Just wondering if I should start worrying about this or not ... I've seen a few threads lately about replacing 5-speeds at not-so-high mileage!

My car is (as you can see) a '97 5-speed SE, with just a smidgen under 77k on it. (I know 77k is nothing but there seems to be a few people blowing them under 100k.)

The previous owner (and only owner prior to me) put the first 49k on the car, and it was a woman who drove primarily around town (and like a granny at that,) so I'm not worried about any wear from her. Just fixed my KS and now it feels like brand new, engine runs pristine and no signs of wear that I can distinguish from the tranny.

I have my moments of "spirited" driving, but 95% of my shifts are below or up to 3k RPMs. And even when I do go hard I don't slam the shifter and pop the clutch, I go with as much grace as possible in the situation. All in all I would definitely say that I don't beat on the tranny. I do not double cluch, shift without the clutch, or forcefully decelerate with the tranny (I will let off in gear and slowly downshift from 5th to 4th and 4th to 3rd, but nothing major in terms of braking the car.)

I will be getting a tranny flush soon and putting in some high quality gear oil (any suggestions?)

So, how long have your 5-speeds lasted from "normal" driving conditions, and how long for your clutches?

If you have blown your tranny.. do you know if you caused it?

 

mine is 110k and shifts like a dream and i do all the stuff that u say u dont do ... lol

 

hehe.. my car NEEDS to last me years to come; it's paid for by a school loan (which I don't have to repay until im done with school. got another full year or possibly more.)

it is a 20 year payback, but of course I don't want to pay back a 9k loan over 20 years, that's just insane .. so it will definitely be paid off in a reasonable amount of time (I would say 3-4 years tops.)

but I don't want to be paying for a car that I no longer own, so I need to baby it like no other!

 

I'm a mirror image of you in terms of how I drive the car. I am just coming up to 58K on a 95SE 5-speed that I have owned since day 1. I can count the number of times the car has been redlined on one hand, using no thumb. I ran it up to 6200 yesterday and it pulled hard all the way. I had the transaxle fluid replaced about 2 months ago for the first time. I will likely do it again in about 30K. I'm not running synthetic gear oil in it. Make sure you use GL4, not GL5 in a 75W90 or 80W90. As far as I know with the transaxle, there is no flushing - its just drain and fill.

The only problem I've had in the car other than an 02 sensor replaced on warranty 6 years ago, is a stuck rear brake caliper. Just had 2 rebuilt rear calipers and pads put in today.

Apparently one problem you might experience is the dreaded differential bearing problem. Mine is a Canadian car with limited-slip differential and I believe they are less prone to that problem.

I would say you're good to go for years. Just replace the transaxle fluid oil periodically.

 

120k on stock clutch. 40 passes at the track and still chirps second everytime. I do drive a tad more agressive than you so i don't see you having a problem with your tanny.

 

most 5 spds last a very long time.. many have been hit with 300+whp and many 1/4 mile runs with no real issues. A few have broken from burnouts/wheelhop.

Your clutch is going to wear, but that is what it is designed to do

 

Like rmurdoch said, make sure you have GL4 in there. You can ready why in the fluids section. I just put GL4 Redline MT90 in mine and I can feel a diffrence. Check out www.myoilshop.com.