Gearbox help

[CaptainCaveman]

Long and the short of it – I think my syncros are on their way out. My box has the usual refusal to go into 1st and reverse when cold, but is actually a pleasure to use once warmed up and changes are like butter in all gears. Until… high revs. Then it crunches into 3rd, 4th and 6th.

I’d like to send the box off to a specialist to get it sorted properly, rather than fitting an unknown recon entity into the car. The problem is, that requires finding a garage that will be happy to take out the box and have my car taking up a ramp for 1-2 weeks, which no garages would be happy to do. So I’m a bit stuck.

I don’t have the tools, facilities or experience to remove the box myself, but am reluctant to resort to a recon box of unknown provenance/quality.

What do other normally people do and what would you suggest?

Cheers,

Mart.

 

[sevenfourate]

You can buy crunchy boxes for around £50.

Buy one of those - get it refurbed, swap the two over and then re-sell the one you have left....

 

[lewishunter98]

There are companies out there that do gearboxes on exchange basis. Drive in drive out same day sorta thing. Rentune are about £750 all in. Beaniesport£795.

They give a freshly refurbed box, clutch, slave all in

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[petercronin]

There are companies out there that do gearboxes on exchange basis. Drive in drive out same day sorta thing. Rentune are about £750 all in. Beaniesport£795.

They give a freshly refurbed box, clutch, slave all in

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This is probably the easiest option if you’re near enough to one of them. I think I’ve seen Pro Line Motorsport say they can do this too. If not as mentioned above buy a second box and have it overhauled.

 

[CaptainCaveman]

Thx for the advice - was hoping to keep my box as it's like butter when warm. Don't want to end up with a worse box.

Not seen any spare boxes anywhere, apart from reconditioned ones?? I'd definitely want the box to be done by a specialist who know the Clio RS box, and who don't cut corners.

 

[lewishunter98]

Thx for the advice - was hoping to keep my box as it's like butter when warm. Don't want to end up with a worse box.

Not seen any spare boxes anywhere, apart from reconditioned ones?? I'd definitely want the box to be done by a specialist who know the Clio RS box, and who don't cut corners.

You won't go far wrong with a box from any of the above (Proline/beanie/rentune)

They definitely know their stuff about the Clio boxes. I was speaking to Chris at beaniesport about gearbox replacements at french car show and they were saying about how quick they can have a box apart with fresh synchros and put back together. Mesmerising haha!

Pro line will also do gearboxes that are vapour blasted etc. With new synchros and they look better than new.

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[CaptainCaveman]

I was speaking to Chris at beaniesport about gearbox replacements at french car show and they were saying about how quick they can have a box apart with fresh synchros and put back together

Perfect - this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a million mate

 

[RossWoods93]

In the same boat myself! Clio hates 2nd to 3rd at high RPM, just feels notchy but have the feeling the synchro's are giving up the will! Lower down the rev range, mine is faultless so I'd want to keep the original box also.

I've also heard Beaniesport is the best place for gearbox replacements, so when the time comes I reckon that's where I'll be heading!

 

[lewishunter98]

I'll also be going to beaniesport when I have the cash to do so! My gearbox crunches third at pretty much all of rev range. I'm pretty sympathetic with the changes though and the majority of the time make it not crunch [emoji23]

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[sevenfourate]

Lower down the rev range, mine is faultless so I'd want to keep the original box also.

Same syncros per gear irrespective of low or high revs bud. It's just the symptoms of failing / breaking up items usually get worse with more revs. Wanting to keep that particular box because it feels ok low down isn't a reason in itself.......

Good luck !

 

[RossWoods93]

Same syncrosper gear irrespective of low or high revs bud. It's just the symptoms of failing / breaking up items usually get worse with more revs. Wanting to keep that particular box because it feels ok low down isn't a reason in itself.......

Good luck !

Yeah it’s certainly on its way out, but something that I can live with until the time suits to replace it (you know I’ve had quite the expense recently!!)

The only reason I wanted keep the box was because mine is a 2012 reg car, there is something that is uprated on the later gearboxes? Not sure what exactly, but if it’s the synchro rings, then I can confirm that they still weren’t up to scratch!

 

[lewishunter98]

Yeah it’s certainly on its way out, but something that I can live with until the time suits to replace it (you know I’ve had quite the expense recently!!)

The only reason I wanted keep the box was because mine is a 2012 reg car, there is something that is uprated on the later gearboxes? Not sure what exactly, but if it’s the synchro rings, then I can confirm that they still weren’t up to scratch!

