I’ve been wondering about the MT82 transmission in Mustangs. Is it really as bad as people say? Let me give you a bit of background, I used to own an ‘06 GT with the 5-speed manual, and man, I loved that car. It was my pride and joy when I was younger, and the manual transmission made it even more fun to drive. Now, I’m thinking about getting back into the Mustang game, and I’ve been eyeing the 2017-2019 models. Naturally, I want another manual because nothing beats that feeling, but here’s the thing I’ve been reading a lot of mixed reviews online about the MT82 transmission, and honestly, it’s got me a little nervous.
Has anyone here had any firsthand experience with it? I’m curious to hear if it’s really as problematic as some say, or if it’s just a case of the internet amplifying the bad stories. What’s your take on it? Should I still go for it, or would I be better off playing it safe with an automatic this time around?
I end up getting locked out of 2nd gear at least once a week. After changing the transmission fluid, things improved, but it’s still an issue. Before the fluid change, it was happening almost every day.
My transmission ended up with a permanent 2nd gear lockout, it would grind and pop back into neutral every single time. Eventually, I had to pull it and send it to Calimer for a rebuild, and they ended up having to replace three gears. While I was at it, I installed an Exedy Mach 500 clutch and flywheel, and swapped in an MGW shifter. Now, it’s running like a dream. I just need to get through this 1,000-mile break-in period before I can really push it and see how it all performs.
I know exactly what you mean. It’s one thing to hear that a new clutch and flywheel might solve the issue, but it’s a big investment, and I’d want to be completely sure before spending that kind of money. It’s frustrating to think about dropping a grand only to find out it didn’t completely fix the problem. Sometimes, I just wish there was a more straightforward answer when it comes to these things.
I had all kinds of strange shifting problems that cleared up after I installed a Blowfish Racing shifter support bracket. The lockouts pretty much disappeared, and the random grinding during the 1-2 shift was gone too. The shifter feels way better now, though it’s probably still not as smooth as a Tremec. Unfortunately, I don’t think they make those new anymore, but you might be able to find some used ones out there.
When it came time to replace my clutch, I considered upgrading the clutch and flywheel too. Hope everything works out for you!
I’m having the same problem after upgrading my clutch. My clutch pedal feels “sticky,” like it doesn’t want to come back up, and then it’ll suddenly pop back into place.
Don’t remove the spring without replacing it. Without the spring, the clutch won’t fully disengage, which can cause the throw-out bearing to wear out quickly. I ended up replacing mine three times in just six months.
