Hard shifting A555

[anokabball24]

I'm having some issues with my tranny. It's an A555.

I can take off in 1st, upshift to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th clean and effortlessly. However, when I want to slow down and start downshifting it starts getting hard. 5th to 4th isn't so bad, but 4th to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd, 2nd to 1st are very very hard.

I'm going to check the fluid level, and replace with new 5w30. After that, what should I check? Shifter cables?

Maybe the synchros are shot? Could this be clutch/flywheel related?

Thanks!

[Polygon]

If your syncros were shot it would be grinding and it would not go into gear smoothly no mater if your were up shifting or down shifting. Does it do this regardless of speed?

I don't know about all the gears but you shouldn't be able to go from 2nd to first easily unless you're at lower speeds. around 20MPH or under.

[jory]

Try double clutching your downshifts.

[anokabball24]

Try double clutching your downshifts.

This won't solve the problem.

[butchsuppe]

Try adjusting the cables or could be the clutch going out. How many miles on it?

[Turbo_Rampage]

I'm pretty sure it's just because 1st gear is the biggest and the syncro has to work harder to slow the gear down to engage it when downshifting, which will give you that hard downshift... like said above, if it's grinding you got issues. The 1987-88 A555's have a brass syncro in 1st and 2nd gear and 89 they went to the new style 2 piece fibre syncro to help with this problem, but all of my transmissions are somewhat hard to downshift into 2nd at higher speeds and 1st gear i pretty much have to be stopped to engage it.

Hope this helps

[Vigo]

This won't solve the problem.

Actually, if it DOESNT then you have completely ------ synchros. Double clutching accurately would make even worn out synchros act like they were working.

Im mean yeh its not a 'fix' but its a diagnostic aid and maybe a way to get some more miles out of worn out parts. I always rev match downshifts on my trannies. My neon t350 has 265k, the minivan 523 has 215k, and the neon tranny just picked up ONE tough shift (1-2) after repeated WOT race shifting.