Manual Transmission T56 | T5 | MN12 | Clutches | Hydraulics | Shifters

T5 Tranny Problems. Need Help!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 19, 2011 | 09:19 PM
  #1  
Chaotic94's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: West Plains, MO
Default T5 Tranny Problems. Need Help!!!

I have a 1994 Camaro 3.4 with a 5-speed. Ever since I bought the car, it's grinded while putting it into reverse. I know that is a very common issue with these cars. To avoid it I always shift into 4th before reverse. Recently my car has been popping itself out of reverse once I get it moving. It is worse if I have the car on a load, like going up hill. If I try to hold it in gear, it pops really loudly continuously. Also sometimes when I downshift to 2nd gear when taking a corner or whatever, it will pop out of 2nd gear. I can hold it in 2nd gear when letting out the clutch and it grinds slightly when I let the clutch out because it's trying to come out of gear.
So what can cause all of this? Shift linkage? Shift fork? Is this something I can fix myself? if not, what should I expect to pay to have it fixed?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Reply
Old Feb 19, 2011 | 11:33 PM
  #2  
jmd's Avatar
jmd
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 36
From: T56th Street, Aridzona
Default

Reverse is not synchronized in the T5. (It is in the T56.)

Your 2nd gear issue could be beat-up gear/synchro slider teeth (which mesh together and sometimes clash together on a mis-shift) which could be the effect, rather than the cause.

Except for setting bearing preload being required on a T5 build (some T56s can be put back together without bearing replacement,) they're about as much work to build. Not bad.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 10:45 AM
  #3  
Chaotic94's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: West Plains, MO
Default

So does my tranny need a rebuild? All of my other gears are fine. It just tries to pop out of reverse every single time I'm in reverse. And it pops out of 2nd on 80% of downshifts... That's what made me think it was a shift rod/linkage being bent because it's the two outer back gears that are acting up and popping out.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 10:54 AM
  #4  
colt_impala's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Default

id say it wouldnt hurt to go through it. i dont have any experience with the t5, but as earlier mentioned it sounds like the slider teeth might be a f-bombed. they were on my t56, and i used a dremmel to de-bur them and true them back up (parts aint cheap for t56). it wasnt hard. i had problems with 3rd popping out and not wanting to come out of 4th at all. turns out my 4th gear was literally in peices. so if you have the time and knowhow and tools, id go through it. **** like you mentioned frustrates me lol
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 10:56 AM
  #5  
jmd's Avatar
jmd
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 36
From: T56th Street, Aridzona
Default

Yes.

T5s have basically similar shift rail / fork / pad issues to the T56. Pads can crack. Forks can break. But those are then the cause and the effect is the popping out of gear, which becomes damage that must be replaced with new parts.

I have a reverse idler gear for T5 I've had sitting for a while if you do it yourself. Yours is probably chewed.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:06 AM
  #6  
colt_impala's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Default

oh and as far as price, it wont be cheap either way. on my t56, junk yards and auto stores wanted between 1400 and 2500. i rebuilt it myself for around 1000. yours should be way less bc i used upgraded parts, and had to replace 4th/input shaft, 3/4 synchro ***., 3/4 shift fork, and the countershaft due to the grenade part i mentioned. if your gonna go through the trouble id definatly check out everything while you have it tore down. as far as doing it yourself, its hard to say if you can or not. that all depends on your access to certain tools. the only thing i had to buy was a snap ring remover, and an inch lbs trq wrench. i have a big shop though too, so again it depends on your tools and if your willing to take on the challenge. the t56 was a breeze (1st trans i ever rebuilt)
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:23 AM
  #7  
Chaotic94's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: West Plains, MO
Default

colt: I can get a brand new 5-speed at AutoZone for $1300. The rebuild kit for my tranny costs $189.99. I'm guessing that the 5-speed are way less expensive than the t56. I have access to a shop with 1000s upon 1000s of tools. My grandpa has been a mechanic for 30 years. How long will this little project take me to complete. The Camaro is my daily driver and the only days I don't need it in commission are Saturday and Sunday. I work Monday morning... =/

jmd: How much do you want for that idler gear. I can live with 2nd gear popping out of gear but not reverse. It's bad enough that I can barely get the car to move before it tries to pop out on me.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:19 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE