Clutch/ Trans help needed

Dr.Apex · May 2, 2010

Hey guys, I'm having some issues with my clutch or trans that I need help with. Sometimes it's really hard to get it into reverse. I have to yank the shifter pretty hard to get it to go in sometimes. Other times it slides right in without an isssue but other times I have to put it in first to roll the car forward a few inches, then put it in reverse.
Also, very rarely, I get gear grinds. I realalize that sometimes it's just due to lazy shifting but sometimes it grinds in and I'm like, wtf!!
Any ideas on what the problem could be? Is there a way to tell if my clutch needs replacing? Fluids? ect...
Any advice or ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks

Lee12609 · May 2, 2010

could be a bunch of things, first thing that comes to mind is a slightly bent shift fork. also changing the fluid could help everything but the reverse issue. thats not really an issue, its pretty normal, it should be habit to you just go first then reverse.

duff daddy · May 2, 2010

The reverse issue is pretty normal, reverse is not a synchronized gear so depending on where it is you may need to "line it up" IE going in to 1 st or 4th or whathave you and then it will go in to reverse.

As far as the grinding intermittently, you could have a slightly bent shift fork like lee said, also syncronizer stop rings could be getting worn and that could be causing your "gear clatter"

As the clutch, do you feel it slipping? where does it grab? and do you have an aftermarket shifter? If so and the stop aren't adjusted correctly you could have caused your own problem.

Dr.Apex · May 2, 2010

Ok, thanks for answering the reverse question. That was my main concern. Yes, I have an MGW STS, but I'm positive the stops are correctly set. I had this issue before I got the shifter, but just assumed it was due to the cold weather. I just bought the car in Jan.
The clutch doesnt engage untill the pedal is almost fully let out. I don't think its slipping, at least I can't tell if it is. It launches fine and smokes the tires on command, and I don't smell the clutch at all. I did, however, notice that if I have the car in gear and rev it, the car creeps forward.

What do ya guys think?

duff daddy · May 2, 2010

If the clutch engages that high, you may have something going on here, possibly unrealted to your other issues.

Lee12609 · May 2, 2010

yeah the release should be WAY lower, halfway up or lower for a properly working/adjusted clutch.

how about pedal free play, how much if any do you have??

have you tried pulling upwards on your clutch pedal to get the quadrant to grab the next tooth (if its all stock quadrant setup)

Dr.Apex · May 3, 2010

no, I havent done anything as far as adjustments or anything. I wanted to find out what types of things I could do to test out whatever problems there may be. Tomorrow I'll take her out again and give a more accurate description of the pedal play and engagement point. Off the top of my head there is no pedal play though.
I have read about draining the transfluid and replacing it with a better oil and a lesser amount than Ford recommends to help combat the occasional grinds, but I don't remember where I got that info or the exact amounts, or the brand of oil.

Lee12609 · May 3, 2010

Ive never owned a T-45 car but my fox body with a T-5 liked 2quarts of redline MTL, made the shifts buttery and first and reverse easy to find. MTL is a GL4 gear oil 75w90 but equivalent to 10w30...

Jetsetter · May 4, 2010

My 01 broke a shift collar on reverse and got stuck in gear, necessitating a rebuild. The best thing you can do is put it in 1st before going into reverse until your problems get worse.

Pull up on the clutch pedal hard to see if it needs to be adjusted. If it isn't correctly seated it will click.

Dr.Apex · May 4, 2010

So, I took her out again. Shifting into first before shifting to reverse made it go in like butter, so that was a releif. I did, however, run into a situation that scared me a little. The shifter got stuck kinda half in and half out of reverse. I couldn't move it and when I let out the clutch a little I ground the gears. I took some messing with for a few moments but it was enough to embarrass the hell out of me and freak me out about it. So I went to a vacant parking lot and just messed around with with reverse so more, problem free.
This is my third manual mustang and I remember reverse being a pita, but I just feel like there's more of a problem here....or I could just be paranoid. I dunno
I've been searching for all the threads I can find on my trans but am not finding too much usefull info. :BangHead: