I noticed that my 05 rs is a little picky about first and third gear. I searched but all I came up with was threads about grinding. My tranny doesn't grind at all, it just feels like i have to move the shifter up twice to get it into gear. I have a kartboy shifter with front and rear bushings. I was just wondering if this in one of those Subaru things that i should get used to or if something is wrong. Again, the car shifts without any noise, the gears engage perfectly it just seems like there is two...notches... I guess... that first and third have to go thru to get into gear. It doesn't require much force, just the knowledge that the car isnt' in gear yet. Any insight would help, thanks.
Joe

 

I'm trying to imagine what you are describing when you put the gear shift into 1st and 3rd but I'm not sure if I'm understanding exactly what you are experiencing...

Are you saying that you can't move the shifter from neutral directly into those gears without hitting something twice that feels like normal engagement in the other gears? If so, do you remember if it acted this way before the kartboy shifter and bushings were installed?

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

I think you understand correctly. If I'm in neutral and I try to shift into 1st or 3rd it feels more or less like it's in gear, but it isn't, until I push it up a bit more. I can't remember if this happened before the kartboy install or not. I know this doesn't help much, but If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate some input. It may be more a mental thing, I guess.

 

I have the Kartboy short shifter and bushings but not the newer rear bushing. It's notchy but goes into each gear positively, with no extra effort or notch for all forward gears and reverse. If you haven't done so already, you might go back underneath and check the fasteners to make sure they are all secure. I was unable to get a torque wrench up in there to properly torque the bolt down but look at the torque specs in the service manual and guesstimated what it would take (and so far it works ). If any of the fasteners for the main bushings (the big round ones) or the rear have worked themselves loose, that free play could really play havoc with smooth shifting. Don't know what would happen if they were over-tightened but that can't be good either since the shifter might be binding.

Not sure what else to suggest other than replacing back the stock stuff just to see if it's still notchy when shifting. Keep us posted if you find the cause. No, it doesn't sound like you are imagining this at all.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

I'll check everything out. I didn't use a torque wrench either, so I don't know if I over/under tightened anything. It seems that 3rd gear is most noticable on downshifting. I'll pay close attention tonight and see if I notice anything. I probably wont be able to get under the car for a few days though.

 

this happens on my stock shift linkage too, but I drive an 04 so this problem is not new on the 05. After I had my clutch worked on I think they messed some stuff up with the bushings too, my shifter now is loose and grinds instead of the situation you described but it doesnt happen often and I notice it's because the clutch isnt pressed enough to change gears, one of those half-*** shifts

 

I think what you're feeling are the syncros. If you shift gentler/smoother/slower it will glide right in. If you jam it in or force it in, you will get a double notchy feel.

 

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