Manual Transmission - Grinding Shifting into Reverse

[Bob Clayton]

I have a 1998 Jeep Wrangler.

Sometimes when I go to shift into reverse, I get a grinding sound, even if I have the clutch pressed all the way to the floor. It only does it with reverse, no other gears, and it only happens about 30% of the time.

Anyone have any idea what it is, and whether or not I should get it checked out?

Thanks in advance!

[ryco]

May be a worn bearing. Should get it checked out before it totally fails.

[Pilgrim]

FIRST - check the lube in your transmission. If it's low you can have problems.

Second: Many manual transmissions use the same gear for first and reverse, but engage an additional idler gear for reverse. SO - to avoid grinding, try shifting into first gear momentarily - THEN into reverse. In some trannies this aligns the reverse gear and stops it from spinning at idle. You might be pleasantly surprised. This works with the tranny in all of the Datsun Z-cars (240/260/280/280ZX), and it might work with your Jeep.

[HollowBassman]

Reverse(and often 1st) are not usually synchronized.

[Pilgrim]

Actually, first is a sync gear in all modern trannies...including the Jeep. Try the idea I mentioned above, then report back.

[Warpticon]

I don't see nothin' wrong with a little bump and grind.

[RWP]

Try this. Shift into first before you shift into reverse. Worked every time for me.

[Mike Money]

my toyota does that.




i just put it in first, go forward a hair,, and then reverse.

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by HollowBassman

Reverse(and often 1st) are not usually synchronized.

Exactly. Replacing the throwout bearing and adjusting the clutch linkage it MIGHT reduce it. I wouldn't worry about it

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by RWP

Try this. Shift into first before you shift into reverse. Worked every time for me.

Hmmm. Sounds like what I suggested.....

[RWP]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Hmmm. Sounds like what I suggested.....

Woops, sorry about that.

[Mike N]

Many times reverse gears are straight cut and the forward gears are angle cut.

Straight cut gears are a little harder to get to mesh so the minor grind will often result.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Bob Clayton]

I've been driving around and trying putting it into neutral, then first, then reverse, and so far so good!

[kissmybASS01]

The shifting into first gear before engaging reverse is not a new technique. It's just like "double-clutching" downshifts - Downshift from a higher gear, shift into neutral (foot off clutch), then shift normally again into a lower gear. It's the old school way before modern synchros.

BTW, manual trannies rule!!!! It's a dying art with lots of modern "sports cars" being offered with automatics and manu-matics. Both of my legs work, I don't have a brain injury, so shifting gears is the only way

[AmazingGracePlayer]

The golf cart I drive at the country club I go to does that... If I'm going forward, I have to stop before switching to reverse. Same goes for other way around...

[ryco]

Kinda depends on the sound of the grind though. If it's the bumpy grind like the occasional mis-gear, then yeah, it's just a manual tranny thang.

If it is a little more prolonged and has kind of a sandpaper rasp (or sounds like sand or gravel), then something may be beginning to wear. Or may be low on lubricant as posted before.

But after all, these are trucks, not Saabs.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

The golf cart I drive at the country club I go to does that... If I'm going forward, I have to stop before switching to reverse. Same goes for other way around...

Big difference between golf carts and cars there my friend.

[Bob Clayton]

The closest I can describe the sound is as if I was putting it into gear without stepping on the clutch.

But since I've been putting it into first briefly before going into reverse it's been fine. So I should be OK, right?

[HomeBrewTJ]

My 97 TJ does the exact same thing. Need to get the tranny and its fluids checked out.