Grind into reverse

[Navarone]

85 318i 5 speed grinds while putting it into reverse, all other gears work just fine, not hard to get it in (hehe), no grinds (hehe), no popping out (hehe).

I notice if I sit for about 4 seconds with the clutch in, reverse doesn't grind. Same thing happened in my toyota. That leads me to believe the clutch and gears are still spinning down with momentum from the forward movement or the flywheel in neutral.

Think if I put in a heavier weight gear oil the internals would stop spinning faster and I could go into reverse faster? It's kinda lame making a huge grinding sound while parallel parking, and waiting in the street for an extra 4 seconds in California will get you shot for treason.

What's the actual cause and fix?

Here's a pic, because we all like pics.

[jlevie]

Sounds to me like the clutch isn't fully disengaging or that the pilot bearing is bad. The first thing I'd do would be to replace the clutch hydraulics with new OE/OEM parts and bleed it. If that doesn't work it would be time for a new clutch & bearings.

[Graebmw95]

It can be as simple as you needing to align your clutch and the gears. Before sticking it into reverse put it in first with your clutch still in, then put it in reverse.. I had a problem with my reverse not working/grinding and like most old cars you need to put it in first then reverse. I do this and it never grinds. All it does is align your reverse gear, this works because your reverse gear doesn't have synchros. It also explains why is doesnt grind after waiting a couple second because your gears aren't lined up yet. Try it out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Graebmw95]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/manual...chronizers.htm " You engage reverse gear through a separate, small idler gear. The reverse gear always turns in the opposite direction of the other (forward) gears."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Navarone]

Sounds to me like the clutch isn't fully disengaging or that the pilot bearing is bad. The first thing I'd do would be to replace the clutch hydraulics with new OE/OEM parts and bleed it. If that doesn't work it would be time for a new clutch & bearings.

Ugh I hope not, I didn't want to replace the clutch yet.

It can be as simple as you needing to align your clutch and the gears. Before sticking it into reverse put it in first with your clutch still in, then put it in reverse.. I had a problem with my reverse not working/grinding and like most old cars you need to put it in first then reverse. I do this and it never grinds. All it does is align your reverse gear, this works because your reverse gear doesn't have synchros. It also explains why is doesnt grind after waiting a couple second because your gears aren't lined up yet. Try it out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hrm, interesting, I'll try it. I wonder if that's because you're putting more load on the spinning gears by putting it into first so it slows down faster.

Thanks!

[Navarone]

Going into first then reverse works great, thanks!

[Graebmw95]

^^ Good to hear!!