And in addition, how much of your budget do you set aside for synchronizer replacement?

I don't want to hear a debate on whether or not synchro wear is caused by poor driving - we all already know that some drivers are much easier on synchros than others. I'd just like to hear about everyone's experiences.

I know many people will just swap in another used transmission rather than replace synchros, but good short-geared B-series trannies certainly aren't cheap or easy to find in my area. I'd like to know what kind of money it takes in the long run to keep a race car transmission grind-free.

It seems that synchronizers are a weak point in Honda manual transmissions; in some cars *cough*2000 Civic Si*cough* they wear out quickly enough on the street, and I'm sure the constant high-RPM shifts of track use will accelerate that wear considerably.

I religiously rev-match and double clutch my downshifts, but I'm still plagued by the notorious 2nd and 3rd gear grinds after about 70,000 street miles in my Civic. Honda wouldn't goodwill me synchronizers since I am out of warranty, even though there is a 2001-era TSB that addresses this problem, and even though I am a Honda employee. If the parts weren't so damn expensive, I wouldn't have a problem with this.

 

i'm on the same set of syncro's now for the past 2 years....in the race car

my daily driver which has seen 32 track events and 60k.....still does not need syncro's....

if you know how to shift you don't have a problem with them

 

i can replace 1-2 and 3-4 syncro set for about 500....that's really all you need to do to make the tranny new again....

and clean it out really good...

 

And the bearings.... something I'll be doing this winter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you know how to shift you don't have a problem with them</TD></TR></TABLE>
I have no idea what I am doing wrong then. Shifting is such a simple concept, how much could there be to it? I rev match and double clutch most downshifts, and I rarely miss a shift. And since it is my daily driver, it doesn't often see 8000 RPM shifts. What gives?

I just find it aggrivating that my clutch outlasted my synchros. I feel that there is no excuse for this. I could have them replaced, but how do I know that I won't be spending another $500 once 70,000 more miles roll around?

Granted, I am not the original owner of this car, and it did see about 10,000 miles of pizza delivery (stop and go with hard acceleration in between). I'm just disappointed that they weren't durable enough to withstand 60-70k of hard driving.

BTW, do you use OEM parts, or do you have an aftermarket source for synchros? What parts get replaced?

 

Are you shifting while you corner? Power Shifting?

 

Just curious... what fluid were you using and how often were the drain intervals on it?

Any track time?

 

hi. i have 3 years of racing on my powertrain; engine is a B series nonvtec worked up fairly well. tranny is a 2000 SI from a wrecked car. zero shifting probs; shifts perfect.

i use 10w-40 synthetic blend valvoline motor oil. drain it every year and replace. tranny feels like new.

i feel i match rev very very well, and i don't force the shift; i don't believe in short shifters (i use the stock linkage). i shift swiftly, but not "fast"; i never slam it into gear. i think that is the secret to long life in the synchros; quickest way to wear them out is to shift up thru the gears really fast, with a shortshift kit, forcing the gears together faster than they want to go....

i guess for the last part of your question, i don't budget anything for tranny maintance per year, except for the $5.00 in oil once per year.

good luck, and hope to see you out there soon!

todd

ps Chad's engines are really strong; if anyone was gonna have tranny failures, i'd figure he'd have them; he out-drags all of us routinely in the starts, and really pulls strong down the straights!

 

He really babies this car when i have rode around with him.It has seen maybe 20 autocross which shouldnt effect the 3rd gear syncro?

On side note my B-series track-car has the longest lasting tranny i have ever had in a car i raced. started out at 113,000 miles now have another 10,000 on it. Back when i ran HS with a D-series tranny i went though a tranny every 10,000 miles . Luckly we had tons of L3 laying around the shop and they were disposable.

 

&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt; H series tranny syncros replaced every 5 weekends...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt; H series tranny syncros replaced every 5 weekends... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn those trannies do suck! You actually have to factor synchros in to the racing budget... That's crazy I tell ya!

 

yeap, prettymuch, it sucks....