Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 13:11:20 -0700 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: 5th gear
Espen Bjelvin wrote: > > This is rediculous. > > Espen > > kent ough wrote: > > > Hello > > I was looking over some old postings on the saab network and one > > mentioned that it was bad to rest your hand on the gear selector while in > > 5th. I have never heard of such a thing and was wondring if anyone can > > provide an explanation or tell me this is rediculous. > > thanks > > Jeremy > > 85 900 16v T It is not ridiculous, it is absolutely true. Anytime you rest your hand on the gear shift (manual tranny only!) you are putting stress on the linkage which *may* be transmitting that to the bearings in the tranny. Unless you can be sure your hand pressure is completely neutral and not influencing the weight on the shifter, you are probably not helping the tranny out any. Furthermore, while your hand is resting on the shifter, you are causing any vibrations normally transmitted along the linkage to be absorbed by the rubber bushings in the linkage, which can lead to premature failure. Normally, these vibrations will run along the linkage and wiggle the shifter around a little - with your hand resting on it, these vibrations are trapped - and taken out on the linkage. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're looking at possibly preventing a $1500 rebuild! -Justin