Crunchy FWD lib gbox
- graham7773
- Junior Member
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 4:26 pm
- Location: mount druitt nsw
Crunchy FWD lib gbox
why do people look at me with silly grins on their faces when I tell them my 1992 GX Liberty 5 speed FWD is crunching gears and doesn't like staying in reverse? If I put it in reverse and let go the gear lever it just steps back out. If I hold it in with almost no pressure, it stays in. The gear changes are ok if I do them slow but if I try to change quickly, crunch, especially third gear. What is going on and how to fix it?
- steptoe
- Master Member
- Posts: 11582
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: 14 miles outside Gotham City
If you really want an answer, it may help to use more accurate post title for starters. Some in the know may not care too much about smiles, so not even look in. You are not the first to make this common error. Do not take offence.
From my limited exp with man. boxes, the not stay in rev may be due to a broken detent spring hidden behind a square headed plug in the ide of top of the gearbox. Fixed same with another random spring from one gearbox on a very old ladies Colt a few years back.
The crunch - welcome the club. Recall even a two year old l Series had the down shift to 2nd crunch. My Brumby with its L 5 speed will crunch on 4th to 3rd unles I am lucky or braking and slowing down at same time. I used to fix old Mazda 4 speds with this problem by dismantle and rough up the cones that mate to the inside of the brass synchro rings, with an emery paper and fixed. Not looking forward to dismantle one of these that I need to reassemble
From my limited exp with man. boxes, the not stay in rev may be due to a broken detent spring hidden behind a square headed plug in the ide of top of the gearbox. Fixed same with another random spring from one gearbox on a very old ladies Colt a few years back.
The crunch - welcome the club. Recall even a two year old l Series had the down shift to 2nd crunch. My Brumby with its L 5 speed will crunch on 4th to 3rd unles I am lucky or braking and slowing down at same time. I used to fix old Mazda 4 speds with this problem by dismantle and rough up the cones that mate to the inside of the brass synchro rings, with an emery paper and fixed. Not looking forward to dismantle one of these that I need to reassemble

- graham7773
- Junior Member
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 4:26 pm
- Location: mount druitt nsw
OK, no more smiles and thanks for the information. Broken detent spring sounds right, I will look for a diagram of the box to positivly locate it. Can't be more than a few $s from Subaru. Probably involve a small ball bearing as well. As for the crunchy gear changes, slow is the go. Thanks again. Just by the way, how hard is it to change the input shaft bearing on the 5 speed manual Liberty box?
- AlpineRaven
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Welcome to the club too... I used to have crunchiness in 1st & 2nd gear until I put in redline shockproof oil in and it hasnt been back ever since.graham7773 wrote:OK, no more smiles and thanks for the information. Broken detent spring sounds right, I will look for a diagram of the box to positivly locate it. Can't be more than a few $s from Subaru. Probably involve a small ball bearing as well. As for the crunchy gear changes, slow is the go. Thanks again. Just by the way, how hard is it to change the input shaft bearing on the 5 speed manual Liberty box?
How hard to change the input shaft bearing? you will need to split the gearbox open! If you have mechanical knowledge then it can be done...
Cheers
AP
Subarus that I have/had:
1995 Liberty "Rallye" - 5MT AWD, LSD - *written off 25/8/06 in towing accident.
1996 Liberty Wagon - SkiFX AWD 5MT D/R, Lifted.. Outback Sway Bar, 1.59:1 Low Gearing see thread: 1.59:1 in EJ Box Page
Sold at 385,000kms in July 2011.
2007 Liberty BP Wagon, 2.5i automatic

1995 Liberty "Rallye" - 5MT AWD, LSD - *written off 25/8/06 in towing accident.
1996 Liberty Wagon - SkiFX AWD 5MT D/R, Lifted.. Outback Sway Bar, 1.59:1 Low Gearing see thread: 1.59:1 in EJ Box Page
Sold at 385,000kms in July 2011.
2007 Liberty BP Wagon, 2.5i automatic

Which Redline Shockproof oil would i want for a Subaru liberty dual range 5 speed manual?AlpineRaven wrote:Welcome to the club too... I used to have crunchiness in 1st & 2nd gear until I put in redline shockproof oil in and it hasnt been back ever since.
How hard to change the input shaft bearing? you will need to split the gearbox open! If you have mechanical knowledge then it can be done...
Cheers
AP
From this list preferably
http://www.redlineoil.com.au/product-or ... p#gearoils
- graham7773
- Junior Member
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 4:26 pm
- Location: mount druitt nsw
Alex, thanks for that. thanks to all for all the helpful info. I would rather pull the subaru gearbox apart than the EF auto I just got rid of. Does the g/b case have locating studs? for putting it back together? Tho I may not need to. Am going to Bursons tomorrow to try the shockproof redline gear oil.
- AlpineRaven
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kappage wrote:Which Redline Shockproof oil would i want for a Subaru liberty dual range 5 speed manual?
From this list preferably
http://www.redlineoil.com.au/product-or ... p#gearoils

RL148-1 Lightweight Shockproof Gear Oil 1USQrt
This is what i have in my dual range box at the moment, so far travelled 12000kms without any crunchiness..
Cheers
AP
edit: i paid $120 for 5 bottles...
Subarus that I have/had:
1995 Liberty "Rallye" - 5MT AWD, LSD - *written off 25/8/06 in towing accident.
1996 Liberty Wagon - SkiFX AWD 5MT D/R, Lifted.. Outback Sway Bar, 1.59:1 Low Gearing see thread: 1.59:1 in EJ Box Page
Sold at 385,000kms in July 2011.
2007 Liberty BP Wagon, 2.5i automatic

1995 Liberty "Rallye" - 5MT AWD, LSD - *written off 25/8/06 in towing accident.
1996 Liberty Wagon - SkiFX AWD 5MT D/R, Lifted.. Outback Sway Bar, 1.59:1 Low Gearing see thread: 1.59:1 in EJ Box Page
Sold at 385,000kms in July 2011.
2007 Liberty BP Wagon, 2.5i automatic
