Why are all T-5 trannys garbage?

[WICKED50LTR]

man im just venting a bit so deal with me. i went to see a car that was for sale locally last nite and man i just dont get it. why are all manual trans such a piece of junk. its either 2nd or 3rd gear grinding or not catching or reverse popping out. i dont get why these things are such a c*ock-knocker! were they just made crappy or the previous owners pounding the crap out of them? you cant trust a junk yard to get a replacement or going on ebay for a rebuild so ur left with buying new and ur talking 1300 without clutch, etc etc. i gotta admit anytime i go car shopping thats the 1st question out of my mouth is hows the trans!

 

[BK_CAULEY]

becasue baby jesus wants them to be.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

My experience with the T5 has been great.

I had a HCI Procharged 95GT with 35K on it that I had down the track about 45+ times and heavy abuse on the street with a stock T5 and Centerforce clutch. The key to it's survival, I never powershifted, and never never missed a gear.

I had a stock 92GT with 100K on it all original, and that T5 was great too.

My 91 notch's T5 is great too. I converted the car, so originally it was bad in 2nd and 4th gears, but that thing had 135K on it, and the donor car was involved in a big rear end collision. The driveshaft and rear end was ripped out from the body, so that might have had something to do with it. I had it rebuilt, and for two years and about 5-6K it's been great as well.

I wish my Cobra had a T5 because the two T45's in there gave me nothing but problems. At least the T5 comes off the bell housing in about 30 minutes or less. The T45, you gotta pull the transmission with the bell and I have L/T's so that sucks.

5.0 and Super Fords just beefed a T5 with HD gears and parts, the picture comparisons were outta this world. They said it's ready for 600+HP.

 

[bgjohnson]

Mine have all been great too, they are just rated at 300ft lbs of torque and that's what the 5.0 puts out stock.

It's kinda like Hyper pistons, if you treat them fairly they will hold for awhile. If you beat on it, ****'s gonna break.

 

[WICKED50LTR]

im not saying every t-5 ive had has crapped out. but i would say 4 or 5 stangs out of my 14 ive owned have had trans problems before i bought them. thats not a good ratio

 

[Turkey Sammich]

Build a better one.

 

[justagt]

no idea

My first fox had about 80,000 miles on it when I sold it and the tranny had no issues, no griding or anythiing.

My current fox has 90,000 on it and no issues, no grinding. I wouldn't say I abuse it, but I'm not exactly nice to it either.

 

[89lxsport50]

My 204K 89 T5 shifts much better than my 80K 02 3650.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

My 204K 89 T5 shifts much better than my 80K 02 3650.

Above statement are the cliffnotes to my long as statement way above.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Perfect excuse for a T56 swap.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

It's not that they're junk, they just have limits just like anything mechanical. In the Merkur world the T5 is where it's at (unless you're making crazy power). When you're talking about a 302 that's making 300lb/ft of torque, and you're bangin gears like John Force, you're eventually going to break something. Also if you don't know how to shift and you're missing gears, you're gonna break any transmission.

 

[25thmustang]

Powershifting mine for 6 years or so...

Only had one time 2nd gear gave me issues, had it freshened and its been 100% since then.

"knock on wood"

 

[Mustang5L5]

20 year old cars plus a transmission that had most likely been pushed hard....you can't really expect them all to shift like new.



I personally like the T-5. They are a joke to rebuild and parts are (relatively) cheap. There is decent aftermarket support and if driven well, then do hold up.

 

[GTOreturns]

If I ever buy a manual tranny fox a 6 speed is the first mod!!!

 

[ShortThrow50]

t5= turd 5

 

[FrankenStang]

Haha, mine lasted me 15 years. It literally fell apart. Put a new one in a couple years ago and expect to see it last another 15.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Not sure why all the griping about the T-5. It’s a great shifting transmission and is quite reliable when not abused. It’s funny, the ones I notice who are saying they’re junk are the same ones who’ve added 75-100hp to their combination and drive them like they stole them on a regular basis. My old WC T-5 lasted quite well the whole time I owned it.

 

[25thmustang]

Theres another way to drive it?

I do the two things T5s hate and usual cause them to blow up.

I powershift at 5500+ RPM.

I downshift at high RPM.

 

[RYC CUKR]

By the time I sold my 91 the T-5 had seen better days, mostly because of abuse on my part. It had the second gear grind and 3rd was getting to be tough.

I have taken it alot easier on the t-5 in my 88 and it shows. If you gave me the choice between the T-5 in my 88 and the 3650 in my Mach 1 I would take the t-5 everytime. A T-5 in good shape has got to be one of the smoothest shifting transmissions I have ever driven.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I have taken it alot easier on the t-5 in my 88 and it shows. If you gave me the choice between the T-5 in my 88 and the 3650 in my Mach 1 I would take the t-5 everytime. A T-5 in good shape has got to be one of the smoothest shifting transmissions I have ever driven.

I second that.

I'd choose a T-5 over my stronger T-3650 anyday