91 wago, awful reverse noise

elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
the car runs flawlessly and shifts great 1-6. when you start moving backwards in reverse however it makes a awful noise. its a hard noise to describe but its sort of a loud whirring... the car also shudders when this is happening.

anyone have any ideas? or is there more info i can give to help narrow it down?

thanks a ton

Comments

  • rti intracrti intrac Senior Wagonist
    Its normal for reverse gear to make a loud noise, thay are straight cut gears so they are alot noiser than the forward gears, they are tapered (cant remember the correct term)

    so reverse gear teeth are cut like this |||||
    and the forward gears are cut like this ////
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    No i know what they mean, both myself and ThatDoodle have encountered this problem in RT4WDs. Only in reverse does it make a really loud grinding noise only as you move back wards though.

    It's not the normal reverse whirr.
  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    Synthetic tranny fliud can help if its not to bad.
  • evol911evol911 familEE
    skinny wrote:
    Synthetic tranny fliud can help if its not to bad.

    ^ :lol: Replace the synthetic with the much cheaper Honda MT fluid! 'Cause its formulated for Honda MT's and factory approved!! :D
  • SlammedtallboySlammedtallboy Wagonist
    evol911 wrote:
    skinny wrote:
    Synthetic tranny fliud can help if its not to bad.

    ^ :lol: Replace the synthetic with the much cheaper Honda MT fluid! 'Cause its formulated for Honda MT's and factory approved!! :D
    Ya that's why it's Honda fluid. It was designed for these trans :)
  • rti intracrti intrac Senior Wagonist
    Haydz wrote:
    No i know what they mean, both myself and ThatDoodle have encountered this problem in RT4WDs. Only in reverse does it make a really loud grinding noise only as you move back wards though.

    It's not the normal reverse whirr.


    Oh right.. Mine is ok, just makes a rumbly click(kinda like a rooted cv but not) noise from the diff when turning right
  • elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
    this is a grinding noise and does not sound normal. i have owned alot of 90s era hondas and i am familiar with the honda reverse whirring, but this is heavier. it really sounds bad.
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Yeah my Shuttle had what you're describing the entire time i owned it. :(
  • elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
    so either swap transmissions or live with it?
  • SlammedtallboySlammedtallboy Wagonist
    I have no noise like that, mine is just some bushing squeek when shifting into curtain gears. i.e. reverse and first gear.
  • 5thgen4dr5thgen4dr Band Wagon
    you[ve scratched up some gearing in there, but the gear itself still works fine right? Like the drivability hasn't changed, just this loud whining/scratching sound consistent with RPM correct?

    It's fine, mine started doing it at the sand dunes and did it constantly for a year later till I sold it. don't worry about it, it's just noise for now.
  • red civic standardred civic standard familEE
    My trans did exactly the same thing with loud noises in reverse.

    Then one day it locked in reverse (the tires locked) and the car stopped.

    Two weeks later, the gearbox spread its guts all over the freeway...grenaded a hole in the trans.
  • elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
    yikes... now i am worried. these transmissions don't grow on trees. should i take this thing apart and look it over?
  • sobe_deathsobe_death New Wagonist
    Did anything ever come of this? The RT wagon I just looked at today has the same problem. Perfect, buttery-smooth shifts 1-6, but reverse is really hard to engage and sounds like an Abrams tank coming through the neighborhood!
  • teamolsteamols New Wagonist
    elmalouno wrote:
    yikes... now i am worried. these transmissions don't grow on trees. should i take this thing apart and look it over?
    let me know if you need another rt4wd trans i have one i could sell you.
  • sobe_deathsobe_death New Wagonist
    I might need one! Where are you located?
  • teamolsteamols New Wagonist
    sobe_death wrote:
    I might need one! Where are you located?
    san diego pm me i dont want to hog this guys thread.Sorry man
  • elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
    well a follow up to come, i removed the transmission and replaced it with another. i am going to take that one apart and inspect the damage.
  • DD Wagonist
    The reverse idler gear has a bronze bushing in it, and rides on the idler gear shaft... over time that bushing wears, and the idler gear will tend to rock on the idle shaft. Personally, i would tear it down, inspect and R&R whatever is needed. If you leave it go forever, you will eventually break off the corners of the idler gear, or teeth off the reverse section of the mainshaft. Also check the reverse linkage and gear change assembly for wear.
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