how bad is gear grinding

[Tagged]

This probably is a weird question to ask, but exactly how bad is gear grinding? Coz I grind the gears by accident every once in a while and gees that sound and feeling really "fcuks" up my mood real bad....

[BZG Wagon]

Once in a while probably isn't that bad.

My Dad would yell at me if I ground changes when learning to drive - at least according to him it took the hardning off the gears & shards of metal would then be circulating around the gearbox.

Like you I now get super pissed if I grind gears or make a jerky gear change (up or down) etc. I occasionally grind when I'm bored or lazy and rev-changing for something to do.

My old man taught me that gear changes should not be noticable other than hearing a change in engine pitch.

[Tagged]

My old man taught me that gear changes should not be noticable other than hearing a change in engine pitch.

wow...i thought a little jerk when shifting is inevitable while driving a manual....at least i've not ridden in any manual and not notice the shifting physically...

and if thats the normal standard for driving a stick then I'd probably get a overall grade of 13 out of 100 LOL

[Tagged]

Like you I now get super pissed if I grind gears or make a jerky gear change (up or down) etc

and haha yea i swear out loud when i grind the gears if theres no1 else in the car lol.

as to the jerky shifts, i find it really hard to avoid especially at lower gears (1st, 2nd and 3rd). Isn't it normal to have a little jerk from the lose of power when stepping on the clutch?

[BZG Wagon]

wow...i thought a little jerk when shifting is inevitable while driving a manual....at least i've not ridden in any manual and not notice the shifting physically...

I don't think you should ever feel a 'jerk' when driving normally.

First to second you might feel the acceleration come off (esp. going up hill). But from then on I don't you shouldn't feel much at all.

Try:
1) easing off the gas before you change up. Easing onto the gas one you.re back in gear.
2) slowing down the change.
3) matching revs to the gear you're in when you change down (so when dropping down a gear, blip the accelerator briefly as you take the clutch out, or take the clutch out slowly -> although the latter might wear you clutch faster).

[whynot]

I thought that when you grind the gears it was the synchros suffering as the gears were constantly meshed and the synchros are what engaged or locked them to the shaft?

I had to get over feeling sorry about "grinding gears" with my last gearbox, there was times it made less noise if I didn't use the clutch

[matt dunn]

I thought that when you grind the gears it was the synchros suffering as the gears were constantly meshed and the synchros are what engaged or locked them to the shaft?

Kind of,


The gears are always in mesh and so grinding the gears will not affect them.

The part it actually hurts is not normally the actual syncro either,
the syncro is the normally brass part of the mechanism.

the parts it does effect is the ring pressed into the the gear that the syncro rubs on, and the actual selector hub.

[iOnic]

Just learn how to drive. You normally get a feel for the shifter and know when it's not gonna engage properly.

As for jerking while driving - that's down to the driver as well. If you're smooth enough with your transition from coming off power-on clutch-off clutch-on power you shouldn't feel anything and certainly shouldn't have any jerking going on.

[Tagged]

oh yea, guess i used the work jerking wrong. what im saying is just the feeling when you stop accelerating. Like you would see the person sitting on the passenger seat bobbing his/her head a little

[Bling]

You'll never do it as smooth as an auto Unless you're driving like a nana I find it hard to believe you won't get some sort of noticeable feeling at gear change time. Driving next to an auto is a good example (though I could be wrong) they stay at a constant rate of acceleration, but with the manual you drop slightly behind with each gear change. I guess it comes down to how you drive.

But if you're grinding it that often you need to leave the clutch in a bit longer incase you've missed the gate

[allencr]

how bad is gear grinding?

You're shortening the syncro teeth/dogs useful life by rounding them off, making engagement more difficult.
The metal bits will circulate in the lube, hopefully to be caught by a magnet & wear bearings & gears, and a largish bit could completely kill a bearing in a few minutes.
The sound is usually much worse then the actually damage, those are pieces of very hard metal & they don't chip & wear fast or easy.