Synchros were changed but I'm lead to believe they fixed the issue of the weak inner parts on the 197 synchros and then also changed the outer material and basically made them weak in that sense [emoji23] so they effectively fixed one thing and made another problem

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[Marsch]

The gear ratios are different but that's it from what I know.

 

[Northloopcup]

I found some better synchros to replace the ‘uprated’ Renault items. They worked and no one was interested!!

 

[CaptainCaveman]

I found some better synchros to replace the ‘uprated’ Renault items. They worked and no one was interested!!

Hi - I am interested. Are you able to supply these, or divulge details? I wanted to get you to do my box, but I have no local garage that is willing to remove the box and take up a ramp for two weeks waiting unfortunately. What evidence do you have to suggest that these are better? Very interested in the uprated syncros - could you share details to the forum?

Cheers.

 

[lewishunter98]

I found some better synchros to replace the ‘uprated’ Renault items. They worked and no one was interested!!

iirc you fitted them to one person's box didn't you? I think most were waiting to see how he got on before making the decision but I don't know for sure!

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[Northloopcup]

Hi - I am interested. Are you able to supply these, or divulge details? I wanted to get you to do my box, but I have no local garage that is willing to remove the box and take up a ramp for two weeks waiting unfortunately. What evidence do you have to suggest that these are better? Very interested in the uprated syncros - could you share details to the forum?

Cheers.

Unfortunately mate I only supply if I’m fitting them as I took a risk on them working. They’re better due to the material they’re made of and the design.

iirc you fitted them to one person's box didn't you? I think most were waiting to see how he got on before making the decision but I don't know for sure!

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Yeah they’ve gone in plenty more boxes now mate as once I got confirmation it was all systems go tbh. There’s a set in a rally car that gets a beating on every stage and regularly knocked the synchros out after 2 events. On the third now without any sign of crunching so far.

 

[CaptainCaveman]

Unfortunately mate I only supply if I’m fitting them as I took a risk on them working.

With all respect - seems a little short sighted? You could literally have a gold mine on your hands, with people lining up to buy uprated syncros from you, as they are a well known weak spot, with seemingly no solution (until now).

I and I'm sure many others, would love to have you work on our gearboxes, but finding an effective way to remove the box and store the car for two weeks while the repair is done, is going to be prohibitive for most.

You could sell the syncros to Renault specialists and forum users at a profit, which I've no doubt people would be delighted to pay if it means the end of their gearbox woes for good.

At the very least it would be good to have some detail about the syncros, why they're better, how many cars, what mileages they've done on the new parts etc, for people to make an informed choice.

Hope that's helpful - don't mean to offend

Mart.

 

[Northloopcup]

With all respect - seems a little short sighted? You could literally have a gold mine on your hands, with people lining up to buy uprated syncros from you, as they are a well known weak spot, with seemingly no solution (until now).

I and I'm sure many others, would love to have you work on our gearboxes, but finding an effective way to remove the box and store the car for two weeks while the repair is done, is going to be prohibitive for most.

You could sell the syncros to Renault specialists and forum users at a profit, which I've no doubt people would be delighted to pay if it means the end of their gearbox woes for good.

At the very least it would be good to have some detail about the syncros, why they're better, how many cars, what mileages they've done on the new parts etc, for people to make an informed choice.

Hope that's helpful - don't mean to offend

Mart.

Mate, trust me you haven’t offended me in any way shape or form.

Yes it may well be short sighted, but I have a garage full of gearboxes pretty much all the time (11 currently). You’re right I could supply them to specialists and the like, but what happens when they decide that they want to get in on the act and essentially mug me off by finding out where they come from? They do fuck all research, but gain massive reward as they’ll then spout it all over Facebook (which I don’t do) that they’ve got improved synchros available for the tl4.

I’ve made it aware to members on this forum and Cliosport.net that I have the skills, reputation and parts availability, but I still rebuild more jc5’s found in the mk2 than the tl4 from the mk3.

I’m not out to be onto a goldmine mate, I’m just out to help people out.

I’m happy to let people know the mileage’s that they’re covering and what use they’re getting in terms of road/track/race.

I also had some synchros sorted out for the jc5 to help them last as they also suffer on 3rd/4th gear. They went into a few of the race gearboxes I look after and they managed 2 seasons before needing replacement, instead of 1. I don’t do those synchros anymore as trying to convince people was just too much like hard work! Lol! I have a 2yr old, so I don’t need any more hard work in my life! Hahaha!

 

[Mark_L]

@CaptainCaveman your best option is to buy a secondhand box and get Mark @Northloopcup to rebuild that one for you then sell yours on. Then no need to have it sitting around??
That's what I would do!