NOTE: ive already posted this in the general SR20 section. someone just suggested that it might be better asking here for good answers.


ok this is kinda weird. when i disengage 1st gear, it makes bit of a clunch. lets say im in 1st, move away and accelerate a bit, then shift to 2nd, the moment i release it from 1st gear it makes that crunch. yes, the clutch is in... fully. sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesnt, no idea whats happening. the sound is nothing like when u force it into gear making the synchros work harder than they should, it sounds and feels more like when u go over a rough road surface (like over a grill or large drain or rail crossing etc, u know what i mean)

when i searched "1st gear" i got a bunch of threads where ppl have problems going INTO 1st (and most of them weren't even problems). this is not like any of those, mine is getting out of 1st.

its weird though, other than the unusual sound and the vibration theres no problem actually shifting from 1st to 2nd. moving the shift lever requires no more force than normal (for both getting out of 1st and getting into 2nd). engaging the clutch is fine as well.
i dont have this problem with any other gear, just happens get getting out of 1st

Do you feel any vibration in the linkage? Can you reproduce the sound while not moving?

Being that we have hydraulic clutches you might have a few things to check. Slaves tend to leak on 200's if they are high milage. You might have a worn throw-out bearing making racket, usually it's a chatter or whirring that happens upon clutch engagement.

Sometimes on Chevy trucks the driveshaft will move when you engage another gear or deaccelerate and it makes a popping or grating noise. My dad had this on his truck and he found it was due to a lack of lubrication on the driveshaft snout.

Alot of possibilities just have to narrow it down.

How long has it been since you changed the gearbox fluid? What type of fluid did you use?

Do you feel any vibration in the linkage? Can you reproduce the sound while not moving?

nah, it doesn't happen when im stationary.

Being that we have hydraulic clutches you might have a few things to check. Slaves tend to leak on 200's if they are high milage.

its done about 72,000miles. thats something i could do, check for leaks.

You might have a worn throw-out bearing making racket, usually it's a chatter or whirring that happens upon clutch engagement.
dont think its this, coz it doesnt happen upon clutch engagement, it engages perfectly ok and smooth. this jolt/shudder im talking about happens when ive still got the clutch down and just disconnected 1st gear, i.e. it happens 'the moment' i get out of 1st gear.

Alot of possibilities just have to narrow it down.

How long has it been since you changed the gearbox fluid? What type of fluid did you use?
dunno how long its been. ive only bought the car for a few weeks. its got a nice long servicing record, i can take some time going through those and checking. or hell, i could just change the gearbox fluid anyway, just to see if this still happens and narrow it down. what fluid should i use?

btw, in the other thread (the one i posted in the general SR20 section), someone told me to try without the putting the clutch in at all. i assumed he meant the same way as you do with clutchless shifting (hope im right). anyway i tried that a few times, i noticed it doesnt happen as much, but still does SOMETIMES.

another thing i noticed, its less prone to do this if i pay attention to guiding the shift lever properly along the line, as oppose to slightly scraping the side

thanks for your help so far