Looks like another tranny is about done for me.
 

Both transmissions seemed to find a spot between 3rd and 5th that feels like an egagement until you get back on it.

1st trans had about 175,000 miles on it and it stuck itself in 5th gear during a hard shift to 3rd. This one would go into that spot between 3rd and 5th alot, even if I wasnt shifting it aggressively. I got the car with this condition.

This replacement trasmission is a 99+ as it had an electronic speed sensor in it (assuming it wasnt changed before). This one is now starting to "find" that spot as well. Trans was loaded with redline at install and doesnt make any odd noises.

I'm not seeing this happen often or it's not being discussed by other folk here or M.net. Since the replacement transmission went in, the car is basically a 4-7 psi setup, depending on what that sorry wastegate actuator feels like. The car is autocrossed and drifted. I suspect I'm being too forceful in engagement. Just as a measure of my experience, I've been legally driving for 26 years (yup I'm old) and racing for about half of those.

Anybody else having this issue?

If you're having issues with the shifter, I can't imagine it would be anything but the driver actions. The non-driver induced failures from power are usually the gears (probably bearings starting to fail and producing excessive tolerance). If it's hard to shift, then there's already a problem - like clutch issues or shifter issues.

thanks. I assumed it was just me being too rough with it.

I think autoXing has the potential to be more brutal on a transmission than drag racing, especially if the course is tight. It's a lot more difficult for the driver to be easy on the transmission too since primary focus is on vehicle dynamics (vs. driving straight to the finish line). I ran CS waaaay back in a 91 and wound up having first gear synchro issues which I'm sure came from me doing a lot of second to first gear downshifts (and forcing it in when it didn't want to go). But what else are you gonna do with super tight turns in a stock Miata?

I'm not looking forward to buying the quaife box.

More hp. Less torque. :D

I dont think that will do anything to help op.....his problem is driver abuse, not too much tq

I just thought of something.. does anyone make "handcuffs" for the Miata like are available to the Honda drag community?

Attachment 210522

I was referring to hustler.

I'm confused. lol, just call me stephen hawking.

I have never heard of these...care to explain?

they don't stretch or twist...and no, no one makes a god damn thing for miata transmissions.

Never seen that before, but if I had to guess, it ties the two main shafts together that the gears are mounted on so that the gears can not cam away from each other as much.

main and pinion.

Bingo. Replaces a gear though. :td:

Figured. Sucks. You know, you could move second gear to 1st gears place, then do away with 2nd gears spot to put the handcuffs there and then in thirds place you would have 3rd, 4th in 4th's, 5th in 5th's. Might be a cheap solution for 5 speed owners that are willing to give up first gear for strength.

That's what the front case does on the Miata transmission - which really isn't a bellhousing, more like a bellhousing and front section integrated. And since I just went through this, I've got pics!

You can see the bearings buried in the "bell". What's that you ask? A ghetto case splitter/separator.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...ans_01_600.jpg

Yes it works.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...ans_03_600.jpg

Here's the back side of the front section with top bearing still seated:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...ans_07_600.jpg

And here's the trans with the lower bearing on the shaft:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...ans_06_600.jpg

oh boy could my wrx have used one of those :giggle:

I was in such horrible, dire straights with my VW that i had to charge spur gears like these:
http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/phot...762590_297.jpg
http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/phot...62589_9227.jpg
then a few months later the car was stolen. They held up to a 19-year old drag racing with slicks though. The 6-speed kit was $1800 from quaife, $1200 from SQS...and FM charges how much?

It was horribly loud too, lol.
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/phot...92289_5396.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/phot...92292_6378.jpg

I wish we had a cost-effective option.

Would the Miata trans even need one? I don't know how the Honda trans is set up but the Miata trans already has 7. Front, center and rear on the countershaft. Rear and center on the mainshaft.One in the middle of the input shaft and a small one inside the input shaft that the nose of the mainshaft slips into so the two can spin independent of one another.

Both rear and center are supported by the trans case, as are the front but the input shaft being separate from the mainshaft is supported basically in the middle with the small bearing holding up the end of the input shaft and front of the mainshaft.

This, IMO would be the weakest area.Reason being if the two shafts thrusted away from each other it would probably be in the small bearing where it could pivot.Other than that I think everything else is supported by the trans case.

The only place "handcuffs" would be any use would be the front of the mainshaft which would require a custom countershaft anyway because it's one piece.IMHO:dunno:

Still a pretty cool idea though!

That brings back such horrible memories! Im on my second rebuild.:cry:

oh yeah, and cryo-treating the case helped 2 friends with 700+whp vw's keep transmissions together.

I should also note what a piece of shit, communist cockmaster company Quaife really is. I bought their differential for my vw, and after paying $600 to get it installed, it broke like 1-week later. Then broke it apart to find that the case broke. So we called Autotech (quaife dealer) and they talked to quaife, who refused to send a replacement because they "only warranty the gears inside, not the differential's case." So I dropped $900 on the diff, $600 on the labor, it broke, and they told me to get fucked. I then bought a diff from Gary Peloquin who offers a "no questions asked" warranty. I wish he'd put something together for miata people.

btw, the r32 peloquin rear diff looks insane:
http://www.peloquins.com/R32rearnewwmfin.jpg

I am pretty surprised at how few transmission upgrade options there are for the miata though....a car that has been around THIS long and has quite a decent aftermarket by now....

