A transmission is disclosed having an input shaft or member, an output shaft or member, a plurality of meshing gears, a plurality of synchronizers and a reverse idler gear assembly. The reverse idler gear assembly includes an idler gear member, a synchronizer member and a retainer member. The synchronizer member has a pair of tabs that engage grooves on an idler shaft and interface with a synchronizer spring to apply a force from the synchronizer member on the retainer member and create a braking friction to slow down the idler gear assembly and the input shaft prior to meshing with the gear of the output shaft.