Calimer Stage 3 - Is this normal?

[ammoman]

I just finished installing a brand new Calimer Stage 3 with MGW shifter and Vengeance Stage 2 clutch. In neutral with the clutch out, it makes a strange noise while idling. Is that normal?

Half way through the video I put in the clutch and you can hear it go away. Then when I set it back out, the noise comes back.

I know the stage 3 gears are louder when driving, but I wasn’t expecting this much noise in neutral.

Sponsored

 

[NGOT8R]

Is that a normal sound or is something wrong? How do The shifts feel and what does it sound like under normal throttle?

 

[ammoman]

Is that a normal sound or is something wromg? How do The shifts feel and what does it sound like under normal throttle?

I've never driven a Stage 3 before, so I don't know if it's normal. I took it out for a short test drive today, keeping it under 3.5k RPM as instructed. The shifts feel fine, although they are stiffer compared to my stock MT82. But I'm assuming that is because it is a brand new transmission and new MGW shifter.

While driving I can definitely hear some gear whine, but I was expecting that due to the new gearset. I wasn't expecting such a strange sound in neutral at idle. I think it is even louder outside the car.

 

[NGOT8R]

I've never driven a Stage 3 before, so I don't know if it's normal. I took it out for a short test drive today, keeping it under 3.5k RPM as instructed. The shifts feel fine, although they are stiffer compared to my stock MT82. But I'm assuming that is because it is a brand new transmission and new MGW shifter.

While driving I can definitely hear some gear whine, but I was expecting that due to the new gearset. I wasn't expecting such a strange sound in neutral at idle. I think it is even louder outside the car.

Does the noise go away when you depress the clutch at idle?

 

[ammoman]

Does the noise go away when you depress the clutch at idle?

Yes. If you listen in the video, half way through it you hear the noise go away. That is when I put the clutch in.

 

[NGOT8R]

Yes. If you listen in the video, half way through it you hear the noise go away. That is when I put the clutch in.

I know you previously mentioned that you installed a new TOB and bench bled it. I’m no expert, but I was told many years ago that a tranny that makes noise like that at idle and then goes away when the clutch is depressed, was a sign of a bad TOB.

I recommend sending the video to Calimer and asking him to evaluate it and see whether he thinks it’s the TOB or something else.

 

[ammoman]

Yep, I installed a brand new Ford TOB (per Calimer's recommendation) and bench bled it with Pentosin Dot 4 LV brake fluid.

I sent the video to Calimer earlier today, but hadn't heard back from them yet, so I thought I would check here to see if anyone else had experienced it with their Stage 3.

 

[NGOT8R]

Yep, I installed a brand new Ford TOB (per Calimer's recommendation) and bench bled it with Pentosin Dot 4 LV brake fluid.

I sent the video to Calimer earlier today, but hadn't heard back from them yet, so I thought I would check here to see if anyone else had experienced it with their Stage 3.

Alejandro Flores (tuner at Lund Racing) has a 2019 GT with a Stage 3 Calimer. Here’s a video he posted documenting the different sounds his made. Maybe try reaching out to him for more insight.

 

[ammoman]

I did some "YouTube" research, and it sounds like it might be the input shaft bearing. This bad input shaft bearing video is exactly what it sounds like:



Whereas this bad TOB doesn't behave the same:



I still haven't heard back from Calimer yet, but I'm really hoping I don't have to remove the transmission and try to send it back to them...

 

[NGOT8R]

I wouldn’t be surprised about that. Here is what my input shaft bearing looked like at 6400 miles. It’s also why I decided to add an external fluid pump to provide better lubrication in that area.

 

[ammoman]

I wouldn’t be surprised about that. Here is what my input shaft bearing looked like at 6400 miles. It’s also why I decided to add an external fluid pump to provide better lubrication in that area.

That's crazy after just 6k miles! I'm assuming there is a thread somewhere showing how you added that pump? Was your bearing making noise before you discovered that? Or did you do it preventively?

I wouldn't expect my input shaft bearing to have any issues since it is a brand new Stage 3 build from Calimer with 0 miles on it.

 

[NGOT8R]

Man, I sure hope it’s not the input shaft bearing. If it is, then the whole tranny will,need to be taken apart to gain access to it. The FSM says not to remove the input shaft unless it was necessary. Having said that, with Calimer’s stage 3 builds, they’re supposed to have an upgraded 26 spline input shaft right? I’d ask them if they replaced the bearing when they upgraded the shaft.

 

[ammoman]

Having said that, with Calimer’s stage 3 builds, they’re supposed to have an upgraded 26 spline input shaft right? I’d ask them if they replaced the bearing when they upgraded the shaft.

Correct, 26 spline. I will send them a follow up email now.

 

[NGOT8R]

That's crazy after just 6k miles! I'm assuming there is a thread somewhere showing how you added that pump? Was your bearing making noise before you discovered that? Or did you do it preventively?

I wouldn't expect my input shaft bearing to have any issues since it is a brand new Stage 3 build from Calimer with 0 miles on it.

If they changed the bearing you should have been good. Question is, did they change all three bearings in the cases?

My tranny wasn’t making noise, nor was I having a problem with it. I decided to rebuild it as a preventative measure during a clutch swap to make it stronger than factory and to handle drag strip use. I bought new bearings and had them cryogenically treated to make them stronger as well.

Here is the build thread on my MT82-D4. It shows mods to the casing and external fluid pump.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/mt82-d4-rebuild-thread.176240/

 

[ammoman]

Calimer got back to me and this is what they said:

"The sound you are referring to is definitely the stage 3 gear set not a bearing please take the time to drive the vehicle through the break in procedure and in sure you will find the transmission is fully operational."

They confirmed that they did replace the input shaft bearing and that the sound is normal.

I was expecting gear whine when in gear due to the gear set, but I wasn't expecting noise in neutral. Guess I'll drive it through the break in and see how it goes.

Sponsored