I've just bought a 98 type R 2 door, V 3 Limited. It seems to 'crunch' sometimes when putting it into 5th gear, anybody have any ideas? I've checked oil level and it's okay. Is this normal for STI gearboxes?

 

Knackered 5th gear synchromesh mate, sometimes an oil change in the box 'helps', but doesn't cure. Unfortunately you'll very likely have to have the synchromesh replaced with a new one and that involves the box being removed and taken to bits, costly job I'm affraid.

 

welcome to the world of the money pit aka impreza typeR lol

 

how can i be sure it's the synchromesh. Is there a way of testing it? Would the crunching not be in it the whole time?

 

i got type r box 2nd hand last year,
im sorry i didnt rebuild it,
im not 100% with it now.
was told the diff is nearly nackerd in it but to me its just noisy.
and i dont like bits that mke weird noises.
go for a rebuild lad.