5spd Owners- NEW MOD review
05-13-2005 | 04:01 PM
#1
5spd Owners- NEW MOD review
Alright so I've had this oportunity (again) to test out yet another new product for our Maximas. Its a shifter bushing that basically eliminates all the slop associated with our shifters. It bolts up under the vehicle and holds the whole shifter assembly to the body if the car. I do not have the pictures of my old bushing to compare but I will try to snap a few pics of it tomorrow at work.
Bushing is very eassy to install for people who have installed short throw shifters on their Maximas. Its simple, remove the one 14mm bolt and nut that holds the SUPPORT rod to the bushing- this support rod holds the whole shifter in place. And after that remove the 2 12mm bolts that hold the bushing to the bottom of the car's body. After you remove the old one you will notice how SOFT the orginal part is. The new POLYUTHERANE mount is way stiffer and almost impossible to press down on. The old part is very flimsy and this is why our shifters sometimes feel all rubbery.
After the install 1st thing I noticed is how direct the shifter feels, no more of this rubbery shifter action ! It felt very positive and I could actually feel each shiftfork inside the tranny switching from one gear to another. It gives you a very direct feel. Does not alter the throw of the shifter (I have a factory shifter, I don't like short throws) but it gives you the feel of a 350Z tranny when shifting gears.
The mod is very cheap, and very eassy to install. I will let the person who makes these speak up for himself as I belive hes ready to sell these to us. This shifter should work on 3rd gens, 4th gens, 5th gen- 5spd trannies only. It also looks like it will work on B13, B14 and B15-SR powered 5spd trannies too.
Here are 2 pictures I snapped with my old camera before I installed them. I will have pics of the old bushing up tomorrow.
Bushing is very eassy to install for people who have installed short throw shifters on their Maximas. Its simple, remove the one 14mm bolt and nut that holds the SUPPORT rod to the bushing- this support rod holds the whole shifter in place. And after that remove the 2 12mm bolts that hold the bushing to the bottom of the car's body. After you remove the old one you will notice how SOFT the orginal part is. The new POLYUTHERANE mount is way stiffer and almost impossible to press down on. The old part is very flimsy and this is why our shifters sometimes feel all rubbery.
After the install 1st thing I noticed is how direct the shifter feels, no more of this rubbery shifter action ! It felt very positive and I could actually feel each shiftfork inside the tranny switching from one gear to another. It gives you a very direct feel. Does not alter the throw of the shifter (I have a factory shifter, I don't like short throws) but it gives you the feel of a 350Z tranny when shifting gears.
The mod is very cheap, and very eassy to install. I will let the person who makes these speak up for himself as I belive hes ready to sell these to us. This shifter should work on 3rd gens, 4th gens, 5th gen- 5spd trannies only. It also looks like it will work on B13, B14 and B15-SR powered 5spd trannies too.
Here are 2 pictures I snapped with my old camera before I installed them. I will have pics of the old bushing up tomorrow.
05-13-2005 | 04:31 PM
#2
I for one am *very* excited about this. Always felt our shifter is a little sloppy, but I also am not a big fan of short throw shifters (not good for auto-x and rush hour traffic IMO)....
Just installed the ES front sway bar bushings today, so I'm certainly excitied about another cheap, easy, and effective mod
Nice job testing em out Mike, and tell the company that makes them to have an "introductory" sale on them!
Just installed the ES front sway bar bushings today, so I'm certainly excitied about another cheap, easy, and effective mod
Nice job testing em out Mike, and tell the company that makes them to have an "introductory" sale on them!
05-13-2005 | 11:47 PM
#10
This will not work for the 6spd Maximas, their shifters are completly different.
Bushing should work on the following cars -
89-01 Maxima 5spd
89-01 Nissan Altima/Stanza
91-01 Sentra 5spd
91-02 Infiniti G20
All these cars use the same shifter components and the bushing should be compatible with all of these cars. I need to find a picture of this shifter bushing installed on a car- as I had a picture of a Maxima with a OEM shifter bushing still installed.
I don't have a STS on my Maxima simply cause it makes shifting more dificult and when I had one I couldn't find 3rd gear when I needed it for quick highway passes. I'm using a Sparco shift **** which is pretty short and nicely weighted for really nice shifts. My shifter feels very direct like I said- compares to a feel of a Miata or 350Z shifter, just not in the throw of the shifter as mine is still a little longer than Miata or 350Z but it feels WAY better than the stock one. You guys will love this cheap and effective mod.
Bushing should work on the following cars -
89-01 Maxima 5spd
89-01 Nissan Altima/Stanza
91-01 Sentra 5spd
91-02 Infiniti G20
All these cars use the same shifter components and the bushing should be compatible with all of these cars. I need to find a picture of this shifter bushing installed on a car- as I had a picture of a Maxima with a OEM shifter bushing still installed.
I don't have a STS on my Maxima simply cause it makes shifting more dificult and when I had one I couldn't find 3rd gear when I needed it for quick highway passes. I'm using a Sparco shift **** which is pretty short and nicely weighted for really nice shifts. My shifter feels very direct like I said- compares to a feel of a Miata or 350Z shifter, just not in the throw of the shifter as mine is still a little longer than Miata or 350Z but it feels WAY better than the stock one. You guys will love this cheap and effective mod.
05-14-2005 | 12:41 PM
#17
Originally Posted by ChromeSE5
im excited too! i swear our shifter feels crappy to a lot of other shifters in other cars.
05-14-2005 | 03:25 PM
#19
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I have one of these on my car, and I love it! I was amazed at how much of a difference it made, considering how easy it is to replace. The shifter goes into each gear with a nice solid "thunk." No more trouble finding gears when shifting hard.
