Transmission smoothing out over time
 

You guys with low miles, not liking how the manual transmission feels... Have hope! Today I was running around town, and noticed... Nothing, no downshift resistance, no rattle in low rpm, no crunchy 3rd, even the clutch coming out of 2nd seemed smoother, it's like something finally snapped into where it's supposed to be. Went for a good drive on some back roads, by far the most fun I've had with my brz since I've owned it.

All stock fluids still, 4k km.

I've noticed this too, and the engine seems to have limbered up some as well. It feels a little quicker revving now. Almost 5k miles here.

11,000km on mine now and it does feel better and smoother than when new, but I still get the crunches and the extreme notchiness when the temperatures drop at night. I was hoping this would improve more with km's but it hasn't as much as I wanted. So, just this last week I've decided that it is new fluid time for me!

I hope it is not like the old racing saying..."it was running better than ever, right before it blowed up".

I experienced the same after switching to Redline MT-90 75W90 GL-4 @ 500 miles.

.......http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...es/roflmao.gif .... my laugh for the day .... thanks .... :D

We're jest ah messen wich ya OP .... :)

humfrz

YES!

The transmission is in the break-in stages (mine's a 05/13) and will only get better in time. Of course that is with accurate use and routine maintenance. But I'm loving the gearbox everyday the more I drive the car.

With the mr2, the e153 transmission is silky and strong, but now feels like I'm shifting a schoolbus compared to the FRS :cry:

My MR2 and Supra were extremely smooth shifting. I remember i used to shift with one finger. I guess we need more km to break in the transmission.

I didn't even know you got an FR-S congrats! I loved the MR2 saw the thread a while back are you keeping that? Those cars are awesome.

I do agree with the OP at first my transmission did not give me a lot of assurance but lately its been feeling very good. Just past 6k miles. I also think getting "better" at shifting it helped a lot as this was my first manual car, but I definitely notice almost no shaking of the tranny in early revs like I did before.

last couple days my "high" for this car has been great, cant stop taking it for drives. tranny is consistent, it doesn't look like it was just a one time thing! :D

I've stated in a couple threads that my trans has improved with mileage/use. I'm at 12k miles now. The 1-2 shift is much better but still grinds occasionally. I changed fluids early on.

Is it just a myth that the stock fluids have "additives" for break in? Anybody able to debunk/prove this?

Which fluids? I doubt the driveline fluids have additives and are straight conventional lubricants. The engine, maybe, but for the first time in any new car I'm staying with the Toyota branded 0W-20 synthetic oil during warranty. Toyota claims it has proprietary additives that ease my Subaru anxiety.

Agreed, at nearly 14k my crickets are gone as well.

:happy0180:

Edit: it isn't perfect, just better.

Mine manual trans is still a little rough shifting. The warmer the engine the smoother it shifts. Waiting and hoping for the experience that many posters on this thread have achieved. I'm at 3,100 miles.

Mine became really smooth when I finished a 5hr autox session lol.

I used to have the difficult 2nd gear when cold requiring a doubleclutch until warm, but that went away at 2000mi, transmission is smooth in every gear now (at 5000mi stock fluids except oil)

I"m at 2500 miles and still tough to shift into 2nd in cold weather.
Must need better fluid

When completely cold in the morning, I make sure to be extremely gentle with the 1st-2nd gear change. If it won't go in easy, obviously don't force it! Just take another second and try again and it will go in. Once all warmed up, the gearbox is perfect.

I'm thinking about doing fresh fluids for the gearbox and diff though. My break-in peroid is over and it's a good idea to flush out any sort of metal shavings as with all new cars.

I have ground my gears a few more times than I am comfortable with.
Sometimes it just seems to require two clicks instead of just one.

I have not changed the stock MT fluid yet.

However, I was wondering if some of the problem might be the fault of the hydraulic clutch....
I dont recall ever having a hydraulic clutch, maybe it makes the cold shift problem worse.
Should I flush & replace the clutch MC with the good blue brake fluid when I do the redline MT fluid change?

That's what I did when I flushed the brakes. It made no difference. Tranny lube is what you'll notice.