6th gear vibrations
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
6th gear vibrations I bought a 00 T/A with LS6 engine:
Mods are:
Global West suspension products (track link, sub frame connectors, tubular control arm and lower front end cross member, sway bars on both ends, and a hurst short throw shifter.
Performance is very good:
While crusing at highway speed in 6th gear I get a very bad vibration ( 70mph and above)
I have changed:
-(punkin) carrage bearings
- wheel bearing
-checked the pinion gear/ bearings for resistance and excessive play
-balanced the drive shaft
-checked the axles
-changed the wheels and tires
The excelleration has no issues, only when I go into 6th gear. Has anyone seen or heard of this problem?
Mods are:
Global West suspension products (track link, sub frame connectors, tubular control arm and lower front end cross member, sway bars on both ends, and a hurst short throw shifter.
Performance is very good:
While crusing at highway speed in 6th gear I get a very bad vibration ( 70mph and above)
I have changed:
-(punkin) carrage bearings
- wheel bearing
-checked the pinion gear/ bearings for resistance and excessive play
-balanced the drive shaft
-checked the axles
-changed the wheels and tires
The excelleration has no issues, only when I go into 6th gear. Has anyone seen or heard of this problem?
Last edited by justoyz2; Oct 12, 2010 at 09:08 PM. Reason: easier reading
So you have no vibrations on 1-5th gears? Only when you're into 6th gear? Does it vibrate when you're accelerating or on decel also? What about when you're coasting on 6th?
I get a vibe only in 5th & 6th above 80 MPH and if I clutch it, the vibe goes away. I have ruled all the driveline out.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
viberation I had the pinion checked, it was around +3 degrees; I have adjusted it to around -3 (based on what the fabrication guy reccommend).
Pinion Gear:
- +/- 3 degrees of play with wheel lifted(rotating the drive shaft)
-adjusted the pinion angle to what I think is -3 degrees (is this too much)
What I learned today:
-stock gearing is 3.73 to 1
-current gearing is 3.42 to 1
-while in 6th gear, during acceleration, the car pings and is very slow to increase speed, starting at 80 mph
-tq bracing, mounted to the chassis is moving when driving the car (visual evidence on the chassis), plus alot of clunck type noises
-normal driving feels better with the adjusted pinion angle, until I get into 6th at highway speed
Overall:
-car still vibrates in 5th gear (100 mph or so)
-car still vibrated in 6th gear (not as bad as before, but it's still there, but doesn't want to accelerate
Plans for tomorrow:
-tranny shop to have a new bushing installed (do you think this will help?)
Plans for Saturday:
-replace gears in rear end
-replace pinion bearing/race
-replace crush sleeve
Pinion Gear:
- +/- 3 degrees of play with wheel lifted(rotating the drive shaft)
-adjusted the pinion angle to what I think is -3 degrees (is this too much)
What I learned today:
-stock gearing is 3.73 to 1
-current gearing is 3.42 to 1
-while in 6th gear, during acceleration, the car pings and is very slow to increase speed, starting at 80 mph
-tq bracing, mounted to the chassis is moving when driving the car (visual evidence on the chassis), plus alot of clunck type noises
-normal driving feels better with the adjusted pinion angle, until I get into 6th at highway speed
Overall:
-car still vibrates in 5th gear (100 mph or so)
-car still vibrated in 6th gear (not as bad as before, but it's still there, but doesn't want to accelerate
Plans for tomorrow:
-tranny shop to have a new bushing installed (do you think this will help?)
Plans for Saturday:
-replace gears in rear end
-replace pinion bearing/race
-replace crush sleeve
Trending Topics
I have NEVER seen a transmission causing vibration issues. Not to say it can never happen but it's most UNLIKELY. As wrd1972 has stated, the 5-6th share the driven gear and if the 6th was causing vibrations, you would also notice it in 5th. I would lean toward the driveshaft/diff.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
guys, I had the DS straighten and balanced. I changed the pinion angle, will recheck because I was told the -3 is for drag racing; and that I should be around -1 degrees.
I have slack in the pinion gear, going to change that this weekend. Also, I was told to replace the trans bushion (tail of the tranny). Since the angle was a +3 to 4 degrees it might have damaged the bushion....
I have slack in the pinion gear, going to change that this weekend. Also, I was told to replace the trans bushion (tail of the tranny). Since the angle was a +3 to 4 degrees it might have damaged the bushion....
I have NEVER seen a transmission causing vibration issues. Not to say it can never happen but it's most UNLIKELY. As wrd1972 has stated, the 5-6th share the driven gear and if the 6th was causing vibrations, you would also notice it in 5th. I would lean toward the driveshaft/diff.
In the OP's car, this may still be the case, even though it only happens in 6th. If this is the cause, then it will mostly be a speed-related vibration.
One way to help eliminate this would be to go high speeds in 5th gear, and see if it vibrates.
Also, the splined part of the gear is actually on the 5th gear side, and the pressed on part is 6th. So maybe if the journal is worn more so than the splines, this could isolate the vibe to 6th.
Either way, it seems that everything else has been checked over. Might be a good idea to go into the trans. Good luck and keep us updated!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
6th gear vibration Fixed my vibration in 6th gear:
Things I changed:
-wheel bearings (not damaged)
-carrage bearings (damaged)
-pinion bearings (not damaged)
-pinion gears (some play 5degrees each way)
-drive shaft (straightend and balanced (damaged))
-corrected pinion gear angle( way out of spec)
No vibrations in 6th gear... car drives very good... Hopes this helps someone else
Things I changed:
-wheel bearings (not damaged)
-carrage bearings (damaged)
-pinion bearings (not damaged)
-pinion gears (some play 5degrees each way)
-drive shaft (straightend and balanced (damaged))
-corrected pinion gear angle( way out of spec)
No vibrations in 6th gear... car drives very good... Hopes this helps someone else
Fixed my vibration in 6th gear:
Things I changed:
-wheel bearings (not damaged)
-carrage bearings (damaged)
-pinion bearings (not damaged)
-pinion gears (some play 5degrees each way)
-drive shaft (straightend and balanced (damaged))
-corrected pinion gear angle( way out of spec)
No vibrations in 6th gear... car drives very good... Hopes this helps someone else
Things I changed:
-wheel bearings (not damaged)
-carrage bearings (damaged)
-pinion bearings (not damaged)
-pinion gears (some play 5degrees each way)
-drive shaft (straightend and balanced (damaged))
-corrected pinion gear angle( way out of spec)
No vibrations in 6th gear... car drives very good... Hopes this helps someone else
Just got done installing 4.10's in my car and now I have a vibration in 6th gear only under load around 55-60 MPH I think, I havent reflashed the computer yet. I have only driven the car twice since the instal, maybe 40 miles tops. I am trying to get the rear end quiet. I am almost there but now have this to deal with. I did do a few other mods while it was apart. I did the heater hose mod, removed the rear rubber spring isolators, and coiled on some 1/2 heater hose. I also installed some prothane LCA bushings. The car sits level now, but could that little bit have caused problems with the pinion angle to make a vibration? I pulled the trans mount and it is intact, so is the TA bushing on the trans. I did put the trans in each gear then climb under the car and checked to see how much play was in the drive shaft. Sixth had more play then all the other gears. I know the shaft is spining way faster at speed with the 4.10's. Might try sticking the spring isolators back in and see if it gets better. I know its not the rear end because everything is new.