If I break the trans in my car, I'm going to whine like a ------ on this forum for a long fucking time. :(

:bowrofl:
and what are you doing now?
:bowrofl:

oh wait its about your build, not the tranny..ok nevermind:giggle:

Sig material right there.

Agreed! Plus the cult-like following the Miata has, you would figure there would be a big enough market for it.

What is there, one mabey two trans upgrades(Quaife+?)? Not to mention how fucking expensive it is!:mad:

To the OP: Maybe try a 6 speed? Supposed to be stronger.

Lord- that was my point. Rwd isn't confined to the space the fwd transaxles are. The fwd trans loses a lot of the stuff that makes the rwd trans strong.

Damn Hustler, that's yet another mechanical horror story... I still think if you avoid drag racing, keep the shifting smooth and concise, and power under 250ftlbs, you'll be ok on the road course. That merlot which for sale here, had at least five seasons of track events on it- same transmission.

Options? When used transmissions run from 100-200 bucks, consider how cheap most Miata owners are, well maybe it's not so surprising.

I've also started to suspect another transmission/diff killer- the U joints. I've got some slop in my driveline that's still there with the new trans and I'm wondering if that's where it is coming from. I know this is a big deal on high torque muscle cars.

I still think that a trans swap kit would be a good option. It should include the adapter plate (tho I'd prefer a welded up, modified bellhousing), slave arrangement, clutch pieces, drive shaft and ppf adapter. You name/supply the trans... whatever is the cheapest/strongest/most available.

[QUOTE=m2cupcar;320412]Lord- that was my point. Rwd isn't confined to the space the fwd transaxles are. The fwd trans loses a lot of the stuff that makes the rwd trans strong.


Gotcha! There was a post somewhere(MX-5.net, I think) of a guy trying a T5 swap but it's unfinished. I don't know if he hit a snag, ran out of funds or just quit posting. Might even be finished.Not sure?

I'm sure there's a reason FM went with a gearset vs. a swap kit. And I don't think it's profit margin, because it seems to me there's a lot more margin in the kit given the price of the gear set. It might be on the post side of the sale - the installation would be nearly as complicated as their turbo install. Then again the 6 spd seems to be working fine for most turbo four applications.

FM Quaife 5-speed swap: $3000-$3500 (remember you need synchros and a bunch of other shit)
+5-speed shift feel
+Great street/strip gear ratios
+arguably stronger than the 6-speed
-fucking expensive
-some have said that the 5th gear whine on the highway necessitates earplugs

6-speed: $700-$1000
+way cheaper
+better road race gear ratios
-not quite as strong as the 5-speed
-inconsistent shift feel (some are really bad, some are just slightly worse than the 5)

:confused: I was under the impression the 6spd was substantially stronger... :doh: the quaife upgraded 5spd. got it.

Gears is a much better solution than a swap kit in most regards except price. Problem is, making the gears. Initial cost of the materials to make the gears out of is peanuts compared to cost of manufacturing. Cutting them requires a Horizontal milling machine w/ rotary table. Then they have to be either bored in the center or broached depending on which gears you are making.

A CNC Horizontal Mill w/ CNC rotary table ain't gonna be cheap. (Probably 20K?) At least 200-250 a month just to make payments on if you bought one. And then you need a select few broaches to cut the splines. Probably 700-1000 per broach. Oh, and a hydraulic press to use the broach (1000).

When I get out of college in 2-3 years I'm buying a bunch of CNC equipment and it will be making parts 24-7. These could be one of them. But yeah that's a long ways off. Wish someone would do it sooner. I think I've PM'd everyone on this forum that's ever suggested they would make anything for miatas and so far, no takers.

I'm putting a power-glide in mine.

btw, my gearbox sounded like this:


6th was helical.

...for sure!

I love the gear whine from straight-cut gears:)
wouldn't be able to live with it on the street tho..

Hahl! My tranny just got stuck in 5th (I think) @ CMP 2 weeks ago.

A Quaife is out of the question for my sense of value.

I have a '93 transmission I'm going to throw in. It came with the car and has been sitting in the shed since I swapped all the 1.8 stuff in. I have new seals to freshen up either end. I have to make VIR in a week and then Road Atlanta for Thanksgiving. Hope it holds together long enough to finish the year.

I would think the 6 speed just keeps you too busy shifting gears. Gear shifts rob your lap times of .10's. I think I'll just keep throwing in junk yard 1.8 trannys if this problem is continuous. That and try changing my shifting style.

On the track I shift quickly -no grip and rip, just pushing forward with the palm and pulling back with the fingers - but I do send it home. The only situation that requires I slow down and be patient is when the drive train is all torqued up in a hard 2nd gear acceleration coming out of a slow corner. If I'm not patient enough, I'll snag 3rd a little on the shift. I've found that short shifting to 3rd at about 5000 rpm helps.

I'll admit I have no idea how transmissions work internally. What confuses me is how I could have lock up in 5th gear when the only gear I'll admit to abusing is 3rd?

There's not enough demand to justify the mfg expense of aftermarket transmission products because they work great for stock powered, normal use - and really well. It's only when power is significantly increased and they are driven really hard that failures occur and that's because they weren't designed for it. Compared to all the Miatas out there, there's only a handful of us doing things with the cars that exceed the capacity of the OEM parts.

Just don't use 1st gear on the 6 speed.