Second gear grinding & remedy

[Dalm]

^ agree with that, I have a hard time staying below 4000 i must admit.
Also to the comment about being hard pressed getting the MPG below 26, i haven't seemed to have a problem with this lol, ive had tank averages from 18mpg, to 24mpg, and one with 32mpg. 1.8l 5sp

Back on topic I have only ground into 2nd once but I was redline shifting(or atleast close to it.) I do however seem to feel a lot of resistance from the shifter going from 1st-2nd at high rpms.

 

[TravsSonic]

we all know the cruze and sonic share the same transmission, and the 2nd gear grind is VERY VERY common problem with the cruze. Its a design flaw, you can't get around it short of redesigning the transmission.

The article about the defective clutch disc is where someone has linked pics of my clutch from my cruze (with my permission to build awareness). And the grind?.. 15k miles on my car and it does it consistently over 5.1k RPMs. I would say that short of the people that build this transmission, i've got as much experience with it and the clutch system as any chevrolet dealer. Its a design flaw. The gearing between 1st and 2nd is to steep, the syncro cones can't get the the input shaft slowed down enough to mesh up the dogs for the 1st --> 2nd shift. Short of changing the gearing from 1st to 2nd, or running a more viscious transmission fluid (i am not recommending any such actions), i don't see anyway to fix this issue. And since this is a 3 shaft transmission, anytime you change a gearset you effect the rest of the transmissions ratios, since they are all interdependant on the others. So this would be a pretty extensive modification that would change more than your 1st to 2nd shift, it would change the whole gearset.

/shrug.. its something you have to learn to live with if you want to drive this transmission. Sorry i don't have anything encouraging to add :/

 

[laborsmith]

Welcome back to the bright side, Travs. I am sure you will concede it has been some time since we have seen your hugely informative posts on SOF.

Laborsmith

 

[LS1notFOUND]

Might be different on the 5 speed but I've found if your driving habit has you reving first up some, putting in the clutch and letting the rpms fall to where second would like to start makes it buttery smooth "patience grasshopper". At WOT quick shifts always bark the tires going into second if you don't slip the clutch a bit, although less engagment is goodn for clutch life, the fast drop in RPM and the lurch of the vehicle might be rough on other components.

As long as I shift with authority it wont grind at all, mean to shift, be mean to the shifter. Really have gotten to like 1-2 on this thing, keeps ya on your toes.

My 5 speed tops about 30 in first, 2nd is 60ish - near limiter speeds.

Good Comparison here chart here of other makes vs the sonic.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: Gearing Comparison

 

[TravsSonic]

Welcome back to the bright side, Travs. I am sure you will concede it has been some time since we have seen your hugely informative posts on SOF.

Laborsmith

haha.. thanks Labor. I'm a wee bit disgruntled and have been for the last 6 months. GM isn't on my "i like you" list, so i've been avoiding any extra "fun"
involved with this engine/transmission combo. so i haven't been loggin in much on either forum using this cars platform

 

[B-radly81]

second gear grinding

does anyone know if the after market bushings will help with the second gear grind at high rpms

 

[SSpeckerwood]

not sure. i know i was drunk as heck when you hit 2nd but i remember them grinding hard. lmfao!!!!!!

what good time saturday night.

 

[B-radly81]

no i shifted at 4800 rpms sat night and spun tires when i shifted lol

 

[SSpeckerwood]

no i shifted at 4800 rpms sat night and spun tires when i shifted lol

not to mention, we was going up a 4% grade when you did this. that ride convinced me to get the tune, exhaust and a intake. lol.

 

[B-radly81]

ya I cant wait till my intake gets here I hope they ship them soon

 

[mitdr774]

Doubt bushings will fix this. My 5 speed did it today. A buddies Cruze Eco does the same thing. Seems like maybe GM used a less than decent synchro.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

getting the bushings couldn't hurt though right??

 

[rdss]

Can't hurt, might not help either.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

who and where do you get the bushings??

 

[B-radly81]

ddm works has them there 25 dollars

 

[SSpeckerwood]

ordered a set for both of us.

 

[B-radly81]

sweet

 

[rdss]

Where's my set?!lol

 

[SSpeckerwood]

There in the mail.

 

[sonic hotness]

I think I'll order a set also