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[Z06] Tranny/shifting problems: Experts please advise

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Old Aug 25, 2007 | 05:31 PM
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Default Tranny/shifting problems: Experts please advise

about 1,400 miles ago I had the tranny in my 02 Z06 overhauled with new synchros and a steel shift fork from Kirkland Transmission. It's been intermittantly catching (feel resistance but with more force it will shift) when trying to shift out of 2nd and 4th.
Today it started mildly grinding on the 3-4 shift.

When they overhauled it they filled it with thier high-perf blend of oils which consisted of:
1 pint Redline GL5 gear Lube
1 pint Redline MTL synthetic
3 quarts Mobile 1 synthetic ATF

About 2 weeks ago I changed out to Valvoline Dexron III thinking the "catching" out of 2nd and 4th might be due to the strange oil blend, but I didn't notice any difference and today the grinding started.

I know I'm going to have to take it back for them to fix it but would like to be armed with as much info as possible when I do. Thanks for any help.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 09:02 AM
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Take it back before it granades on you. I believe grinding is typically a syncro issue.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 09:57 PM
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Don't know what you've got but it's definetely not you--get them to fix the tranny before the warranty runs out.
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 10:28 PM
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Typically grinding is caused from a worn/weak blocking ring. These are the actual "friction elements" of the synchro. They have a friction surface which speeds up/slows down the gear to synch the speed, by engaging the "cone" area. If they are worn out, or don't have the proper friction element/fluid, they won't work right, and you'll get grinding on shifts.

Very odd yours would be doing this so soon. Did they replace the blocking rings? (You could replace the synchro's and not replace the rings, although I can't imagine somebody doing that).

Keep us posted
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Old Aug 28, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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I dropped it off at Kirkland Transmission this evening. I'll ask about the blocking rings when I talk to them next. Thanks for the input guys.
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Old Aug 31, 2007 | 08:47 PM
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It turned out to be a broken 3-4 slider key. They invited me into the shop to show and explain to me what happened and showed me the broken cheap-stamped key. I can't believe those keys come standard in a performance tranny they look like they belong on a tonka toy.

Kirkland Transmission is going to cover all the labor and I am buying billet slider key sets for the 1-2, 3-4 & 5-6 shifts. They even recommended I buy them myself and drop ship them to the shop so I don't get charged their 40% markup. Turns out they are an honest shop.
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Old Sep 8, 2007 | 12:49 AM
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Default Tranny Fixed

Got the car back yesterday, and drove it some more today, everything works as it should. I'm currently shifting mellow until my Kirban shifter gets delivered. My tranny guy wants me to get an aftermarket shifter with shift stops. The Kirban seems to be the shifter most highly acclaimed by professional tuners and racers.

Here is a pic of a broken synchro key next to a complete one. Notice the hollow stamped steel construction. These were replaced by solid billet steel keys.
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Old Sep 9, 2007 | 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted by ctusser
Got the car back yesterday, and drove it some more today, everything works as it should. I'm currently shifting mellow until my Kirban shifter gets delivered. My tranny guy wants me to get an aftermarket shifter with shift stops. The Kirban seems to be the shifter most highly acclaimed by professional tuners and racers.

Here is a pic of a broken synchro key next to a complete one. Notice the hollow stamped steel construction. These were replaced by solid billet steel keys.
Same thing exactly that brought my tranny down. The first day I put decent tires on the rear and proceeded to do some high rpm shifts, the shifter stuck in 4th and would not let go. Turns out you can start in 4th from a stop with this much torque.
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Old Sep 10, 2007 | 02:45 PM
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This is one of the reasons I dont mess with my Z06.If it aint broke dont fix it.
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Old Jun 26, 2008 | 03:52 PM
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I think this might be the issue with my car =/ It has 140k miles on it. How much does it cost to get the broken syncro issue fixed? What about a complete transmission rebuild? =/
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