How are ya's. I was just wondering if someone could shed some light on some issues for me regarding my gearbox. I own a 98 AU XR6 manual that has just ticked over 70000 kms. About 3 weeks ago i noticed i could feel a lot of vibration coming through my gear stick. I hadnt thought much about it until i could feel a "knock" every so often while the car is not in gear. Also while in neutral the gearbox makes a rumbling noise. Could this be an input shaft bearing or low oil? Also where do i find my gearbox oil fill hole? Cheers

i believe the ford gurus call that rumbline noise "rollover" and call it normal. Dosen't help the fact that it sounds terrible.
Talk to your mechanic at next service and try and kick up as much fuss as possible. you might be able to convince them to do something about it.

I can answer about the fill holes, on the driver's side of the gearbox, you will see to plugs with allan key slots in them, ones is down the bottom, the other at the top. The top is for filling, the bottom is for draining.



Cheers

The annoying rumbling sound while in neutral could be the pilot bearing Which sits behind the clutch plate and flywheel - so that all has to come out too.
...... That was the case with me - the bearing cost about $5 but my whole box has to come out. I was charged $200 for the whole job - drive in drive out same day.

Try some new oil. If the box has had a hard life and the oil's filled with metal particles then that will cause a rumbling noise. I just did an oil change on a noisy manual box and it was whisper quiet after the oil change. The oil that came out was also silver instead of honey coloured.

Don't just top up, replace. Also, replace oil every 1000hrs. Your box has done bout 1100hrs @ 60km/h. I sell agricultural and industrial gearboxes at work (from 30Hp to 2200Hp) and believe me, you'd be amazed what kinda damage not changing the oil does to a gearbox.

So what fluid does it take?
And is it expensive?
Any Special methods, or just don't use the car for a while and change it?

Cheers for the help guys. Ill drain and replace the oil and see how that goes. If ive still got dramas ill take it to the experts and ask about the pilot bearing. Cheers Heaps