James Barone SSP Clunk!! help!

[knokout5]

ok seems like no one checks the transmission thread, so ill post here to see if i get any luck.

So I installed the james barone ssp and now my shifts from 1-2 and 3-4 are pretty "clunk"-y and sometimes grind too. After searching, I found the video on www.jamiesplanet.com to tune your shifter. Could anyone tell me if this is the way to go about solving the "clunk" problem? because I think i read on the 3forum that someone tried it and it didnt really work..maybe it was just him. Advice would be helpful! Thanks!

 

[Tronspeed3]

I guess describe the clunking better?, the plate is going to make the shifting take more effort to put into to each gear. Mine kind of pops almost like a snap fit into the gears now as opposed to stock when it was smoother.

 

[Hank3]

I haven't been in the MS3 forums as much since I sold my Speed, but does James Barone not post regularly any more? Maybe contact him directly?

 

[knokout5]

yea i saw on the other 3 forum that jbarone posted but seemed like he didnt even know how to solve it! the thread on that forum just kinda left me hangin.

tronspeed: yes, it does take more effort, but only when i press down the clutch, then slowly shift to neutral then to 2nd (same with 3rd to 4th), do i have a smooth change of gears. when i gun it in first and try to shift fast, im grinding into 2nd...from 3-4, i hear a loud clunk. this is all when i drive fast though...when the cars at standstill, the shifter goes thru all the gears smoothly. bahhhh

 

[chief_wiggum]

This tranny doesn't like to be rushed in my experience. I've never had a clunking issue with my Barone SSP, if I were you, I'd definitely try adjusting it per the video. My two biggest complaints about this car are 1. the very un-Honda like manual transmission and B. the c-rappy B(l)ose stereo.

 

[JBR]

I'm on this forum every day but I don't always see every thread posted about my products. Contacting me directly will always get a very quick response.

As for the sound you're describing...You should adjust you shifter 1st. Then you need to give it some time so YOU can get used to the effort required to shift. These transmissions are know for clunking a bit even stock. I recommend taking the extra time to drive the car normally for a while to get the new shift timing down. Then any grinding or clunking will be gone.

Thanks,
Jamie

 

[RichB]

My two biggest complaints about this car are 1. the very un-Honda like manual transmission and B. the c-rappy B(l)ose stereo.

You want your MS3 to shift like a Honda?

 

[chief_wiggum]

You want your MS3 to shift like a Honda?

yes; I want my MS3 to shift like my long-gone 91 CRX SI. Heck, I'd settle for the transmission feel of my longer-gone 84 CRX.

 

[RichB]

Then the next obvious question is, why didn't you just get another Honda?

On another note, have you tried upgrading motor mounts, tranny fluid, shifter bushings? Those three things make a huge difference.

 

[chief_wiggum]

Then the next obvious question is, why didn't you just get another Honda?

There's more to a car than the transmission (and stereo), I also happen to like torque.

[/QUOTE]On another note, have you tried upgrading motor mounts, tranny fluid, shifter bushings? Those three things make a huge difference.[/QUOTE]

I've done the RMM, shifter bushings and Jamie's SSP -- all of which did combine to make a big difference. I just happen to prefer the old gear boxes from my Honda's; my opinion.

 

[RichB]

I'd also change the transmission fluid. You'll be shocked at the difference that makes.

I guess we all have opinions on certain aspects. Mazda did put a pretty beefy transmission in there and they sacrificed some comfort to do it. At first I was very frustrated with the way this car drove. Now that I have gotten used to its qwirks, I love it!

 

[ras]

I'd also change the transmission fluid. You'll be shocked at the difference that makes.

I guess we all have opinions on certain aspects. Mazda did put a pretty beefy transmission in there and they sacrificed some comfort to do it. At first I was very frustrated with the way this car drove. Now that I have gotten used to its qwirks, I love it!

What tranmission fluid do you recommend.

 

[RichB]

I've been using Redline MT-90 for years with no complaints but there are a lot of people on these forums that swear by their Motocraft XT-M5-QS. You can't go wrong with either choice.

 

[MS3_KIDD]

i just installed my jbarone ssp on friday and had some clunking and slight grinding from 1-2 and 5-6 but with some adjusting to my driving habits and after getting used to the new shift feel mine no longer clunks or grinds

 

[bigdaddy]

As far as I know, you can adjust the shifter once you've installed the JBarone SSP. I had one on for almost a year and loved it. That said, this car has the worst shift feel out of any modern performance car i've driven. Its a combo of the shifter and the clutch. Damn car took me forever to get used to. Worst stick I have driven by far is my buddies 73 Chevy 1/2 ton with a three-on-the floor. Sticky Clutch + 6 inch throws + tons of shifter play= impossible to drive lol.