So I finally got around to tearing my trans apart. I've been waiting for the semester to be over to install the JDM ITR final drive.

I was able to remove the countershaft successfully, but I decided to let a shop handle the hard part of swapping the gear set over.

This is where the problem is. After assembling the whole new assembly, the lock nut was torqued, and they checked out 1st and 2nd gear.

1st gear spins nicely, but 2nd gear is completely locked up. They loosened the locknut, and attempted to spin 2nd gear again, and it spun freely, but there is definitely a rough spot where there is resistance. They're suspecting a damaged bearing, but can it be anything else? I knew I should've bought the tools and done this myself!

Now I've already ordered the 2nd gear bearing, but I really want to know if there's any other possible explanation? Maybe misaligned friction damper? Would the gear still be able to spin with the friction damper misaligned?

I left the assembly at the shop so I cannot measure any clearances, and I'm kicking myself for not thinking about that. But I'm open to any input anyone has.

The final drive parts were all brand new as well.

 

Could be a bearing. But if you pull the gearset apart and check the needle bearing, you'll be able to easily feel if it's damaged.

Did you replace the 2nd gear synchro as well in all of this?

 

Picked up the parts from the shop, I don't trust their work.

Going to disassemble and find out what went wrong.

 

So it was the shop's fault. Took it to ProFunction (the only shop I've ever trusted my car to), and Mikey took care of it.

The other shop didn't clean anything off when installing the GSR gearset over to the ITR countershaft. Grit and grime were giving 2nd gear the rough feeling.

The binding was because they assembled the 1-2 gearset/synchro incorrectly.

The shop however did refund me the money they made me pay after I made a thread exposing their fault. The goal of my thread wasn't to get a refund though, I just wanted everyone to know what kind of business they're running.

 

glad to hear you got it figured out!

 

If you are at all able, always do it yourself!!! Transmission shops sell nothing but grief.

 

I learned my lesson. I am one to do everything myself, engine building to tuning. I was even going to do the gearset myself, but time was not on my side, and I figured I could save some time/money by having it done professionally.

But I got just the opposite. I probably spent 7 hours in 2 days driving all around IL just to get it done.

 

im surprised a shop even touched after the case was opened. I called a bunch of places and no one would touch mine.