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Gearbox issues. best oil OR advised By Members for decent gear changes etc.
Quote from kevin drewery on November 20, 2023, 3:21 pmSo like every else in the ZC33 Community I,ve experienced issues changing gears. So I have some Castrol Transmax Manual ready to go. Has anyone used the same ? What were the differences if any? Or is Moly Equip a better choice? And Yes I have the Powerflex Replacement lower engine mount Bush to put in OR if there is a totally differant oil recommended by members give me a hint.
So like every else in the ZC33 Community I,ve experienced issues changing gears. So I have some Castrol Transmax Manual ready to go. Has anyone used the same ? What were the differences if any? Or is Moly Equip a better choice? And Yes I have the Powerflex Replacement lower engine mount Bush to put in OR if there is a totally differant oil recommended by members give me a hint.
Quote from Moyz on November 20, 2023, 8:36 pmIts just a notchy gearbox mate... I have added some tungsten disulphide nano particles to my gearbox oil and a short shifter and I just crank that bad boy hard. It might feel rough but it does the trick. You just have to be rough with the old girl, its a well known issue that the 33 and 32 boxes are a bit harsh.
Its just a notchy gearbox mate... I have added some tungsten disulphide nano particles to my gearbox oil and a short shifter and I just crank that bad boy hard. It might feel rough but it does the trick. You just have to be rough with the old girl, its a well known issue that the 33 and 32 boxes are a bit harsh.
Quote from kevin drewery on November 22, 2023, 1:53 pmHi Moyz hear what your saying , I,ve always expected a smooth change from a syncro box and have never been disappointed Even in my old Scimitar SE5A . So to Buy a 2019 sport and discover that the gearbox is Basically Crap was a Shock. My Swift attitude had NO such problems which begs the question Do Suzuki know about the problem and are they doing Anything to Fix it OR is it a case of Owners are not complaining enough and Suzuki thinking We don,t need to do anything?.
Perhaps the solution is Double Declutching OR Matching Revs as you do in a HGV I will give it a go but Both Options do not bode well for a Sports car of today.
Hi Moyz hear what your saying , I,ve always expected a smooth change from a syncro box and have never been disappointed Even in my old Scimitar SE5A . So to Buy a 2019 sport and discover that the gearbox is Basically Crap was a Shock. My Swift attitude had NO such problems which begs the question Do Suzuki know about the problem and are they doing Anything to Fix it OR is it a case of Owners are not complaining enough and Suzuki thinking We don,t need to do anything?.
Perhaps the solution is Double Declutching OR Matching Revs as you do in a HGV I will give it a go but Both Options do not bode well for a Sports car of today.
Quote from Bruno Nvetska on December 24, 2023, 6:18 amJust discovered this forum because I'm having the same problem. Sometimes 1st into 2nd feels smooth, and sometimes it's very stiff. I missed a gear once because of this, and it's really uncomfortable. Not to mention the sounds it makes sometimes when entering 2nd or 3rd gear. Feels clunky for a 6k mile car...
Brought it to my local service provider, and they said they did not notice anything unusual, but it seems like it's a very real thing for most 33 owners.
What is the definitive solution for this? Does anyone NOT have this problem? I bought the car with 4.5k miles on it so I don't really know if this was an issue from the beginning or it started after rough use and they decided to sell afterwards.
Just discovered this forum because I'm having the same problem. Sometimes 1st into 2nd feels smooth, and sometimes it's very stiff. I missed a gear once because of this, and it's really uncomfortable. Not to mention the sounds it makes sometimes when entering 2nd or 3rd gear. Feels clunky for a 6k mile car...
Brought it to my local service provider, and they said they did not notice anything unusual, but it seems like it's a very real thing for most 33 owners.
What is the definitive solution for this? Does anyone NOT have this problem? I bought the car with 4.5k miles on it so I don't really know if this was an issue from the beginning or it started after rough use and they decided to sell afterwards.
Quote from Lars Fitschen on December 31, 2023, 8:14 pmVery common issue across all forums. I remember mine feeling stiff too with stock gear oil but changed it to Motul DCTF which already made a huge improvement. I came across additives in general and improved it even more by adding Neoprotec and Archoil9100 to a very smooth shifting now.
Very common issue across all forums. I remember mine feeling stiff too with stock gear oil but changed it to Motul DCTF which already made a huge improvement. I came across additives in general and improved it even more by adding Neoprotec and Archoil9100 to a very smooth shifting now.
Quote from xu5 on January 11, 2024, 12:18 pmSo far i have changed the shifter cradle and transmission bracket rubber bushes to solid, lower engine mount insert and changed to millers crx nt and now Redline mtl oil and find the shift really quite nice now.
You could try a weighted (heavier) knob. Heavier knobs should make it feel smoother, however going too heavy may loose some of the feel so depends on your preference.
The problem with the zc33s is that the reverse lockout is oversized so alot of options are not a simple swap unless you also swap the lift up reverse lock out.
As far as i can tell weighted knobs designed for the mk7 Fiesta st and Focus st/rs should fit as they also use an oversized reverse lockout and have the same thread pitch.
I have been looking at https://billetworkz.com/collections/custom-made-to-order knobs but they are from USA so will be £100 at least. They do them in Aluminium, Titanium or Stainless Steel. I think only their "short teardrop" design would be a straightforward swap for the zc33s.
The standard knob weights about 160g. I have also heard of people wrapping strips of lead around the the gearshift stick under the boot.
EDIT: the standard knob is actually 190g.
EDIT: I would also say that the modifications I have made to the gear shift is mostly to bring it more to my liking. Before the mods I don't think I ever could not get it into gear and didn't find the action too bad. It could be a bit resistive from 1st - 2nd though. It is now precise, smooth but still with a nice mechanical feel with a bit of clicky-clackiness.
So far i have changed the shifter cradle and transmission bracket rubber bushes to solid, lower engine mount insert and changed to millers crx nt and now Redline mtl oil and find the shift really quite nice now.
You could try a weighted (heavier) knob. Heavier knobs should make it feel smoother, however going too heavy may loose some of the feel so depends on your preference.
The problem with the zc33s is that the reverse lockout is oversized so alot of options are not a simple swap unless you also swap the lift up reverse lock out.
As far as i can tell weighted knobs designed for the mk7 Fiesta st and Focus st/rs should fit as they also use an oversized reverse lockout and have the same thread pitch.
I have been looking at https://billetworkz.com/collections/custom-made-to-order knobs but they are from USA so will be £100 at least. They do them in Aluminium, Titanium or Stainless Steel. I think only their "short teardrop" design would be a straightforward swap for the zc33s.
The standard knob weights about 160g. I have also heard of people wrapping strips of lead around the the gearshift stick under the boot.
EDIT: the standard knob is actually 190g.
EDIT: I would also say that the modifications I have made to the gear shift is mostly to bring it more to my liking. Before the mods I don't think I ever could not get it into gear and didn't find the action too bad. It could be a bit resistive from 1st - 2nd though. It is now precise, smooth but still with a nice mechanical feel with a bit of clicky-clackiness.
Quote from DazzaSport on January 12, 2024, 4:17 pmMy 2018 Swift Sport's shifter is lovely and smooth - 37K miles on the clock.
Sometimes it can be reluctant when really cold - but most manuals can feel like that.
It glides in lovely when warm - and it get well used when out on a hoon.
No complaints here.
My 2018 Swift Sport's shifter is lovely and smooth - 37K miles on the clock.
Sometimes it can be reluctant when really cold - but most manuals can feel like that.
It glides in lovely when warm - and it get well used when out on a hoon.
No complaints here.
