Shifting questions

2plaz · 01-30-2010, 08:13 PM

ive done some reading into the issue and found many cases where people ended up having upgrade their motor mounts; shifting issues caused by motor/tranny movement. ever since i had my car tuned ive notice a little bit of difficulty in shifting. its not grinding or making any noise but it just seems like its harder to get into gear, like it doesnt want to go in. has anyone here had a similar experience that was fixed with upgraded mounts?

DenverEvo@sc-power · 01-30-2010, 08:24 PM

Just from what you are saying.....seems like it might be something with your clutch or clutch line. When is the last time you have had your fluids changed?

2plaz · 01-30-2010, 08:26 PM

tranny fluid was just replaced last month. think i need a steel braided clutch line?

DenverEvo@sc-power · 01-30-2010, 08:35 PM

SS clutch lines can definitely help. Motor mounts can help with the shifting, along with an engine dampner.......but if it doesn't want to go into gear, that sounds a bit worse.

2plaz · 01-30-2010, 08:46 PM

it goes into gear but the shifting is just notchy sometimes. i havent tried to replicate the driving conditions to pin point the possible cause but it started happening as soon as i had it tuned. the same thing happene to a friend and was first thing he asked me about after i got it tuned and recomended that i look into some mounts. engine damper sounds like a good idea too and maybe the shift knob will help.
what exactly will the clutch line do for me?

**Biggie** · 01-30-2010, 08:52 PM

Have you upgraded your shifter bushings? If you have its a good idea to lubricate them periodically. I've even pulled the console and lubed the shifter itself.

*Golden* · 01-31-2010, 12:08 AM

If the shifting is due to engine movement, then it's easy to verify.

Shift under heavy acceleration. The motor is twisting and messing with your shifter linkages.

Then shift while just cruising with very little load. If it shifts ok while cruising, then its the motor mounts.

2plaz · 01-31-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golden

If the shifting is due to engine movement, then it's easy to verify.

Shift under heavy acceleration. The motor is twisting and messing with your shifter linkages.

Then shift while just cruising with very little load. If it shifts ok while cruising, then its the motor mounts.

guess ill be getting some motor mounts! thanks Golden

**churbo** · 01-31-2010, 05:25 PM

Get an upgraded clutch line. A shift knob does help. Maybe bring it by sometime and let me drive it....I can help you pin point the problem

**Biggie** · 01-31-2010, 05:46 PM

you can take the restrictor out of the slave cylinder when you change the clutchline.

**cmattb25** · 01-31-2010, 06:15 PM

I have a shep tranny and motor mounts, clutch line and shifter bushings and have the exact problem golden is talking about. It's only second gear and only under heavy acceleration. I think I might try biggie's method of lubricating the bushings. I have never had a synchro go out and hope that's not the problem. Seems more like lock out for some reason.

ticketmaster · 01-31-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmattb25

I have a shep tranny and motor mounts, clutch line and shifter bushings and have the exact problem golden is talking about. It's only second gear and only under heavy acceleration. I think I might try biggie's method of lubricating the bushings. I have never had a synchro go out and hope that's not the problem. Seems more like lock out for some reason.

Exactly which clutch are you using?

**cmattb25** · 01-31-2010, 07:33 PM

I have the Exedy stage 2 and Fidanza flywheel. Probably would have been helpful for the comparison.

2plaz · 02-01-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmattb25

I have a shep tranny and motor mounts, clutch line and shifter bushings and have the exact problem golden is talking about. It's only second gear and only under heavy acceleration. I think I might try biggie's method of lubricating the bushings. I have never had a synchro go out and hope that's not the problem. Seems more like lock out for some reason.

exact same thing with mine, 2nd gear only.
thanks everyone for all the great info! i cant wait for a warm day to work on the car

UPDATE:
so ive made up a list of things im going to buy help with my suspected "lock out"
shifter base bushings & under-hood stiff bushings
ss clutch line
motor mounts (soooo $$$, WTF!)
i think i might go with AMS for all of this stuff. i saw that AMS makes a "lower clutch line" so i might look into that.

i just ordered a perrin short shifter (on sale!) and still waiting on word for a shift knob.

also, Biggie, you said take out the restrictor when changing the clutch line. what will that do for me?

