 99.99999% of the time, the reason is, the pilot.

It's not a question of "spinning freely", it's a question of having too much side play.

Not "spinning freely" will make EVERY gear grind, unless the driver manually synchronizes the transmission to the shift-to gear with the gas pedal. That problem produces pretty much the same symptoms as a clutch that doesn't fully release.

You can get a "kit" to rebuild the trans; it will have the bearings that go between the clutch gear and the mainshaft, and that hold the gear and shaft in the case. There's a Torrington bearing between the shafts also, that you'd have to buy separately. Some people package a "full kit" or something of that sort, that includes the brass blocker rings. You'll have to buy any other hard parts you might need separately. It's not impossible, that your trans was damaged before you got it, by a destroyed pilot bushing/bearing in its former life; and that you're just now enjoying the effects of it, in spite of doing everything right on your end. Such is life.

Check here for parts. There's some other places too, but that one will at least get you started. Some parts (synchro keys for example, and the little plastic pads on teh shift forks) you can get from GM, and not much of anywhere else. You're right, they're not particularly hard to rebuild. But I believe I'd wait to buy parts, until after tearing it down. I'd almost bet that no matter what you buy, you'll need something else.

walrus108

Cool. That's just what I was hoping to hear. As long as the parts are available. Just out of curiosity, what will happen to it if you do the "manually synchronizes the transmission to the shift-to gear with the gas pedal" thing? Also, I've been told that in all the rebuild kits for these the parts are all made by the same people so just shop by price and what's included. Does this sound right to you? Thanks for the help.

88TPI406GTA

I would buy from Hanlon Motorsports.

www.hanlonmotorsports.com

Check out the video for rebuilding a t-5 too.