3MPS won't go into 3rd gear/grinding

[sanx]

My 1st gen 3MPS recently developed a problem where it makes this horrid metal on metal grinding noise when I try to put it into 3rd gear, and the shifter does not want to go in.

Occasionally, it does go into 3rd gear but I have to apply a bit of force and hold the shifter in 3rd for the gears to engage, and if I take a sharp corner or a bump while in 3rd, the shifter pops out of 3rd and into neutral.

A Google search revealed that the problem might be either worn shifter bushings, or a damaged syncro mesh. Has anyone else experienced this or have any insight on this? I fear a transmission rebuild might be necessary, which from what I hear is not cheap.

[Lachlan]

rebuild?.....ha, upgrade more like.
By shifter bushings, do you mean the 4 little ones holding the shift cage in place? If so, they are easy to rip out and inspect. I just replaced mine with JBR solid ones anyway for about $30 or something like it

[Jeev]

Sounds like your 3rd gear Synchros could be shagged If it were happening in every gear then I would point to the clutch, but since it's only 3rd....

[LittleredMPS]

Have to agree with Jeev, the mps has a reputation for shagging out the 3rd gear synchro's.

[Jeev]

Have to agree with Jeev, the mps has a reputation for shagging out the 3rd gear synchro's.

What? Son of a.... Looks like I'll have to start flogging all the gears equally

[lup15]

the fact that its only happening on 3rd sounds like its gearbox related and like everyone is suspecting, most likely the syncro

you drive the car hard? If it needs a rebuild, chuck a lsd in there while your at it. Least that way you get something out of it instead of the same ol box

[sanx]

If the shifter bushings fixed it, I would be laughing! I got a set from mpsgarage, I'll fit them in soonish but I doubt that's going to fix it, the problem is more likely to be the syncro

It does only happen in 3rd, and I do drive it hard occasionally. I tend to downshift to 3rd quite commonly so it does cop a fair bit of abuse.

To fix the syncro, does it require a transmission rebuild? Does anyone have any ballpark figures on cost? I am also considering getting a used transmission from the wreckers to replace mine with, that might end up being cheaper

If it needs a rebuild, chuck a lsd in there while your at it. Least that way you get something out of it instead of the same ol box

Can you tell me what an lsd is, what it's for and where I might get one? I presume you are not talking about a drug?

[Nexus]

If it needs a rebuild, chuck a lsd in there while your at it. Least that way you get something out of it instead of the same ol box

It's got an LSD. Chuck a quaife in, I say!

[LittleredMPS]

To fix the syncro, does it require a transmission rebuild? Does anyone have any ballpark figures on cost? I am also considering getting a used transmission from the wreckers to replace mine with, that might end up being cheaper

Can you tell me what an lsd is, what it's for and where I might get one? I presume you are not talking about a drug?

Replacing synchro requires a rebuild. No Idea on the cost of that though.

An LSD is a limited slip differential. The MPS has an LSD but the Quaife LSD is much better, if also quite expensive lol.

[lup15]

It's got an LSD. Chuck a quaife in, I say!

yea a proper LSD i mean :P and the quiafe is the one i was referring to

a LSD basically links the two driving wheels together so that all the power doesn't go through 1 wheel, causing only 1 wheel to spin. that's it in a nutshell