Gearbox and 1st Gear

[172_Cup_Lew]

Sorry if this has been covered i couldnt find anything with search,

basically ive learnt the gearboxes arent the most robust, and that flooring it in 1st, or changing down at high revs dont particularly agree with the gearbox, and its really put me off putting my foot down in 1st, ive read somewhere a new gearbox is a £1200 job? :S

how has everyone else found their boxes coping with their driving style? obviously I always try to match revs as much as poss when changing to prolong the life a lil, also, when i lift off the throttle, the gearstick has a bit of play in it, is this normal for the Cup, or a sign of the engine mounts on the way out?

Cheers

 

[bmh.01]

The gearstick having a bit of play in it is normal, i've had 3 and never killed a box yet so its all down to driving style. As long as you treat it with some mechanical symphathy it'll last just fine.

 

[mini-valver]

I've done a box in but thats probably down to having shagged engine mounts and driving like a hooligan.

 

[ben_r1]

Dont believe all the forum talk about em being weak, k-tec turbo'd their clio to 300bhp and the g/box held up fine.

 

[172_Cup_Lew]

Cheers guys

im still gonna wait till i have the cambelt done to give it the beans, will be hard to resist the loud pedal though lol

 

[Andyman]

Sure its only 300 for a full re-build iirc.

See that the lad running the 172 powered R5 GT turbo modded a Audi box to fit

 

[Henry]

£300 is pretty cheap for a rebuild - would be wondering about how much has actually been replaced for that little. unless you can do it yourself, you're probably looking at round-about £200 for fitting as well

could try renewing/uprating the mounts, as they're a common prob. if they're the original mounts, it'll feel much tighter with new ones

you still sort of have to drive around the box, as it can't really keep up with the engine (IMO/etc)

 

[Fletcher]

Sorry if this has been covered i couldnt find anything with search,

basically ive learnt the gearboxes arent the most robust.

Who told you that?? i'm still on the original gearbox (111k covered) and IIRC Russ is on 130k and still on the original gearbox.

 

[Henry]

not the place in this thread, but i've been thinking it might be interesting to start a 'who hasn't broken their gearbox yet' poll. i know you two guys are active in posting whenever it crops up, but there are masses of people with problems (crunchy gears, etc)

 

[172_Cup_Lew]

Who told you that?? i'm still on the original gearbox (111k covered) and IIRC Russ is on 130k and still on the original gearbox.

just seems to be written wherever i search for it lol

 

[Fletcher]

just seems to be written wherever i search for it lol

Some people have had probs with gearboxes. But IMO they are pretty robust like the engine ( if looked after)

 

[MarcoB]

My 1.6 clio had 142k on it and it held up fine. The 1st syncro goes thats all. You cant get it into first unless you arent moving. Youll get used to it, in any driving situation when do you use first apart from setting off?

 

[mattjk]

3rd gear went funny for me at 30kish. The gearboxs arn't very good compared to german boxs. I'd like another 182 but this is the main thing that puts me off

 

[mark123]

My box is fine at 133k. I do auto solos with it which are constant on off power in first.

 

[Riley!]

had my cup 1 year now, many spirited drives with no box problems what so ever (also match the revs as much as poss). Think my dog bone mount is starting to get a bit of play but thats only wear and tear (bit more movement in gearstick then there used to be) Second hand box for a cup you looking 200ish and then the price of getting it fitted if your not handy with spanners. Not that you will get any problems

 

[Greeny.]

No point in driving your car like a pussy though incase something will go wrong, if it does it does!

 

[Fletcher]

No point in driving your car like a pussy though incase something will go wrong, if it does it does!

Knowsit... i give mine hell it loves it :evil:

 

[mini-valver]

^^^^+1!!! If something breaks, usually ts because you've been lazy and not replaced it after warning signs. Even then, its a car, drive it like Ricky Bobby and it'll break. Life.

 

[caister]

My 1.6 clio had 142k on it and it held up fine. The 1st syncro goes thats all. You cant get it into first unless you arent moving. Youll get used to it, in any driving situation when do you use first apart from setting off?

I was always told that generally you shouldn't be braking into first gear for the very reason that its bad for gearboxes.

I've heard that gunning it in first all the time is bad for the box but the odd fast start isn't going to do any harm and unless your doing it from every junction then I wouldn't worry about it.