hey all, I have a '99 Z28 M6 with about 46k on the clock, and the tranny has been pretty bitter lately. When going into 1st gear at a stop, it will grind if you don't slide it in gently. A hard 1-2 or 2-3 shift will cause grinding as well, and occasionally, 4th will grind without even shifting it hard. Why am I having problems when they call this tranny bulletproof?

 

Sounds like your clutch is not releasing properly. Try to bleed the hydraulics for the clutch and see if it gets any better.

Steve

 

Yeah, that and also check the fluid level in your transmission.

 

Well, the hydraulics should be fine because they were recently updated to '02 pieces, and a new clutch was installed...that was like 15-20k ago. I'm about to take the thing in and tell them to fix it... But I dont know about the health of the clutch, i have felt slippage @ times and now the pedal will stick like 2 inches off the floor when I get on the gas... This car is whacked out.

 

Sounds like the clutch to me too. FWIW, the T56 is an awesome transmission.

Rich Krause

 

I believe you definately have clutch problems. I wouldn't crack that T56 open until I figured what's up with the clutch.

The T56 is not indestructable, but, It's real darned good. I've bracket raced my Formula every weekend in 9 months out of the year for the last 4 years. I launch hard , 5000 RPM on slicks but I do lift for shifting (no power shifting). I'm still running the original T56 syncros, gears, forks, and bearings. Snapped 2 output shafts, but I took care of that last year with a Viper shaft conversion. Point being, the T56 is really a durable and smooth trans for the price.

F-body clutches, on the other hand, seem to give lots of people fits. Not completely releasing seems to be a recurring post on the board. Hands down, best clutch for the street is a Street Twin. Nice and smooth on the street, holds big power. Street tires will soften the hit on the rest of the drive train if you're getting frisky down town. Works great on the track also but is very agressive and abusive on rears, driveshaft, & torquearms if your running slicks and hooking up.

 

What could possibly be wrong with the clutch? It's brand new. What would keep it from fully disengaging?

 

sounds like syncros to me.. although it COULD be aclutch.. I would guess otherwise in this case