quote Originally posted by Carrolles: I always leave it in reverse. That's usually the lowest gear ratio which gives you the most holding force to prevent the car from rolling. I keep a small 2x4 block to chock the wheel on steep grades since my parking brake does not work yet.

Not aways true.... depend on trans. see my cave, gear ratio in axle & trans section. 4 Of 5 Fiero manual trans, 1st gear is lower than reverse. Example: Isuzu (4cyl) 1st = 3.73:1 reverse = 3.50:1

Keeping a block of wood etc is a good plan. Been then, done that.

quote Originally posted by blander66: Reverse is usually the best to leave the transmission in. In most manual transmissions reverse is a straight cut gear and 1st is heretical cut. So if you leave the car in 1st gear, the force of holding your car has a component transferred into the bearings. This will squeeze the oil film on that bearing. When you go to drive again you will have metal on metal contact until that bearing gets splashed lubed again.

Gear cut... Depend on trans. not all are straight cut for reverse.
Bearing... Bearing carry enough oil to lube when starting off. And need more that one bearing in trans... Some bearing are using in both directions...

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

quote Originally posted by 1fatcat: I'm sorry, but I have to question this. EVERY manual transmission vehicle I've ever driven (and it's been quite a few) the reverse gear is ALWAYS lower ratio than first gear. I don't know of ANY vehicle that can achieve a higher mph in reverse than it can in first. Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that the specs you're refering to are accurate?

Obviously you haven't driven a non-V6 4-speed Fiero!

[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 07-19-2011).]

I didn't mean to start WWIII

quote Originally posted by 1fatcat: I'm sorry, but I have to question this. EVERY manual transmission vehicle I've ever driven (and it's been quite a few) the reverse gear is ALWAYS lower ratio than first gear. I don't know of ANY vehicle that can achieve a higher mph in reverse than it can in first. Are you ABSOLUTELY sure that the specs you're refering to are accurate?

How do you determine this? Run it to redline in reverse?

quote Originally posted by theogre: Gear cut... Depend on trans. not all are straight cut for reverse. Bearing... Bearing carry enough oil to lube when starting off. And need more that one bearing in trans... Some bearing are using in both directions...

The problem is the thrust loads that can be created break thru the oil flim. I have seen this in testing that i do at work related to transmissions many times.
It is not as big of a deal with these smaller transmissions but still relevant. Now the transmissions that i design are larger than an entire fiero the little stuff like this is a lot bigger deal.