Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > Ford Australia Vehicles > Small and Mid Sized Cars > Fiesta, Festiva and Ka

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-10-2020, 09:17 PM   #1
Diddi
Starter Motor
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 4
Default XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

Hi, recently purchased a 2008 WQ XR4 for my daughter as she wanted to learn to drive in a manual.

Joined this forum hoping to get some information on gearbox options. Gearbox jumps out of 2nd gear when decelerating and crunches when going into 3rd. Gearbox oil replaced with Penrite PRO GEAR 75W-90 Full Synthetic, which did improve the 3rd gear crunch somewhat.

The only alternative appears to be the MTX75 gearbox, but have not been able to find a kit to facilitate/enable the swap out, and it appears some of the frame has to be cut away to fit the MTX75, so I'm not sure how I'd go in regards to engineering certification.

It appears the only other options are a sequential IB5+ out of England, which would probably cost more than what I paid for the car, or have the current unit rebuilt.

Q1) Is there any other workable and stronger alternative to replace the IB5+?

Q2) Can the IB5+ gearbox be built stronger, and if so what are the parts I need and where can I purchase them from?

Q3) Apparently the diff is a weak point. Recommendations for a good quality replacement Limited Slip Diff which would improve handling?
I'm not sure if the information is correct, but I have been told some LSD's can turn a FWD vehicle into an under-steering pig.

Q4) Recommendations for someone who can rebuild the IB5+ stronger? I'm in Tamworth NSW and would be happy to drive as far as somewhere like Newcastle, or alternatively have the box removed and shipped to whoever does the rebuild best.

The XR4 is great little car and reminds me in many ways of my Mini Cooper S when I was a teenager. It would be great if I could sort it for her.
Diddi is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-10-2020, 09:27 AM   #2
russellw
Chairman & Administrator
Donating Member3
 
russellw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: 1975
Posts: 106,469
Community Builder: In recognition of those who have helped build the AFF community. - Issue reason: Raptor: For Continued, and prolonged service to the wider Ford Community 
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

The MTX75 does require quite substantial modifications to fit it into the Fiesta and I suspect you'd struggle to get compliance here.

The IB5 isn't a bad gearbox but it's designed for reasonably light duty work and is known for wearing out the synchros if subjected to punishment. Replacing those will probably fix both symptoms you have now and might be all that is required.

The B6 is a stronger unit as fitted to the later ST models and apparently is a reasonably simple swap but they might be hard to find here.

There are also kits with stronger internals (like the ERST ones) that include bigger bearings and better synchro rings but you'll probably need to source them out of the UK.

Unless you plan to race it, give the LSD a miss.
__________________

__________________________________________________

Observatio Facta Rotae


russellw is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-10-2020, 08:07 PM   #3
Luke Plaizier
Lukeyson
Donating Member1
 
Luke Plaizier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,586
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

The IB5+ weak point is the diff bearings - there's some kind of plastic component in the bearing that is known to fail. Replace that with metal and the IB5+ can handle much more power than the initial factory rating. But if you're opening it up for bearings, whipping in an LSD would seem like an easy add-on. The down side is the cost, as you'd likely need to get the LSD shipped from the UK. There are groups on Facebook you could venture in to ask - in Australia there's the XR4 Australia Owners and the XR4 Register. In the UK there's a few Mk6 groups and an ST150 group.

The IB6 6 speed from later fisters will have bell housing patterns for the Sigma engine though, so would be a good swap for a 1.6 Fister, but not the Mazda L series 2.0 engine, which is why the IB5+ is so unique.

For a gearbox rebuild, there's a place in Newcastle called 'Newcastle Gearbox and Diff' that could possible do the work you seek. I've had them rebuild the diff on my 2003 XR8 and was happy with their workmanship.

As for the MTX75, I'm part the way through that process, but as I'm more of a computer nerd the electronic stuff has more of an allure at the moment.
__________________
If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it.
Luke Plaizier is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-10-2020, 08:34 PM   #4
Luke Plaizier
Lukeyson
Donating Member1
 
Luke Plaizier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,586
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

I thought the IB5+ weak point was the diff bearings - there's some kind of plastic component in the bearing that is known to fail. Replace that with metal and the IB5+ can handle much more power than the initial factory rating apparently. But if you're opening it up for bearings, whipping in an LSD would seem like an easy add-on - albeit expensive, as you'd likely need to get the LSD shipped from the UK. There are groups on Facebook you could venture in to ask - in Australia there's the XR4 Australia Owners and the XR4 Register. In the UK there's a few Mk6 groups and an ST150 group.

The IB6 6 speed from later fisters will have the bell housing pattern for the Sigma engine though, so would be a good swap for a 1.6 Fister, but not the Mazda L series 2.0 engine, which is why the IB5+ is so unique.

For a gearbox rebuild, there's a place in Newcastle called 'Newcastle Gearbox and Diff' that could possibly do the work you seek. I've had them rebuild the diff on my 2003 XR8 and was happy with their workmanship.

As for the MTX75, I'm part the way through that process, but as I'm more of a computer nerd the electronic stuff has more of an allure at the moment. I'll get there eventually.


Lukeyson
__________________
If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it.
Luke Plaizier is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-10-2020, 08:35 PM   #5
Luke Plaizier
Lukeyson
Donating Member1
 
Luke Plaizier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maitland, NSW
Posts: 2,586
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

I'm copping a few duplicate posts lately, and not even clicking buttons twice. not sure what is going on.


Lukeyson
__________________
If the human brain was simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it.
Luke Plaizier is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 10-10-2020, 05:26 PM   #6
zabatron
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 338
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

I bought a WQ Fiesta XR4 brand new back in 2008.It had the 3rd gear crunch issue from new, most noticeable when shifting down to 3rd gear,and it jumped out of 2nd gear when decelerating a few times as well,also from new.Of course the Ford dealer's response was that it was normal, and "they all do it.
Anyway,these issues got a lot worse,along with the cold shift performance, at@30,000km,when an inspection of the gearbox oil found it to be black, smelly and very much burnt.I replaced the gearbox oil first with the genuine Ford gearbox fluid, then with the same Penrite Pro Gear 75w/90gear oil as recommended on the Penrite Website,but the above issues remained, and the cold shift performance was very ordinary with both of these oils.Note this was around 10 years ago,so both of these gearbox fluids may have been reformulated since then.and may work better today than they did 10 years ago.
But from my own personal experience the best gearbox fluid by far for the Getrag/Ford IB5+ gearbox used in the XR4 is Castrol Syntrans 75w/85 as it cured all the above issues in my XR4,and shifted perfecly both hot or cold until I sold the car at 90000km about 4 years ago.
If it was me,I would change the gearbox fluid before changing out gearboxes.

Last edited by zabatron; 10-10-2020 at 05:33 PM.
zabatron is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
This user likes this post:
Old 22-10-2020, 02:41 PM   #7
Tom2
Starter Motor
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3
Default Re: XR4 Gearbox IB5+ Issues

This sounds like the gearbox mount is gone. You can buy a new vibra tecnics mount which should sovle the problem. https://www.burtonpower.com/vibra-te...ibfor620m.html That's the link to the mount. you may as well replace the other 2 while your at it. Also incase you are unaware the easiest way to find parts for these cars is to search for Fiesta ST 150.
Tom2 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 07:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL