I am a few weeks in to driving a stick on my 99 Maxima, and I have noticed that when driving hard, the shifts are quite hard to pull out and then in to the next gear. It takes a mild pull to get it out of 3rd for example, and then put in 4th it takes a pretty hard pull.

On my friends jetta, the shifter practically falls from one gear to the other once i clutch it. I have noticed that if i am in 'sunday driver' mode shifting at 2500rpms, the shifting action is smoother, and the shifter will fall in to the next gear fine. It is as if there is a lock on the shifter so you dont go in a wrong gear.

Is this normal in maximas? its bone stock.

 

I had my trans reconditioned last week.. he said I had a bad reverse gate - meant to stop you putting it in reverse by mistake - he said this will give the effect of hard shiftting like you mention.

 

Yeah its the same gate thats on the reverse, i can see how it can screw up and get involved with the other gears