Question on the 5 speed tranny

I've been hearing that the 5 speed tranny in a WRX is pretty fragile. However all the posts I've read so far seem to elude to older 2003 or < 5 speed Subaru tranny's. So I am just curious if the 04-05 trannys are any different? Are they a little more well built? Is there a resource online that you can cross check part numbers for the gear box assembly or anything else that pertains to the drive train that is considered "weak" in a 5 speed?

The reason I ask is I've stumbled across a couple posts on other forums where the posters said that the 5 speed is actually quite strong over previous years.


Brian, maybe you could do a quick part number check to see if the numbers match from say 2001-2005?

Thanks

 

That's what all the armchair engineers like to say. I'd take anything you read online with a HUGE grain of salt, or maybe more like a block of it.

I know certain OEM clutch parts were altered from 2002 and onward, sometimes even within a model year (as evidenced by new part numbers). Not sure on the gearbox itself, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of minor changes but if there was something major it would be very common knowledge by now.

 

Grears 1-3 have been widened to RA width on the 03+ trannies on the WRX, Baja, and Forester turbo.

The gearing makes it seem fragile because there's a lot more force being put on the gears when you have a LARGE speed difference in each gear. Example, like 1st to 2nd gear on the USDM WRX. The RPM difference is LARGE and so when you let go of the clutch, there's a lot more force be put on 2nd gear.

BUT REALLY, all you hear about is the trannies breaking here in the US. All the trannies that seem to break are the regular WRX. What kind of driving do you see over here in the US? Stop light acceleration contests, drag strip...... very few track racers.

NOW look at all those who road race, and autocross. No tranny really break there. It's really the type of driving. The STi trannies are holding well, but that's because they have different gearing and so forth. Smaller ratio also means smaller diameter gear, which is stronger.

But really, it's the type of driving you do.

 

woot woot i knew about those info!...luckly i was reading up on it.....should i let them other 2 guys know?

 

RS tranny> WRX tranny

 

erik's old wrx tranny ('04) went out on him around 40k miles? correct me if i am wrong erik

 

are you kidding me, that was the cause?

 

My 02 was having issues with the syncros at about 45k miles. I could have left it alone and been ok, but I wanted it fixed. It was high speeds in 3rd shifting to 4th at about 65-70 mph.