Ricing sound in 5th gear

[WestSide097]

Does anyone knows whats that ricing sound i put into 5th gear and i can hear a ricing sound from the gear stick and when hold the knob it stops...any ideas? :/

 

[pollyp]

that rattling gearstick vibration noise in 5th gear is caused by excessively worn gear selector linkage bushes, specifically the universal-joint where the selector arm connects to the gearbox.

• the metal bush in that joint is exposed to years of water/salt/dirt spray so the grease in the bush dries out first,
• then it rusts, the thicker rust coating begins to jam against the PU plastic outer bushing causing a stiff gearstick,
• then the very course & thicker rust surface and lack of grease begins to wear away the softer PU outer bush,
• this increases clearances making the linkage joint looser,
• the loose joint allows the gearstick to freely resonate with the engines vibration,
• the small gear linkage return spring under the stick only acts on the stick between the left-center way to helps the stick return to neutral center but is fully slack between center-right therefore the stick isn't restrained and allowed to vibrate.

 

[oldcrow]

...any solutions?

 

[Enuo]

clean up the linkage and replace the bush would be where I'd start

 

[r-reg-sr]

,,,,,,,,,and finish

 

[pollyp]

...any solutions?

many options:

• if gear stick movement feels stiff from a dry joint bush, try a spray of wd40 onto the universal-joint and move the stick around to work it in.
• if it's still stiff, either the joint requires overhauling or replace the linkage assembly.
• if the stick moves fine but rattles in 5th from excessive clearance play, either overhaul the joint or replace the linkage assembly.

to overhaul the joint:

• usually requires grinding the small deformed rivet head off the universal joint pivot (not the side with the larger flat head cos the shaft is stepped to fit one way), remove the rivet bolt (will require a new nut/bolt to reassemble), and then dismantle the universal joint.
• the rivot bolt will sometimes be rusted solid onto the metal inner bush which makes removal abit trickier, in which case I'd just replace the linkage assembly.
• with the joint disassembled, wirebrush the metal inner bushes to bare clean smooth metal
• test fit the cleaned bushes in the universal-joints plastic outer bush
• if it can spin smoothly with no play at all within 0.5mm, then just regrease and reassemble the joint.
• if it has alot of play beyond 0.5mm then the clearance will need to be resolved by:
  • replacing the worn outer PU bushing of the joint
  • custom machine a larger inner metal bush or replace with another stock bush to take up the slack
  • upgrade to ball bearing bushes
  • replace the linkage assembly

 

[r-reg-sr]

,,,,,,,,,,you asked for it

 

[oldcrow]

That's an awesome reply!

 

[oldcrow]

...or maybe now I have the right excuse to install a short shifter.. LOL

 

[WestSide097]

Thanks !