I don't know much about the older Maximas, but as most of you all know, the 6spd. shifter on the '02-'03's really suck. Now, it's been suggested that Redline tranny fluid will greatly improve upon the notchiness problem, but no one can say that it's a cure all. So, I wanted to ask you guys with the '00-'01's, are your 5spd shifters as notchy as ours? And have any of you guys installed an aftermarket short throw shifter like the ones from Stillen or B&M (B&M doesn't even list it on their website yet, but I've seen it elswhere)? I was really curious as to know how good these aftermarket shifters are because as much complaints as the '02-'03 shifters have been getting, somebody's bound to make one for us.

 

I've got a 2000 5spd with a B&M short shifter... Don't know about what kind of notchyness your talking about. I like the feel of the shifter clicking through the gates... it doesn't feel cheap or anything, its very easy to find the gears...

If the 2k2s+ are notchy I don't know if its the shifter itself or the mechanisms in the tranny..

One thing I will point out is that because you don't have the leverage anymore there "feels" like more resistance... Try grabbing your **** lower... errrm.. shifter I mean And thats how it will feel with the shorter stick!

Check out my homepage, there are a couple pics installed.

 

Cool. That's exactly the input I was hoping for. But there's one other thing that I wanted to know. How did your stock 5spd shifter feel before you swapped it for the B&M? I'm assuming that it wasn't too bad since you don't know what I'm talking about when I refer to the "notchiness" in the '02-'03's.

 

i have a 01 5spd, the stock shifter was notchy, so i changed it to a SMC STS, after a while the STS broke in, and now everything is smooth, the shifter pops into gear and feels 100% better, and the shorter throws are fun to play with.

 

I've never heard of a SMC STS. Where do you get it? I don't suppose they have one available for the '02-'03 yet, do they?

 

SMC went out of business, they were the same company of pacesetter... dunno if they make a STS for the 02+ yet

 

I'd be interested in a short throw shifter for my 03SE, as well. One thing I remember reading was that this wasn't easy to switch out because of the "ring" for the 6 speed.

Can anyone confirm?

 

UhHhHhHhHh.....2k2/2k3 or any 6 speed maxima for that matter uses a cable type operated shifter, no rod likages here. Like audi's n' other cars we would hafta modify an exisiting Cable actuated short shifter from a different vehicle to fit ours. As for the "ring" the reverse lockout mechanism can be removed. Which means you have no protection from slamming into Reverse, when you slam into 6th, not that your supposed to slam into 6th cuz, thats only necessary at about 150mph. otherwise you should be pretty careful with your gear selection. Im conisdering removing the ring to chop the shifter for a shorter throw.

 

I've wondered the same thing about adding a short throw. A friend of mine has a 500 hp ZR-1 with a stick that is identical to my 02. It has the ring and everything. I drove it once and it was not exactly a short throw, but it was much tighter than ours. Next time I see him I'll ask what he has. He's a car nut and even has his own hydraulic lift in the garage at his house. In other words, he might have something a little out of my price range.

 

Ummm.... I still don't know what you mean about notchy? tight shifts, very clicky shifts?? dunno... The short one is just more fun because for starters it feels sportier and secondly the gears feel more available and easier to get into because your controlling so much closer to the tracks... Not that they were hard to start with... Its one of those things that once you do, you'll never go back! But at first you don't know what your missing!

 

Phoenix, did you install the B&M yourself? Did you have to remove the Cat? I'm thinking about installing one, but only want to if I can do it myself. Thanks