I installed my B&M shifter last night and I'm a bit disappointed. My biggest compliant is that it's pretty stiff to shift and quite notchy. My other gripe is that the shift pattern has been moved too far forward that my arm is at full extension when I'm trying to hit 3rd quickly. Hell, some of the time I can't even hit 3rd quickly because the shifter doesn't want to go into 3rd. I got this shifter because I thought it was supppose to be much better than the others out there. All I can see now is that I may be missing shifts at the track because I can't hit my gears with ease.

After reading all the reviews of the B&M shifter, I can't figure out why everyone says this thing is so easy to shift because this thing feels exactly like my old crap Pacesetter shifter set on the lower settings. The B&M feels more substainal, but it still "fights" to go into gear like the old Pacesetter.

Dave

 

You can't fight the basic principle of how to get a Maxima tranny to shift shorter. Despite anyone's design, you still have to move the lever of movement up to shorten the throw. That is gonna make the shifter notchy no matter what. If you haven't switched to synthetic tranny fluid, that will help. You think it's notchy now? Wait until November!

 

I hear ya, Jeff.

I guess I tricked myself into believing that somehow the B&M shifter with it's different design would be a much better shifter. With all the excellent reviews on the Org I figured my prayers had been answered. The B&M definately reduces the throw (I think it reduces too much throw) and the whole set up is nicely weighted and rock solid, but to me, it has NO benefit whatsoever. I can only imagine what this thing feels like in cold weather.

My gripes:

1) The shifter sits too low for a tall guy like myself. Even with my taller Momo **** in place, the shifter is too low.

2) The shift pattern is way too far forward. With the way I have to sit normally, my arm is at full lengths extension when hitting 3rd (ie not comfortable). Banging a 2-3 shift takes WAY too much concentration.

3) If you don't have a cat heatshield, the shifter will heatsoak and become notchy even though it sits a good 3" above the cat. The reason it becomes notchy is because the stainless steel of the lever and brass pivot point expand at different rates therefore the system gets tight and notchy. You can also hear and feel some "creekiness" as the unit heatsoaks (it is 95 degrees outside right now). It feels like crap through the shift **** (creeky).

4) Due to the shift pattern being moved very far forward and the tighness of the shift gates, I cannot bang the gears nearly has hard, fast, or "safely" as I could with my cut shifter. There's no way this thing would benefit me in terms of quick shifts.


After 4 hours of use, checking the my install, and shift **** experimentation, my B&M shifter has been removed and will be sent back to Summit Racing for a refund. I'm glad I used Summit because they'll take anything back. I reinstalled my cut stock shifter and I'm a much happier driver again.


Removal:
For those that ever want to uninstall this shifter, be prepared. That c-clip retaining ring around the shifter/shifter base (technically holds the lever in place) is an absolute pita remove. Have fun with that Also keep in mind that the chances of reusing that c-clip are minimal therefore if you want to sell the shifter you'll have to find a clip or the shifter is completely useless.


Dave

 

I think all the hype has been from those going from stock.

I actually now have a Stillen shifter (going from pacesetter). Although the shifter feels a lot more solid, the thing is still notchy and properly installed, the Pacesetter is not appreciably different. The main benefit that I love the Stillen for is that the shifter is stock height so: (1) there is no reaching too far forward and (2) for the throw it gives (pretty darn short), the effort is not too bad, albeit still noticeably more than stock.

 

Umm...my shift gates suck and I'm stock. I've never felt a good shifter in any stock Nissan. Well, the VE shifter gates are nice, but throws are sooo very long.

I'll never get a short shifter for my 97...if the gates suck now, they'll be hell when the pivot's changed.

BTW, is your stock shifter bent towards the driver? Mine is. I'm not sure if all Maximas are bent toward the driver.

Jae

 

I dunno I like my Pacesetter. Its definetely more notchy, even with Redline fluid, and the performance increase is minimal because I can't really shift faster. However i'm glad the long throws of the stock shifter are gone, so I don't feel like i'm rowing a boat anymore. I don't even remember what the stock shifter felt like, the pacesetter feels very natural to me now.

