Bye Bye Synchro!

MrSix

MrSix

MrSix

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Joined
21 Oct 2004
Posts
6,146
Location
Los Angeles
Not sure if I posted or not, but I had to have a new gearbox last month because the old one decided to go bang. Crown wheel was riveted on instead of bolted (damn you german 1.6 designers) and after a while the rivets decided they didn't want to play ball any more and sheered off, consiquently leaving me with a £740 bill for a reconned box fitted with the bolt kit.

Anyway, yesterday when I tried to select 5th, as I released the clutch there was a bit of grinding and general foul play. It now seems that 5th has given up the ghost and i'm suspecting a bork ring or 'borked' synchro.

It'll be straight back up there tomorrow so they can replace the box.
 
[TW]Fox said:
If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen.

:p
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If only everything in life wasn't such a flagrant lie as that slogan.

:D
 
Haven't VW boxes always been bad? Apparently they used them in Austin Maestros (yes, really!), and we were unfortunate enough to have one for a while. Engine, great (if underpowered), gearbox diabolical.
 
MrSix, when did your one go?

Because mine's at 57k, and I'm not sure whether it's gone yet, or whether the previous owners have installed the stronger parts to the gearbox.
 
155k miles on mine, thrashed daily, no problems at all. it seems on the clubgti site that the boxes may be one component that actually gives the least grief.

i imagine that the life span of a gearbox will depend largely on how its been used
 
Matt, that would be logical, but mine wasn't thrashed, not by me, nor by the couple that owned it before.

The gearboxes are a time bomb, they will go at some point because the rivets that attatch the crown wheel aren't strong enough. I've heard of people who have 150k miles on the clock and they've never had a problem. I've also heard of cars with 30k miles which have blown.

They are pretty spectacular too, it's common for the rivets to grind bits off inside your box, then blow holes in the bell casing! I was lucky, mine just ground itself to a stop.

My gearbox went at 54k miles and it possibly went earlier because it's an 8v unit, which has more torque than the lesser (;)) 16v unit.

Still, the owner of "Clutchmasters" is going to get it with both barrels and i'm also going to take plenty of photos of my car before it goes in this time, so that he doesn't damage it, then deny it like he did last time.
 
not too bad unless you need it in a hurry i suppose. i use mine for 60 odd miles a day, id be pretty screwed if it was away for a couple days.

ive got my fingers crossed for your car this time!
 
The_Dark_Side said:
waits for Fox to receive a huge, 5 series flavoured repair bill to see how the shoe feels on the other hoof.

;)
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I would make a comment, but I drive an Alfa :p
 
Lashout_UK said:
Least you look good by the side of the road with the bonnet up!
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Damn right, the heated seats work (for now) so at least I'll be warm :p
 
The_Dark_Side said:
waits for Fox to receive a huge, 5 series flavoured repair bill to see how the shoe feels on the other hoof.
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It is of course only a matter of time but I don't recall BMW trading on their reliability in the way VW have done ;)
 
Liverpool-Lad said:
On a side note, is the VAG box on the 1.8turbo (180bhp) engines prone to anything similar? :eek:
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Nope, nice and strong, they use big, full fat bolts to secure the crown wheel.

Dogbreath said:
It might be borked but its called a baulk ring
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Hehe, I just spelt it phonetically from what my mate told me.


[TW said:
Fox]It is of course only a matter of time but I don't recall BMW trading on their reliability in the way VW have done
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"The Ultimate Driving Machine" - need they say any more?
 
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