I won’t spend a dime to replace this tranny with another OEM one.

I am waiting for somebody to release a rebuild kit that strengthens the OEM tranny.

 

What does Mazmart use as oil in their trannies?

 

No idea.
Those transmissions are most likely parts they salvaged out of cars that were either wrecked or converted to race vehicles by Rick Engman. That's speculation on my part though. You'd have to ask Paul or Rick.

 

Don't worry about it.

The reason people are having so many problems with MaxGear is because everyone uses it. If virtually everyone uses something then theres going to be more reported failures.

Oil is oil, change it often and you won't have a problem.

 

RP specifically states that their MaxGear is safe on syncros (i.e. soft metals). It's on the website somewhere, I made sure of this before I put it in my tranny.

If MaxGear is really an issue, we've got a TON of failed trannies in the works.

 

it took just about 20,000 miles of RP max gear use before the grinding problem was detectable by me - it happened in 3-4 upshift at ~7k rpm. When the car had 47k miles on it, the problem was consistent and problematic enough for the dealer to be able to replicate the problem. At that point it was grinding at a much lower rpm.

They tore down the transmission because mazda wanted them to fix it instead of replacing. But the wear was so bad that they ended up giving me a brand new transmission.

don't mistake my transmission problem for abuse. I don't drop the clutch. The grinding issues happened before I was turbo. And I swapped transmission fluid every year. The first fluid swap took place around 5k miles (wanted to make sure everything broke in before I did the first swap)

 

Had RP Max Gear for 55K. Zero issues.

 

how often did you change the fluids? The last two swaps I did the shifting quality got much worse.

 

It's been swapped 3 times. I redline about 4-5 times a day, at least, but never dump the clutch. Also a couple hundred road course miles, all heel/toe shifting. Never any double clutching.

 

I've had RP for about 20,000 mi. I've seen no change in grinding, notchiness, etc. I drive very smoothly...maybe that's the biggest variable? I heel/toe for most all downshifts, or at least rev match. I've never raced and don't slip or dump the clutch or even launch at high rpm.

I've always had the occasional notchiness from 1-2, and some syncro noise (with AFE SS), but that's about it.

 

The rx8 tranny just plain sucks, most people's trannys are going to go out. The fluid isn't the problem.

 

^the apocalypse is near

 

If you're smooth and congnizant of the workings of the tranny, then I honestly feel that it's not really that bad at all.

Not everyone is sensitive enough to really notice the feedback from the car (from my experience). Especially with the AFE SS, the syncros will let you know if your not doing things quite right.

 

Yeah, part of the problem is driver error. People are rough pulling out of gear before the clutch takes most the load off, that grinds the cone of the syncro off, then your just left with the syncros themselves crunching themselves to mesh

 

Ajax, you of all people! You should have called me and it's good that someone told me about this thread because I can put it to bed.
THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THAT MY SHIFTER DOESN'T ENGAGE THE SYNCROS ALL THE WAY.
1) The geometry is exactly the same as the Mazdaspeed SS. Exactly.
2) If anything it will go in further as it doesn't have the rubber joint keeping full pressure from being applied to the shuttle
3) At this time over 800 shifters have been sold. Yours is the only one where it doesn't get the whole syncro.
4) I think that most SCCA Rx8 racers are using my shifter with no syncro problems.
5) They all tried Mazdaspeed first.
6) They all paid sticker price for the SS from me. Not freebees.
7) When was the last time a dealer told you the truth.
8) When there was a problem with our shifter in the past I always came foward about it and made it good for you. How many dealers or manufactures do that?
So you know I'm not ducking out on you.
9) Our parts unlike factory stuff are made on CNC equipment not stamping machines
That means every part including the plastic stuff.
10) We use only the best US produced materials not what's cheapests.
11) ETC, ETC, ETS.

The stock one and the Mazdaspeed units engage the same amount...until it stops.
In fact if the shifter had any control over this then mine would engage it further. Think about it, use a paper and pen. Ours has a longer lower portion under the pivot therefore it would go further. That is of course if the limiting factor was how far the top was moved, but we know that has no limit only as far as your hand will go. But if it did have such a limit the SS would engage more gear.

