6th Dec 2021, 18:39
You put an $8 wheel bearing? Not only is it going to be some biodegradable, ultra cheap Chinese part, but this is also an important safety component; when that thing will seize after 3 months in the middle of the road, you may want to think again about buying "the cheapest". Basically without exception the cheapest parts are going to fail from 1 to 6 months depending on your luck. DO NOT put cheap suspension, steering or wheel bearing parts on your car, even if you are on a budget.
11th Dec 2021, 05:00
That $8 wheel bearing is Timken brand.
These are not bearing units, but tapered roller bearings. They are cheap because it's just bearings.
Don't let the price fool you. Timken brand will outlast the car twice over.
11th Dec 2021, 05:57
Hello, original poster here: in reply to your comment:
I imagine zippy city performance and the ability to highway commute without having to worry about downshifting was the design intent of this transmission and the numerically high final drive ratio in this car. I find it insulting, honestly, that auto manufacturers assume that the consumer who chooses the manual transmission (especially in a cheap car) is doing so not because he/she prefers a manual transmission and knows how to use it effectively, but for the lowest price possible, and with that assumption take the paternalistic approach to protect me from having to downshift on the highway to maintain speed up a hill. I ask, why offer me a manual transmission, an icon of autonomy, only to lock me into one gear for all of highway use? Especially in an economy car, mile per gallon efficiency is a top selling point, and I would gladly trade pulling power in 5th gear for more mpg. The 1st gen Chevy Cruze Eco was one of the few cars sold with an ultra tall overdrive gear, and even with the turbo motor, you did have to downshift into 5th to climb a hill. And people loved it anyway.
11th Dec 2021, 21:22
The gear ratios of more recent manual gearbox cars from around 2000 or slightly earlier, are pretty annoying. But I found out it was because of both emissions regulations and fuel economy testing regimes around the world. Even cars from countries that are predominantly manual like Italy or Germany, are the same. There's a noticeable gap in ratios between 2nd & 3rd gear. Makes it awkward downshifting from 3rd to 2nd in a bend or corner. I had that in a 2001 BMW hatchback, then found out a friend with an Alfa Romeo 156 had exactly the same experience. The gear ratios are designed to ace the emissions testing methods for CO-2 and maximise fuel economy based on the prevailing testing methods at the time. But it really affects how fluid the shifts are.
13th Jul 2022, 19:19
UPDATE:
7/13/2022 This 2005 Kia Rio Cinco has driven its last mile. At 270,883 miles, the transmission went on the highway. A differential rivet backed out punching a hole in the transmission housing, spilling its oil. It went another 7 miles hemorrhaging gear oil until I arrived at work. I couldn't have asked for a more reliable car. Even with a fatal blow, it got me safely to my destination. Thank you Kia.
5th Dec 2021, 03:24
Very nice detail in your reviews.
You mention the closely spaced ratios in the gearbox as being a boon to driveability at the lower speeds typically encountered around town, but wish for a taller gear than the current 5th at the higher speeds typically on the highway. Question: Do you think the engine is gutsy enough to pull the car at highway speed turning less than 3000 RPM without needing a downshift at the mere suggestion of a hill even in a lightly loaded vehicle? They may have "short" ratios that keep the engine buzzing at relatively high RPM for a reason ;)