Since I got my '08 Cobalt SS T/C it has had issues with a grind (gear clash) when entering reverse.

Typically it does it when I try to engage reverse after the car has been rolling forward in neutral (clutch engaged). Once the car has stopped and I engage reverse, I will get gear clash unless I put it in 1st gear (to stop the input shaft) before I try and engage reverse gear.

A condition such as this is normal in a transmission with an unsynchronized reverse gear (Hondas, Toyotas) but not in a transmission such as the F35 that is a fully synchronized box.

My other car has a T56 which is fully synchronized( 1st-6th/R), and I can engage reverse even while the car is rolling forward, never any gear clash.

As a technician, and having rebuilt manual transmissions, I know what the cause of the issue is. My question is mostly just if anyone else is having the same problem with the SS T/C. Thanks.

 

Mine does it only if the car rolls backwards after I stop it in 1st. Like if I pull it in my garage the night before, and let off the brake before letting the clutch out to hold the car in place. The car will roll back an inch or two and then I remember to put the brake on. Then the next morning when I start the car and put it in reverse, it does this. I just figured the gears weren't lined up right because I accidently let it roll that inch or so. It doesn't do it every time I put it in gear, just once in a while when this happens.

 

mine does that^ but its an 05 lol. if im not completely stopped it will grind a little going into reverse.

 

This sounds similar to whats mine is doing.

Parking the car at night has no correlation to starting it in the morning. Here's probably whats happening. When you start it in the morning - do you let the clutch out while the car is in neutral, and then try and engage reverse?? If so, the grind is caused by the input shaft spinning while you try and engage a gear (reverse) to the non-rotating out output shaft. The synchronizer assembly is supposed to prevent this gear clash issue...but apparently its not.

Try starting the car with the clutch held to the floor (trans in neutral), and then engage reverse without ever letting off the clutch. It should go in smoothy (unless the clutch is dragging for some reason).

So based on what you've said, it sounds you're experiencing a symptom caused by the same issue that I am having - a reverse syncho that's not doing its job.

 

Is it grinding like metal on metal? or does it feel as though its stuck and just wont go in? I just intalled my TWM, and saw how crappy the stock stuff is. The plastic base is in the way of the clips that hold onto my shift cables. So i sawed part of it off and now 0 problems. This was also happening with the stock shifter. I'd say take the consoul out and look into that. Might be an easy fix. TWM STS is amazing BTW.

 

Its definitely a classic sympton of a worn blocker ring or synchro hub/speed gear engagement teeth. It goes in easy enough, but get gear clash on the way in.

This leads me to believe its an internal issue, as opposed to a shifter adjustment.

I appreciate the suggestion though, I'll have to pull the console and see what conditon it looks like in there.

 

happens to me all the time in first with my xfe. it actually ground twice, scared the **** outta me cuz clutch was fully released and i wasn't moving

 

mine does it every morning i pull into my drive way and have to back out everymorning i try to get into reverse it wont sometimes going into first work sother times it doesnt, but it does **** me off no other cuz when people in the car i feel like a retard

 

That's exactly what I already do. When I get this problem, the clutch is fully depressed.

 

I have noticed a couple of occasions where mine doesnt want to go into reverse AT ALL, then if I take put it back in N and try again, it works.

edit: and mine is a 2010!