jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I have trouble downshifting to 1st or 2nd while moving. 2nd is hit and miss, but for 1st, it will not slide into 1st without considerable effort until I have come to a complete stop. Its kinda weird. If I'm at a complete stop, it drops into 1st no problem and up shifting into 2nd is nice and smooth. This is really annoying when coming up on a turn where I don't fully stop. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to break the lever with the amount of force it requires to downshift to 2nd or 1st. I do wait till the vehicle has slowed to a speed suitable for either gear so I'm not stressing the synchros too much. I have a stock shifter box with the trifecta of Perrin bits, short shift adapter, bushing, and shifter stop. I thought at first it might be the shifter stop being adjusted to tight, but I loosened it all the way to allow a lot of slop and it still does it. I don't really remember how it was before putting those on since I installed them shortly after buying the car this year. Does any body else have this issue? Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow_419 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I'll be honest, I don't put it in 1st unless I am at a stop. The same issue happens to me going into 2nd unless I double clutch or cycle down through the gears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLlegacy Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I don't have thus issue unless the trans is cold. Usually I don't force it though just use constant pressure and let the synchros do their thing. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 I don't put it into 1st unless I'm basically stopped, but if I'm still rolling, even just barely its very difficult. It will sometimes go into 2nd easier, but if I'm nearly stopped, I have to slip the clutch more than I'd like to get moving. I should try to double clutch and see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cww516 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 That's pretty much what I have going on as well. Anything up to about 5 mph is pretty easy to get into 1st, beyond that and it's gotta be 2nd. I don't usually have any issue with getting into 2nd once things are warmed up, but it can be a little rough first thing in the morning now that it's getting cold(ish) out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byll Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Shadow_419 spoke the magic words: double clutch... Yeah, I know. I am an old trucker, but it is so easy, and there is zero drama. I also double clutch in winter, upshifting from 1st to 2nd gear, when it is very cold - even while running Extra-S in the transmission. Some times from 2nd to 3rd, also. Beats the experience you describe, jkenefake, and it is better than replacing synchronizers, hands down... Best. Byll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Welcome to our finicky transmissions. What you described sounds just like mine when it's cold. Once it's warmed up, 2nd gear downshifts are pretty normal-ish. Double clutching definitely helps immediately when its cold, just did this the other day when I used the GT to run an errand. When I need to get into 1st and I am moving a little too fast for it to drop in, I usually just give the brakes a quick stab while I am applying a little pressure and it usually drops in. When is the last time you changed your tranny fluid? Every 25k to 30k miles really improves the low gear downshifts. Use Extra-S or Motul Gear300 where you live. In a colder climate you should use the cocktail the brandon.mol uses with some Redline lightweight shockproof added in. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 I've got Motul Gear300 in there from this summer. Which did make it shift smoother I overall. I have the issue regardless of ambient or operating temperature. At least it doesn't change significantly. Sounds like the behavior is somewhat "normal." Just wanted to make sure it wasn't something wrong with the shifter add ons I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripstik Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 its a pain in the balls to get into first before you get to around 7 MPH, if i really have to do it i usually give the gas a solid stab with pressure on the shifter (which probably works similar to GTeaser's brake stabbing method). for down shifts to 2nd mine is usually pretty smooth with a good rev match but i did notice it get pretty hard to do before i change my trans fluid for the first time... which i need to do again soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 I can be going less than 1 mph and it's still difficult to go into 1st. Its not until I come to a full stop that it slides in easy. That's what makes its it weird. I would expect it to be difficult if I were moving at like 10 mph or so. Maybe I'll try to mix in some Lightweight Shockproof and see if that helps. What ratio do people use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEASER Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Maybe I'll try to mix in some Lightweight Shockproof and see if that helps. What ratio do people use? PM brandon.mol, I think he's the only one that has done it. GTEASER's 2012 Legacy GT - Sold GTEASER's 2009 XTeaser - Sold GTEASER's 1992 Legacy SS - Sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojorios Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I've been running the Lightweight shockproof/motul 300 since I got the car without issue. I've done 2 changes so far (25k, 60k) 3 Qt shockproof and 1 motul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apexofthevortex Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Yeah it seems like everyone has experienced this in our cars. I've noticed it in mine since the day I bought it new. I'm running 75% lightweight shockproof and 25% motul. Whiteline positive shift kit helps tremendously, really cleans up the crunchiness that I used to feel shifting from time to time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Yeah really been considering the positive shift kit. I think that could be a big improvement overall. How hard is that to put in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apexofthevortex Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I cant say for sure because I had it installed at the same time I got my blacksteins installed. They're just urethane cross-member bushings so I imagine it would be even easier than installing the perrin SSA or a new trans mount, the trans mount also helps a lot if you dont have one of those. Seems like Subaru left a lot of slack in all the mounts and bushings, I assume to keep things from breaking or keep the car more refined. All we get in the end is a sub-par shifting experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Who makes the trans mount? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apexofthevortex Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Who makes the trans mount? [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Group-5-speed-Trans-Impreza-Forester/dp/B00ANO7JSE]Amazon.com: Group N 5-speed Trans Mount M/t Impreza Rs WRX Forester: Automotive[/ame] This is the one you want. I think theres an STI brand one as well but its more expensive. I'm in Manassas from time to time, if you ever wanna meet up and take mine for a spin to help you make your decision your more than welcome to. I've spent the last year trying all sorts of different setups and part combinations to get the shifter feel just right. It's not exactly where I'd like it to be and maybe it'll never be perfect, but the setup I have now is by far the best. Another thing to note is the Boomba stick also tightens things up quite a bit but creates uneven throw length which I really didn't like and that thing is an absolute bitch to install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Ok cool, I had seen that one but nobody listed it as fitting our cars. Yeah man I'd love to meet up sometime and check out your ride. PM sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apexofthevortex Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Cool man, I'll hit you up next time I'm in the area. My buddy lives in Manassas Park near the Sheetz and Roy Rogers if you know where that is so that's where I usually chill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon.mol Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I found the Redline LWSP fluid to significantly improve synchro meshing on downshifts. Also, my fluid mix seems to not give a shit about cold temps. Like I'm talking Honey-Badger not giving a shit. It's substantially better than factory fill. I still get a bit of a fight with 1st over 35kph (20mph) but its perfectly fine below 20mph. Also, the great thing about the LWSP is that it has the shock loading characteristics of a 140 weight gear lube with the flow of a 30 weight engine oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkenefake Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Thanks brandon.mol! Do you use a 75/25 mix of LWSP and Motul? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blklgt05 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Yo, don't install solid tranny mount unless you can live with really noisy trans during engine brake. This happens right away for some, but for most it takes time to develop. Why would you need to go into first while moving? You gotta rev it pretty high while going less than 10mph, but I just wouldn't force it, coming down to second gear is enough. I use Motul Gear 300 for tranny and rear diff. mod journal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2baru Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I agree. Do you NEED to down shift to first regularly??? Only time you should be would be maybe coming up to a stop. Or like what Gary said under 5-10mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJuan Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Try switching back to Extra-S Trans fluid and see if that helps, I know it helped me when I was running the cocktail (shock proof/Motul). When I switched back I had no more issues of gear changes. Several members have experence issues running different or combined fluids, and some that haven't. It could be the case here. Extra-S is the recommend fluid to run in these trans, anything else is a gamble if it works long term or not. Remember to change the fluid every 30k miles. My wife's balls are delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amidroc Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I have the same trouble too. Even after my 60K service with SWEPCO gear oil. I usually have to come to a full stop of below 5mph to get into first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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