 

my clutch is so worn out it cant even handle power shifts on my stock shifter. i have to shift like a granny. it has about a second or 2 lag before it catches all the way.. in gonna install my pacesetter in about a week, its gonna bo no point casue i cant shift any faster but oh well. ive grinded 3rd a few times when driving lazy, the throw is soo far, and i sit far abck. hopefully this will get rod of those accidental gridings and let me drive lazy more comfortbly.

 

Before I installed my Pacesetter, I was cautioned that the pivot ball needs to be ground down a bit. Perhaps I ground it down a bit more than most people. But honestly, I find my shifts are crisp & quick. I use Red Line MTL (only because I had a dog of a time finding MT-90 and Winter was setting in quick at that time of the install).

My stature is a little shorter so fortunately, I don't have any problems reaching the shifter and hitting all the gears accurately.

 

Dave, are you gonna keep the B&M?

 

I cut my stock shifter, and got everything i was looking for

 

is there a final verdict on which STS is KING at the present time ? Im ready to try one out right now , and was going with the B&M STS. Now im hesitant ? What should I go with ?

The post about the row boat was great ! I have to get out of mine !

 

lol Maa'n i was about to buy a B&M off a group deal.. but now Im not so sure!! I think it just comes with personal expierence and what you are looking for from a short shifter right?

 

Nope, it's going back to Summit Racing tommorrow.

I reinstalled my 1.5" cut stock shifter with a billet ball shift **** and I'm happy again. The throws are two times as long as the B&M, but everything is far more accurate and there's no fighting with the shifter. It's perfectly smooth and the shift feel is just right.


Dave

 

me too, I might just cut my stock shifter instead...

 

never a problem with stillen. I tihnk theirs is angled back so the shifter position isn't forward like other shifters. Only downside is the price.

However, nothing's gonna help if your stock shifter can't hit 3rd through the mushy gates.

Jae

 

So B & M sux? bah I dunno whether to buy or not!

 

I have the ebay short shifter and I think I paid the least amout out of every one and i am the most happy, the only problem i had was i had to get my own bolt but other than that i love my shifter and i shifts just as smooth as the stock one.

 

i love my pacesettler sts its the best feels great!!!!! i think most peeps on the forum are way different then me casue i thought it was gonna be mad hard but feels great. from what i read from peeps on the org. some peeps are just . no one get on me casue of this i just saying my opinion. just like the sprint/agx ride some pees don't like it i love it but its just me.

thanx jeff

 

Just get a short shifter from an integra, throw in a few washers and get your own bolt/nut combo. That's cheaper than anything out there and it works, according to some members who have this setup.

Jae

 

I'll give you my opinion on why I don't like it since I've owned both the Pacesetter and the B&M.

1) The shifter is too stiff and doesn't feel like it wants to enter each gear smoothly. It goes into gear smoothly, but you have to pay attention when doing it.

2) The Pacesetter has vibration, especially in colder weather.

3) The Pacesetter and I'm assuming the B&M are very stiff in cold weather when the gear box is cold.

4) The shift pattern is moved way too far forward for tall guys to be comfortable. If you're a short guy with short arms, this setup might be comfortable. I, on the otherhand, like to be able to shift without my whole arm having to move and leaning forward in order to hit 3rd and 5th reliably. I'm a 1/4 mile racer and I NEED to have faith in my shifting to get good numbers. Having to concentrate on whether on not I can hit 3rd easily is NOT something I want to worry about when racing.


For guys that aren't racers, these shifters do what they're intended to do, make for shorter shifts. For the guys that say they're STS shifts just like stock, I find that nearly impossible to believe. The change in leverage will definately introduce resistance and notchiness to the shift. The STS is able to perform it's job, but not it did when stock or cut down 1"-1.5".


Dave

 

Im like 5"4... I live in houston.. And I want something short..

 

IMHO driving with a STS is really just a learned practice. If you really know your car you can rev match well enough to help on both upshifts and downshifts.

Vibration I find that the shifter (with no headshield) is way stiffer after long trips than in cold weather.

I find shifting with a STS is very consistant. When I'm autocrossing I never have any problems finding gears, and it's great to be able to get to the gear quickly so I can get my hand back on the wheel. Overall despite the extra resistance I think hard shifts are easier to find and engage.

