C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1st gear grinding HELP

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 09:50 PM
  #1  
gdmiller123's Avatar
gdmiller123
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 374
Likes: 3
From: Kernersville NC
Default 1st gear grinding HELP

Im sorry if this has been covered but ive googled the crap out of this but can't find anyone that's had this exact problem so here we go...

if the car is at idle and you push the clutch in and imidiatly try to go into first it will grind

If your at idle and push the clutch in for 5-10 seconds it will go into first just fine

It will go into all other gears just fine with both methods as above

If you try to gear down to first while rolling it will grind

It has never done this before. I did replace the transmission fluid with regular dextron III advance auto brand about 400 miles or so before this issue started

The car is a 2003 Z06
Twin dick clutch, C6 shifter, stock master and slave from what I can tell other than it has a remote bleeder. I did flush the clutch fluid until clear and it had no effect on this issue. I also did the shifter alignment procedure as well as put a stock c5 shifter back in and the problem still existed.

Would a Tick Master cylinder fix this issue or is it a synchro issue?

Last edited by gdmiller123; Oct 24, 2014 at 09:52 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 10:02 PM
  #2  
martysauto's Avatar
martysauto
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 4
From: cinnaminson n.j.
St. Jude Donor '14
Default

Sounds like your 1st gear synchro is bad. If you push down the clutch and immediately shift to 2,3,4,5, or 6th gear and it goes in with no problem, it's the synchro.
Does your car creep forward in gear with the clutch pedal depressed?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 10:38 PM
  #3  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

I agree..

Why are you down shifting into 1st????

Ive done it just to do it but, theres really NO reason to down shift into first. It really puts a load on that synchro when you do it.

Its there so you can smoothly get back into first at very low speeds.

Bill
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 12:34 AM
  #4  
Russell Boulding's Avatar
Russell Boulding
Advanced
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Park Florida
Default

Originally Posted by gdmiller123
Im sorry if this has been covered but ive googled the crap out of this but can't find anyone that's had this exact problem so here we go...

if the car is at idle and you push the clutch in and imidiatly try to go into first it will grind

If your at idle and push the clutch in for 5-10 seconds it will go into first just fine

It will go into all other gears just fine with both methods as above

If you try to gear down to first while rolling it will grind

It has never done this before. I did replace the transmission fluid with regular dextron III advance auto brand about 400 miles or so before this issue started

The car is a 2003 Z06
Twin dick clutch, C6 shifter, stock master and slave from what I can tell other than it has a remote bleeder. I did flush the clutch fluid until clear and it had no effect on this issue. I also did the shifter alignment procedure as well as put a stock c5 shifter back in and the problem still existed.

Would a Tick Master cylinder fix this issue or is it a synchro issue?
To echo the others its sounds like a synchro issue. The reason it works fine after 5-10 seconds is that the input shaft has slowed down enough or stopped completely and now the speed of the input shaft and output shaft are close enough or matched so the synchro has nothing to do.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 01:05 AM
  #5  
gdmiller123's Avatar
gdmiller123
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 374
Likes: 3
From: Kernersville NC
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
I agree..

Why are you down shifting into 1st????

Ive done it just to do it but, theres really NO reason to down shift into first. It really puts a load on that synchro when you do it.

Its there so you can smoothly get back into first at very low speeds.

Bill
I don't down shift into first like your thinking. More like if im pulling into a parking lot from a main road when i get to around 10mph ill go and put it in first in anticipation for the slower speeds with the clutch still in.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 01:46 AM
  #6  
Bill Curlee's Avatar
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by gdmiller123
I don't down shift into first like your thinking. More like if im pulling into a parking lot from a main road when i get to around 10mph ill go and put it in first in anticipation for the slower speeds with the clutch still in.

Thats EXACTLY what its designed for... You have a bad synchro cone.. Unfortunately,, that requires a complete tear down..
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 02:16 AM
  #7  
Z06ster's Avatar
Z06ster
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
. .. You have a bad synchro cone.. Unfortunately,, that requires a complete tear down..
It is a sad reality but the C5 Transmission doesn't have longevity. I had the same exact thing happen to me. At a mere 55,000 miles on the car, first gear started grinding. I ended up getting an RPM transmission.

Let us know how it turns out.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 06:30 AM
  #8  
strand rider's Avatar
strand rider
Safety Car
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
Default

That made me laugh, a big thumbs up smiley face, and ....... you need a a full rebuild.

I clicked in just to learn something, but couldn't resist that one.

I have the same tranny, so your road is mine, you are just further along. I am hoping to reach the 120, 000 mile service interval on the trans bearing replacement, but things are already requiring a little finesse on anything except take off.

In reading this post , I now think that some of my questions about wear have been quieted, thanks .
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 10:11 AM
  #9  
gdmiller123's Avatar
gdmiller123
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 374
Likes: 3
From: Kernersville NC
Default

Originally Posted by Z06ster
It is a sad reality but the C5 Transmission doesn't have longevity. I had the same exact thing happen to me. At a mere 55,000 miles on the car, first gear started grinding. I ended up getting an RPM transmission.

Let us know how it turns out.
Ill likely leave it as is until it gets worse. Thankfully its first so its easy to drive around it.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 01:13 PM
  #10  
Z06ster's Avatar
Z06ster
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
Default

Originally Posted by gdmiller123
Ill likely leave it as is until it gets worse. Thankfully its first so its easy to drive around it.
Yep... that's what I did. I don't know if this applies to your case but when this happened to me, I found if I first threw the shifter in the second gear position, I could then go into first without grind.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1st gear grinding HELP





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:11 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE