Sirion gearbox

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Not sure if it's just that I'm cursed, but of the 3 Daihatsu's I've had the only problems have been gearbox related. On my Rally 2 I have to be a bit slow when changing gear or else it crunches a bit. It can also be a bit stubborn going into 1st and reverse. I've tried adjusting the - relatively new - clutch, but to no avail. Has anyone tried different oils to try and make it smoother?
Also, the brakes aren't exactly sharp! Didn't really notice it until I put new discs and pads on the Mira Classic, now they feel dead by comparison. Are there any better discs, or is it just better pads that I need? I believe Bob had some different pads, but hadn't put them in for his track day so I don't know if they improved things.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

The gearbox in my 70,000 mile

The gearbox in my 70,000 mile Sirion 1.0 is crunchy going into third. I do need to follow Bob's tip and put some fresh oil in. Reverse probably doesn't have any synchromesh as designed, so try selecting second gear before moving into reverse. That stops the gearbox internals and may help. I have a habit of selecting fifth before reverse picked up from driving Citroen BXs (and stolen from TVR owners) but the Daihatsu doesn't let you do that to prevent you selecting reverse by accident.

1998 Sirion+
1986 Citroen 2CV

Sirion Gear Changing

Weary,

In general it is acknowledged that Sirion gear changing is not a perfectly precise thing. You can't hurry it and the best technique is go at it easy and don't force it - work with the car. If you try and hurry the synchromesh it will resist. In addition the linkage is less than precise, which adds to the less than precise function. They are cheap cars.

My first gear is randomly difficult to select from neutral and is mildly irritating when first at the traffic lights - I for one don't hold the clutch down and leave it in gear for minutes at a time waiting for a green light, like most, but prefer to use neutral instead so I get caught. Reverse can also be randomly difficult.

This may explain why you may feel "cursed" by Daihatsu gear changing problems, when in fact you have a normal gearbox.

Regards