Since I bought this 98' GSX, I noticed some sort of grinding/rubbing sounds in the drivetrain. At first, the noise was worse and because the noise was not present when the clutch pedal was pushed in, I thought it was the TOB. Now considering the car had 118k miles on it and still had the original clutch, there was reason the TOB had failed finally. I dropped the transmission and replaced the TOB and clutch with OEM parts. After putting everything back together and refilling the trans with new fluid. The noise is still present.

I pulled the transfer case off to rule out the T-case, Drive shaft and Rear differential.

It certainly is coming from the transmission since it was still making the noise. In this video I shifted through each gear. Notice, you do not hear the "grinding noise" in 1st gear. In 2nd gear you can start to hear it, and it just becomes worse in 3rd, 4th and the 5th gear being the loudest. Video below.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-i_ir9qOng]GSX Transmisson Noise_2 - YouTube[/ame]

What could this possibly be?

Well with a used transmission anything can go bad regardless of what it is, sounds internal a post was made earlier about a transmission issue, synchros, shift fork, or even damanged gears. something sounds internal if you hear noises, the shift cables wont make noise, tob may rattle. Seems like your gonna have to pull transmission out for a internal inspection, i have mine rebuilt when its used in most cases, just to rule out any problems later like it not working. Do you know the history of the car. Again were dealing with cars older than 15 years mine over 20. Wear and tear.

The car was babied. That's why I'm having a hard time knowing that the car has a damaged transmission. I bought this car of the original owner. The guys was in his 60's and the only reason why he was selling it was because he was having a hard time getting in and out of the car.

When I changed the TOB, the car still had the original clutch at 118k and it was in great shape! I have all the maintenance records as well.

I bought the car with this slight rubbing sounds thinking it just needed all the drivetrain oils changed, and worse case it was the transfer case making the noise. I'm bumming out its the transmission...

What I would like to know is what could the noise possibly be within the transmission. What would make this noise in all gears but 1st within the transmission ?

Probably output shaft bearing. Fluid?

When I dropped the transmission when i replaced the clutch I refilled the transmission fluid with Pennzoil synchromesh. The transmission has always shifted like butter.

Your transmission likely requires a rebuild.

Thank you Tim for your response. It is already my understanding that my transmission will need a rebuild. My question is, what part within the transmission that would likely cause this noise? This is just to further my knowledge of the DSM transmissions.

I also would like to inform the individual that would be rebuilding the transmission what the issue might be.

Thank you guys,
Joe

I'm currently going on a trans rebuild, I was having clutch issues that I though I figure would be an easy fix.. when we opened the trans up one of the brass gears not sure exactly what the names are or what not but I looked to be one that locks the gear in place when is in gear, idk if it is the synchros exactly but the gear was trashed. Teres was also lik a housing thing or groove but looked like a housing where a gear sat smoothly an aluminum one that was snapped, it curved like ) that and was broke and was likely a problem along with my slave, master , and broken clutch disk. Might not be the problem but I 2nd the trans rebuild, might as well get it out of the way.

vr4joe said:

Thank you Tim for your response. It is already my understanding that my transmission will need a rebuild. My question is, what part within the transmission that would likely cause this noise? This is just to further my knowledge of the DSM transmissions.

I also would like to inform the individual that would be rebuilding the transmission what the issue might be.

Thank you guys,
Joe

Click to expand...

I would likely put $20 on it being wiped out intermediate shaft inner and outer tapered roller bearings with large amounts of shaft endplay. There could easily be additional damages from the gear clusters pushing away from each other, including gear and shaft damage to the input shaft, intermediate shaft, center differential housing, and all gears, along with the bellhousing case (1st gear grinding itself into the bellhousing), the bearing intermediate case plate (the case section which the center diff, intermediate shaft and input shaft outer tapered roller bearing races are installed into with the shims), and potentially the 5th gear cover (from extreme cases of bearing failure/wear). You will likely see worn output pinion shaft tapered roller bearings, especially the outer tapered roller bearing as it is 1/2 the size of the inner bearing and gets loaded a lot; but this wouldn't cause the gear noise issues you currently have.

I know this was years ago but mine is doing the exact same thing. The frustrating part is, I have already had the transmission out and re-shimmed everything and it looked fantastic. No worn bearings or synchros. I just rebuilt the transfer case because it had a blown carrier bearing, thought for sure that was it but the noise is still there. Really don’t want to take my transmission off again…