Why gears grind

We now know that the part inside the gearbox which grinds is the collar due to it having the job of connecting two shafts that rotate at different speeds. But now the question is why is it grinding? Sandwiched between the gears and the collar is a synchroniser ring, also called a friction ring. When the clutch pedal is pressed down, the engine is then separated from the gearbox. This means that by use of friction, the synchroniser ring can first match the speed of the gears which are connected to the input shaft to the collar which is connected to the output shaft.

Once the speed is synchronised, the collar connects to the gear. The driver then lifts up the clutch pedal and a continuous link if formed from the engine to the drive wheels. The synchroniser ring is made from a softer metal than the rest of the gearbox. This is so that the ring will wear out before any of the more complex and expensive parts of the gearbox.

So the reason why your gearbox is grinding, is likely because one of the synchroniser rings is worn and is no longer properly synchronising the gear speed to the collar.

If you keep grinding gears, ensure you depress the clutch fully to the floor and guide the gear lever into its respective slot rather than forcing it. See how to change gears smoothly. If after this you are still grinding gears, there could be a fault with your gearbox or a synchroniser ring requires replacement. Contact Us. Ken drives a Dodge Ram with over , miles on it.

Recently, he began noticing some potential transmission problems. Any time you hear a strange noise coming from your vehicle, you should take notice. Odd sounds are one of your car's ways of letting you know something might be wrong.

It may be a minor problem like a… Read More. JavaScript is Disabled For the best experience and to ensure full functionality of this site, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

Schedule Appointment. Search for:. Clutch Problems The most likely culprit is the clutch system. Torque Converter Problems An automatic transmission uses a torque converter and planetary gear system to automatically do the shifting for you as you accelerate or decelerate the vehicle.

There could be a transmission, clutch or gear box problem. Maybe a shaving of metal or some other contaminant traveled through the system and into the gear box. You might need to replace your transmission filter or the pan gasket. Or, your transmission is just getting old.

The gears, clutch and other components will naturally wear out over time with lots of use. You may just need a routine transmission service or there could be another issue worth repairing. Bring your vehicle into our Downtown Modesto repair facility. Our expert technicians and diagnosticians will uncover the source of any transmission problem. Ken drives a Dodge Ram with over , miles on it.

Recently, he began noticing some potential transmission problems. Any time you hear a strange noise coming from your vehicle, you should take notice.