It is never pleasant to notice a sound on your vehicle that you don’t know where it comes from. You may be wondering what to do when you detect a reversing gear noise that remains on your Lexus RX? Any gearbox problem can be important, but before making sure, it is better to do a few inspections. Our team has made this article to support you eliminate it. First, we will see what the origins and the different gearbox noises can be on Lexus RX, and second, what are the solutions available to you.reverse-gear-noise-lexus-rx

Classical reverse Lexus RX noises and some tips to preserve your gearbox

Why does the reversing of my Lexus RX make a different noise from my other speeds?

De facto, adding all gears, bearings and pinions into a gearbox is a difficult task. The sound made by the reversing of your Lexus RX is logical. It can be explained in a fairly simple way. Indeed, the gears used for conventional speeds (1st to 5th or 6th) are so-called “helical” gears (oblique gears) . The use of such a pinion makes the noise caused by the gears less important than with spur gears used for the reverse gear.

Tips to limit wear on your clutch and gearbox

  • Don’t give a big boost:
    Indeed, if you kick the throttle hard when you are in reverse or when you put the vehicle in the revs, you risk to burn your clutch or gnawing at the gearbox pinions.

  • Never reverse while the vehicle is in motion or vice versa:
    Reversing the direction of operation of the gearbox during operation is a very bad practice. Indeed, the pressure you will apply on the gears will be monumental and you will generate a premature wear and tear of the gears. You can even destroy the gears of your gearbox at speed by doing so. It will therefore be completely usual if you find out a reverse noise on your Lexus RX if you shift gear under these conditions.

Several Lexus RX reversing noises and their origins

Finally in this section, we will move on to what you are probably most interested in this article, to find out about the source of reversing noise on Lexus RX. Here are the 3 typical sounds you may be victim of.

I hear a grinding noise when starting in reverse gear

If you notice a grinding noise when you start in reverse with your Lexus RX, it may be the engine mounts that are tired. Certainly, when the engine is in reverse gear, due to the pinions we saw above the vibrations generated by the gearbox are higher and it is therefore possible that due to their wear the silentblocks no longer absorb the engine vibrations well. In this situation, do not hesitate to check this content for more info about strut mount noises on Lexus RX.

An increased reverse knocking noise on Lexus RXX

If you are subject to a knocking noise when you are in reverse with your Lexus RX and this noise tends to build up as you gain speed. It is possible that you are experiencing a serious problem that needs to be fixed very fast before ruining your entire gearbox. Indeed, an intensifying rattling noise means that the gears are damaged. If they are, debris will spread to the rest of the box and damage other gears in short order. Take your vehicle to your repair shop quickly or check out this content page about gearbox noise on Lexus RX for more information.

I discover a noise when I go in reverse

Experiencing a noise when you shift into reverse is normal and related to the gears and sprockets used in the gearbox. If, on the other hand, you have the feeling that your Lexus RX reverse gear makes more noise than before, it is possible that filings have been created and are moving around in it. It is therefore time to empty the box.