So once again, the trans is back to Shep

[Boosted98gsx]

So my stg 4 shep trans is off the car, and back in Ohio. 4th gear started making a funny noise while accelerating (normally) on the freeway out of a toll station. So I limp back home, avoided 4th gear, and all of a sudden I hear a *CHINK* and the car lurches a bit, I instantly pull over and call AAA.

So for the 2nd time, my $3400 trans is back in Ohio for something that I don't feel necessary considering my power levels, and WHY FOURTH GEAR? Certainly shouldn't be the gear to act up on an AWD car. How is it, shep can produce 1200+ hp on this build, and I can't make 500?

I hope it's not my fault, because I've babied this trans. Always full with Pennzoil synchromax, as recommended by shep, and changed every time I change my oil and was full when I pulled the trans off. But we'll see. Butthole is puckering waiting for the call as to what happened...

 

[t25fury]

that sucks to hear man,unfortunately i'm not surprised considering i've read many stories like this from shep built transmissions, I myself will be going with jacks,keep us updated on the outcome,i'm interested to see how shep handles yet another return.

 

[KPEclipse]

I babied my first race trans too...blew it up...chipped a gear and blew a hole in the bellhousing...WHAT FUN.

I don't know what it is about these trannies. I have only changed my trans fluid 3 or 4 times in a few years with my most recent transmission, full race with KAAZ diff, and I have YET to have a problem.

I think it's kind of a tossup to be real with you, I don't know too much about sheps trans, but I know my buddy has a TRE, he's had it for 2 years now, loves it, and mine is dogboxracing, and it's got a lifetime warranty, and has YET to break.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

TRE transmissions are probably pretty good. I've been running mine for over 2 years while making just barely 210-215 HP. Im still on stock fuel, stock boost levels, and an Evo III 16g. It shifts a little stiff but the engagement is positive and firm. I change the oil once a year just for good measure. I drive like an idiot at times.

 

[BoostFrenzy]

If I remember reading correctly, Shep recommends the Pennzoil only for breaking it in. I think it was on the link forums where he got into an argument with another trans builder over my friends Stage 4 going out. Give Shep a call. And ask him what he recommends for this not to happen again. Most of the time, you will be talking to him directly.

 

[Boosted98gsx]

Taken off his site (under the FAQ)

"What gear oil should I use?
There are several gear oils that will work depending on horsepower or intended use. For most transmissions we recommend Redline MT90 or Pennzoil Synchromesh. For drag use or high horsepower cars please contact us. Please let us know if you need any Redline gear oil."

 

[Boostjunki84]

Wow. This is the first time that i've heard of a Shep trans going out like that. I think this just goes to show that, no matter who builds your trans, something can go wrong. I've heard a lot of people talking bad about TRE lately; i've had my TRE trans for almost 3 years now with no problems. I use the Kaaz oil recommended for use with the Kaaz LSD. I change it every 5,000.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

I'm guessing it's not a problem with the builder but with the parts. You could have gotten a weak 4th gear to begin with. There's not much they can do to strengthen them other than Cryo-treating and shotpeening them.

I bought a press and learned how to do it myself. It pays for itself in the long run. When all you have to do is pay for parts. Although, I don't know how Jack makes any money on his economy builds. Just the parts alone he puts in them is worth the money he charges. Well... according to our cost anyway, I'm sure he has a great supplier of parts though...

 

[jshepherd]

Andrew,

Please remember we have a FEW THOUSAND trannies out and I will go out on a limb and say far more than anyone else so please do the math. Our failure rate is extremely low especially considering most of the problems are customer induced. Wrong oil and clutch problems are by far the most common reason and is EXACTLY what we have here. It is easy to be a hero when you have far less trannies out there.

You car has trapped 125 mph and the trans build was from 4/06. With thin oil that is hard on it!!! I have asked several other people to read the FAQ and not one has said I would use Pennzoil synchromesh. Every person said I would call. I do take time to talk to people about their specific needs before recommending oil on the higher hp cars.

We can also easily get the rebuilds down cheaper using many more used parts but we choose not to.

btw Cryo treating does not help these gear sets, we have done extensive r&d on what works and what doesn't.

 

[->PrOjEcTGS<-]

Yea the only ones I've done are my own and a buddy's (2)... Definitely not the professional. But I have been in them a couple times. I don't want to take the responsibility of someone else's as I'm not setup financially for that. No doubt Shep you are by far the best!! I think I expressed that in an email to you...

Once I have the need to go outside of the stock gears/4 spider diff setup you've got the experience to get the job done. I'm just trying to explain that the transmission vendors really don't make a whole lot of money on these builds and they're not trying to rape the consumer. Of course this is by judging from the prices that I have to pay for the parts through the dealer or JNZtuning. Which are marked up.

About the cryo thing... There is a vendor that offers it... Whether it does any good or not??

BTW, thanks for that shift fork again the trans is done and awaiting my availability to drop it back in. Thank You!!!

 

[dsmcrazyspiff]

uh oh u pissed off shep