**churbo** · 02-02-2010, 11:10 PM

I'm trying to figure out how to explain it sitting here but basically when you dump the clutch with the restrictor pill in the clutch will still slip out because only a little fluid is able to get through because of the pill....with it out you can just dump that bitch and go without the slippage.

I'm sure someone can explain it more technical than I can haha

*Golden* · 02-03-2010, 12:36 AM

Analogy would be while you have your car jacked up, letting the jack down by cracking it open a little, or removing the restriction and opening it up a lot.

ticketmaster · 02-03-2010, 01:22 AM

Alot of people remove the pill and go with an SS line. I think you are def on the right track there. With the restrictor pill in it restrcicts the fluid in the line from moving back and forth as fast when the pedal is depressed and released. I honestly think the only reason the restrictor pill is there is to help the drivetrain survive through the warranty period by preventing the the clutch from engaging so quickly it "shock loads" the drivetrain.

As for the mounts you might want to start with just the front and see if it does the trick. From what I have read it makes the most difference in front to back engine rock. From my own experience having only the front mount is nice because you don't have the vibration and rattling that go with doing the other mounts as well. Furthermore the front mount is cheap and easy to replace. Doing the rear one is a biotch if your car is assembled. I had my rear done during the clutch install for this reason.

When I had the rear mount done vibration increased alot but on a positive note the bucking that my car did horribly when just crusing through a parking lot or in stop and go traffic in first gear is nearly gone.

2plaz · 02-09-2010, 06:43 AM

got my BLOX Racing 490LE Spherical Shift Knob in today and it has made my shifting so much smoother. shifter base bushing should be here any day now.

*Golden* · 02-09-2010, 01:30 PM

Do they make under hood bushings for your car?

I've been wanting to get them for my X, because my 3rd gear is odd. I used to be very notchy, but my short shifter fixed most of that. Now I've been having this issue where I try to put it in 3rd and it seems to run into the area between 1st and 3rd. It doesn't grind or anything, because it never makes it into gear. I really think its due to slop / movement in my shift line.

2plaz · 02-09-2010, 02:28 PM

im not sure. i ordered the base bushings from Buschur(cheapest price i could find and most reputable). from all my research into the issue i found that most people couldnt feel the difference with upgraded underhood bushings. im not sure how they might work out for the X though but it would deffinitely be worth looking into before buying them.

*Golden* · 02-09-2010, 02:35 PM

Ahh, I see. It's the other way around with the X. Our base shifter busings are hard and the cage around the shifter isn't going anywhere. Maybe in 5 years they will be different.

2plaz · 02-09-2010, 03:50 PM

ehh if its not one thing its another, just cant win

**churbo** · 02-09-2010, 04:09 PM

Bring that beast by....I want to see how it feels. I'll show you how to get her sideways

**Biggie** · 02-09-2010, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2plaz

im not sure. i ordered the base bushings from Buschur(cheapest price i could find and most reputable). from all my research into the issue i found that most people couldnt feel the difference with upgraded underhood bushings. im not sure how they might work out for the X though but it would deffinitely be worth looking into before buying them.

I think you'll find that you'll notice a much bigger improvement with the under hood bushings than the base bushings. With the stock rubber bushings, the assembly doesn't move much as it is. I did underhood bushings first and it was a night and day difference. Then I did the front roll stopper which improved it even more. The base bushings after all that wasn't much of a difference. They just kinda "polished" everything up. You may notice a difference since your doing base bushing first. Definitely get some underhood bushings though.

**churbo** · 02-09-2010, 08:43 PM

I think I need some of those too. Mine is a little notchy at times as well but I know the VIIIs are known for that. We didn't get the fancy cable.

2plaz · 02-11-2010, 06:17 AM

i installed my perrin ss and buschur shifter base bushings today! it feels amazing compared to stock! i think im going to order the underhood bushings as well

**churbo** · 02-11-2010, 06:07 PM

Sweet man. Can I play with your shifter sometime??

NO HOMO