I have no opinion as to the gear oil. I think if they meet the highest spec available then I will use them in my Ferrari or even the Mazda. That is of course because the parts are so much cheaper, easier to get and to install on a Ferrari.

If someone has a spare gearbox I will be happy to throw it into a machining center and cut a window into the side of it. We can then try all the shifters in there and watch how far they go in. Make that offer to your dealer and you will see him donate the old gearbox to us.

I'm only a phone call away.

 

^ See?

 

Its just like I said,

Its not your oil, its not totally your technique, its not your shifter or clutch.

Its that the tranny just plain sucks. Serious racers keep them in stock, like oil filters

 

Speaking of Mazmart has anyone asked Paul if he they looked inside one of the trade ins? What parts failed on those?

We have alot of SS down under in Oz and they have not reported any problems. Those guys have more room then God to thrash their cars in. They track regularly and build crazy drag cars. Jusy ask Hymee.
On top of that they shift with their left hand.

 

Although this is in another thread in the "issues" section, I thought I'd mention that I had no grinds until switching to RP MaxGear. Only took about 5ooo miles for my 1st to 2nd shift constantly grind. Went back to Redline MT 90 and in only 20 minutes, the car was back to normal-no grinds or crunching 1-2 shifts. I use RP oil so I have nothing against them, but my tranny sure didn't like it. There are others with similar experience to mine.

 

I ran the AFE SS with Redline for about 18k miles. I had no shifting problems but lots of noise. Switched to RP Maxgear and the noise was greatly reduced, but on the VERY FIRST drive after I noticed a grind going into 4th at high RPM that I never had before. Over the next 3k miles, this gradually got worse and worse, then 2nd started grinding at random times and RPMs. I recently swapped the RP for Shockproof. The grinds seem to be gone (though 2nd is still notchy when cold), but it's too early to tell if the damage is totally reversible. I do think that the SS is a quality piece and I have no regrets for having installed it (when it's quiet). But I'd sure as hell stay away from Maxgear if I had to do it over...

 

Richard,

I never said your shifter was the problem.
The dealer told me that it was. Did I get to see how they tested it? No. They're still covering it under warranty anyway which makes it sound fishy enough to me.

I have loved your shifter since day 1 and I'm glad you're standing behind your product. I posted this thread to let people know what I was being told by a dealer who is still covering my car under warranty, probably because they fucked it up the first time.

I do not want to cast doubt on this shifter, because from 24k to 60k it has worked great for me but I want people to be aware of the things that dealers are saying, thus posting this on a forum, with the disclaimer at the top.

I made the mistake of leaving the thing in the car before I brought it in for transmission work and they're blaming it. Whether or not the hubs are wearing because of oil, the shift forks, the shifter, whatever, I will never know.

When the issue initially came up, they weren't going to cover it initially. My rep called mazda HQ and got it approved after talking to one of the tech reps there asking if a short throw shifter would cause synchros to fail. They infact said the opposite, that it would prolong the life of the synchromesh gears.

I hope that clarifies things

 

just shift this trans like you are touching another mans D--- and you will be ok.
My bearings are starting to go---dont forget move up to a higher weight oil after 40-50K miles.
olddraggerg

 

Funny enough mine is the opposite experience. I went to Redline from the stock fluid and the cold shift quality was noticeably worse. I switched to Royal Purple after 5,000 miles because I simply couldn't stand Redline anymore and the crunchy cold shifts stopped for awhile, though it came back after about 7,500 miles. I decided to give Redline another chance with my latest change, but the quality is just as bad as before. I simply feel the stock tranny has bad tolerances, which is why we're getting so much variation in what it responds to.

 

That is VERY good news. I will replace my maxgear tomorrow with redline. I really hope it's not too late.

 

well i have the problem with the shifting into second gear grinding when cold, so should i go into the dealer and have them check it out while i still have the warranty?