I never though I'd buy a STS, but after having an ACT it was essential. Having short shifts was very necessary when the ACT grabbed so hard/quickly.
-hype

 

A little off topic, but I think I can back up the conclusion that Nissan didn't design the shifting gates (and everything else that goes along with the shifter) very well. I thought my 50% setting on my Pacesetter was conservative, and I was happy that it wasn't too stiff and I still got short throws w/o being TOO notchy (BTW, as the car is driven, or as temp increases, notchiness disappears).

BUT...a friend who owns a stock 2k Civic finally got his first mod: a short throw shifter. He asked me if I wanted to try it and I did. First thing I noticed was that the Civic clutch was light as hell. Very hard to adjust to after driving the only manual car I've had, the Maxima. Secondly, the shifts with the STS were EXTREMELY smooth and comfortably short! I remember trying his stock shifter a while back and it felt like a stock shifter on a Max. I really expected his STS to be similarly as notchy as mine but it wasn't. It was very light and easy to maneuver. I was very shocked but pleased at the same time because it was a joy driving with such a light shift feel.

Anyway, I don't think you could go wrong with B&M or Pacesetter...Pacesetter is for the value-oriented, B&M I guess is for those who have the luxury of spending double the money.

 

Dave, do you think you may be a little premature on the B&M? You didn't have it installed that long. Maybe after a little break in period the shifter may loosen up and not be so stiff. I don't have either shifter, but it doesn't sound like you gave the B&M much of a trial period.

 

I installed the B&M about a month ago. At first, I didn't like it because it was so different. However, after about a week of driving around town I began to enjoy it. I just drove my buddies stock 99 and realized what an improvement it made. I am 5'10" and it fits me perfect. We will never get away from the shi#@y shift pattern, but the STS and specifically the B&M, in my opinion, is the way to go. I also race every week and have found the throw from 2nd to 3rd (the key shift point while 1/4 mi racing)more precise than stock. In the end, it is simply your opinion and how you like to drive.

Also, Summit is the place to buy it, they're return policy and service is very good.

 

I had the Pacesetter STS prior to getting the B&M and I never felt the Pacesetter loosen up after a solid year of ownership therefore I new the B&M was going to be the same deal. I really don't see how anything can really "loosen up" with the shifter because the shifter is simply lever, an all metal shift cup, and two bushings located on each side of the rod arm. The only thing that could loosen up would be the tranny and that's not a good thing. Some guys like the ultra-short throws, but to me, I don't want to have to worry about hitting the gears or feel like I'm working against the gearbox to get the shifter into gear. The B&M shift pattern is about as short (~1.2") as the Pacesetters on the lowest setting which is something I didn't like with the Pacesetter. When I had the Pacesetter I had the shifter at 50% reduction most of the time which felt decently good, but you could "feel" the engine buzz thru the shifter which was annoying to me. I also don't like the fact all FWD Nissan STSs move the shift pattern up towards the dash. That makes for a long reach for us guys with 34" inseams. The thing that really turned me off to the B&M shifter was that is heat soaked horribly even though it sat 3" above the cat. When the shifter heatsoaked, shift feel got really tight (metal expanded) and the shifter got really creaky. I couldn't stand it. If you get a B&M shifter hopefully you still have the cat heat shield because you need it (mine was trashed).

I've grown to love my 1.5" cut stock shifter with a short alumninum ball. It feels nicely weighted and fairly substainial. The throws are slightly longer than I'd like (~3.2"), but I don't get the annoying shifter buzz and I can shift while resting my elbow on the armrest. The B&M is a quality shifter, but from my racing experience, I know that I can bang the gears quicker with the cut stock shifter and I don't have to think about it. It takes more of a throw, but I NEVER miss a gear because the shifter glides into each gear.

If you buy a B&M shifter, get it from Summit Racing. You'll pay a little more ($147 shipped), but you can return it within 90 days even if it's been installed. I was really impressed to see that they even refunded my shipping so I was only out $5 when I sent the shifter back. Saving $9 to go thru an Org group deal sounds pretty stupid to me seeing that you'll never be able to send it back if you don't like it.


Dave

 

Dave
Have you ever thought of moving the pivot ball on your stock shifter up a bit. I know someone has done this with a stock shifter but I forget who. I would like to cut my stock shifterdow and also move the pivot ball up maybe 1/4 " to reduce the throw.

 

Way OT, but I love the shifting feel on the Audi S4...dunno if that feel is transferred to other Audis or VWs or if I could get it on a Maxima.