The Ford IB5 unit has been in existence for a substantial amount of time. However there has been several improvements and modifications over the years. This article is going to look at a particular issue with the synchromesh and hub for 1st and 2nd gear.
Repair Difficulty: Medium / Hard
Repair Duration: Average 6 hours
Special Tools Required: Basic Gearbox Rebuilding Tools | IB5 5th Gear Puller
The Ford IB5 gearbox is a regular at Eco Torque. Bearing and gear issues are not uncommon and a particular fault with the hub and synchromesh on 1st/2nd is one we are seeing more of.
Ford Gearbox Fault Symptoms | 1st/2nd
The fault most commonly occurs when the driver tries to select these gears and a loud audible grinding/graunching sound is heard. This can also present itself with a subtle sound but a rumbling/notchy feeling on the gearstick when changing into those gears.
It is possible that a clutch issue may also be present and the root cause of the fault, however if the clutch is worn upon inspection, it is still crucial to investigate the state of the 1st and 2nd gear synchromesh as damage may have occurred.
If you compare the synchromesh on the top to the one on the bottom you can see the wear on the ridged friction surface that grabs the inner part of the synchro. The worn, flattened part no long grips the inner ring correctly, reducing the stopping power of the synchro leading to the hub ring crashing into the gear.
The second compounding issue caused by this damage, is that now the ridges have flattened, it blocks the natural oil way created by this design. This results in a higher temperature during use and and accelerated rate of wear.
Gear Damage
A worn synchromesh, if not dealt with early enough, will result in a level of damage to the gear which will cause a permanent crunching sound, even if the synchromesh rings are replaced.
This is because the mating teeth, as shown below, on the top selective part of the gear lose their sharp triangular shape, it will struggle to locate with its hub ring counterpart. Both the hub ring and gear will show similar wear patterns.
There are currently no official guidelines or measurable values to determine what exact level of wear will result in an issue, so caution is always advised.
Parts & Repairs
The cost to supply and fit the gearbox bearings in our workshop starts from £595 Inc VAT*.
Synchromesh faults are varied depending on the model and specific parts required. A strip down of the gearbox is usually required to ascertain the exact repair required.
Our workshop is based at:
Eco Torque LTD Unit 1A Portland Ind Est
Hitchin Road
Arlesey
SG15 6SG
01462 835335
info@eco-torque.co.uk
Alternatively the parts for this repair are available below. We strongly recommend all gearbox parts are installed by an experienced professional to avoid further damage.
We are unable to provide installation guides and telephone support at this time.
Parts Coming Soon !
*Prices correct at time of publishing, please check current price when booking in. Price shown is for gearbox only.