shifting into reverse
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Hershey PA
shifting into reverse
I have an 88 with the 4+3 transmission. When I shift into reverse, the gear does not mesh and I hear grinding. The only way to aviod this is to place the transmission into reverse before starting the engine. Is there a problem with the transmission? Thanks in advance.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Originally Posted by coltacp
I have an 88 with the 4+3 transmission. When I shift into reverse, the gear does not mesh and I hear grinding. The only way to aviod this is to place the transmission into reverse before starting the engine. Is there a problem with the transmission? Thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Cleveland Tennessee
I agree with above check those things, also I have found in the past that while stopped and about to go into reverse, shift into 1st first, once in 1st gear and still stopped with one foot on the brake and other on clutch. go directly from 1st to reverse in one move like you were shifting from 1st to 2nd normally, and you should have no issue, that has worked for me. Let us know how it goes, go and try it out now 
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Grinding going into reverse can also be an indication of a work clutch disc. The C4 hydraulic clutch assembly is not adjustable so any wear on the disc impacts the release point. How many miles oin the clutch?? I would bet that your clutch is about gone.
Other possibilities are a bad throwout bearing or the clutch arm (fork) is bent or worn.
Other possibilities are a bad throwout bearing or the clutch arm (fork) is bent or worn.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
While this may not be the prescribed method, even new trans/clutch setups can have a degree of difficulty when going from forward gears into reverse. For that reason, it may sound like a pain, but ronvette is correct: shift into 1st gear, first, and then push it into reverse. I can't recall if this is still the case, but 1st and reverse in some cars used to be on the same shaft and 1st has a synchronizer whereas (?) reverse doesn't.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 862
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From: Lewisvlle NC
Originally Posted by RonVette2
I agree with above check those things, also I have found in the past that while stopped and about to go into reverse, shift into 1st first, once in 1st gear and still stopped with one foot on the brake and other on clutch. go directly from 1st to reverse in one move like you were shifting from 1st to 2nd normally, and you should have no issue, that has worked for me. Let us know how it goes, go and try it out now
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,305
Likes: 2
From: Havelock NC
Mine has always done it. There is nothing wrong with it. I would never grind it, but every mechanic that touched my car would grind it when he was shifting it. I would simply put the car in first, then quickly shift from 1st to reverse and nothing would ever happen. Try that out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 14
From: backwoods upstate ny
reverse gear does not have synchro mechanism....factory spec is to depress clutch and wait 10 seconds for trans gear train to coast to a ''near'' stop...if you don't like the factory waiting period, depress clutch, engage high gear (least synchro wear) momentarily to stop gear train rotation and then engage reverse gear quickly but do not ''jam'' into reverse, allow oil drag in trans to rotate reverse gears to alignment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
Shifting into either 1st or 2nd gear prior to shifting into reverse should work fine. And when doing this, do not shift quickly. Make an exaggerated slow shift. This gives everything a bit longer to mesh properly. I used to have the same problem you're experiencing and as soon as I began to do as I described herein, all ill effects disappeared.
