i'm getting a tapping noise when i reverse my Focus, which is now gradually getting louder, it also seems to 'slip' out of gear occasionaly. i'm thinking that maybe one of the teeth on the reverse cog has sheared off. does anybody know if i can just replace the cog, or will i need to change the whole gearbox?

 

a gearbox specsalist would be able to just change the reverse idler and syncro but some place wont touch internal problems on a gearbox

 

A gearbox place can do just a repair on the defective bit or a whole recon just discuss, but remember that a repair only warrants JUST the repair NOT the hole box.
How many miles ?
tabetha

 

about 57,000 miles, not too bad for a '99 but little problems starting to pop up more often now.

cheers

 

Sounds like its stripped a few teeth off the reverse gear to me if its making a noise like that.

Probably be worthwhile having the whole thing reconditioned/changed sods law you'll have reverse gear done and then one of the forward gears will go