I'm using a Stillen short throw shifter, and even so my shifts are even smoother. Definitely recommend this mod, whether you have a short throw or stock shifter.
I'm using a Stillen short throw shifter, and even so my shifts are even smoother. Definitely recommend this mod, whether you have a short throw or stock shifter.
05-14-2005 | 03:51 PM
#20
the bushing was installed on my car during tehre testing phases.
i can also confirm the reviews that blackbird & stillenmax has made.
i am using a B&M short throw shifters. it also got rid off my problem getting into first after sitting at a light or after reversing out a of a parking spot. shift became very firm. Grade A rating on this part.
i can also confirm the reviews that blackbird & stillenmax has made.
i am using a B&M short throw shifters. it also got rid off my problem getting into first after sitting at a light or after reversing out a of a parking spot. shift became very firm. Grade A rating on this part.
05-14-2005 | 04:26 PM
#22
glad to see a good interest on these shifter bushings. Also glad to see that the people that have them like it 
polyurethane 5spd maxima shifter bushings are made by Top Element Tuning. Questions can be answered by PM or email to sales@tetuning.com
jdmmax was our first 4th gen prototype tester with b&m STS
larrio (me) was the first 5th gen prototype tester with stillen STS
blackbirdvq was the first 5th gen prototype tester with stock shifter
we have one 5th gen in miami testing it out on a pacesetter and one more 4th gen testing it out with stillen STS. So I believe that covers most if not all the stock & sts options available for the maxima.
we have just poured urethane into the new molds and will be releasing them for sale once we finish up the install instruction sheet and final pricing. It will be less than $50 shipped and will require your stock one back, no core charge but we do appreciate honesty
polyurethane 5spd maxima shifter bushings are made by Top Element Tuning. Questions can be answered by PM or email to sales@tetuning.com
jdmmax was our first 4th gen prototype tester with b&m STS
larrio (me) was the first 5th gen prototype tester with stillen STS
blackbirdvq was the first 5th gen prototype tester with stock shifter
we have one 5th gen in miami testing it out on a pacesetter and one more 4th gen testing it out with stillen STS. So I believe that covers most if not all the stock & sts options available for the maxima.
we have just poured urethane into the new molds and will be releasing them for sale once we finish up the install instruction sheet and final pricing. It will be less than $50 shipped and will require your stock one back, no core charge but we do appreciate honesty
05-14-2005 | 08:22 PM
#27
Good work Larrio and T ET. I'm going to be all over this one.
Out of curiosity, why do you need the stock bushing, mold casting?
Originally Posted by Larrio
...will require your stock one back, no core charge but we do appreciate honesty
05-15-2005 | 12:32 AM
#28
They basically fill in the old bracket that holds the bushing and sleeve with utherane. If they don't have cores for making new bushings then the price will most likely escalade up as they have to buy new ones from Nissan or junkyards to make these upgraded shifter bushings. I need to send out my old bushing back to them sometime this week. Larrio PM me the address where you want me to ship the bushing out to. I'm off on Monday so I can get this thing out to you guys FedEX that same day.
05-15-2005 | 02:42 PM
#33
calm down people, have a little patience for once....oh, I forgot the maxima.org motto is:
so when the "person who makes these" speaks up, I'm sure you'll get all the details 
Originally Posted by Maxima.org members
"Patience, What's That?" 
Originally Posted by Mike
The mod is very cheap, and very easy to install. I will let the person who makes these speak up for himself as I belive hes ready to sell these to us.
05-15-2005 | 05:53 PM
#34
Originally Posted by BlackBIRDVQ
They basically fill in the old bracket that holds the bushing and sleeve with utherane. If they don't have cores for making new bushings then the price will most likely escalade up as they have to buy new ones from Nissan or junkyards to make these upgraded shifter bushings. I need to send out my old bushing back to them sometime this week. Larrio PM me the address where you want me to ship the bushing out to. I'm off on Monday so I can get this thing out to you guys FedEX that same day.
ColdSHO: since the bushing is no longer "squishy" to absorb vibrations, it will not negate any vibrations you are now experiencing. Basically, just like upgraded motor mounts
sixxone: local org members can come pick it up
and for others that missed my post in page 1:
Originally Posted by Larrio
polyurethane 5spd maxima shifter bushings are made by Top Element Tuning. Questions can be answered by PM or email to sales@tetuning.com
we have just poured urethane into the new molds and will be releasing them for sale once we finish up the install instruction sheet and final pricing. It will be less than $50 shipped and will require your stock one back, no core charge but we do appreciate honesty
05-15-2005 | 07:21 PM
#35
i really like my stillen sts, it actually does make the throw a little shorter..it did take me a little to get used to from my stock one and i wouldn't go back, but anyways i deff wana hear more about this bushing mod
05-15-2005 | 11:51 PM
#37
You will need to remove the shield thats right above the cat in order to get at the bolts. With the stock cat in place it might be a little tricky to remove that shield. I have a Warpspeed test pipe and removing the shield took me few seconds to do. I failed to mention this as part of the install- I was assuming people knew that you need to remove that shield to install a STS, so removing the shield to do the bushing was omited in my 1st post.
05-16-2005 | 12:48 PM
#39
installation is quite easy if you've done a STS install before.
1. jack up car
2. 10mm heat shield bolts underneath cat (4)
3. 14mm bolts on cat (4) wd-40 recommended cause these bolts are known to snap off the cat
4. 10mm heat shield bolts on top of cat (5)
now you should be able to see the entire shifter assembly
There is a 14mm bolt going through the bushing holding it to the shifter rod and (2) 12mm bolts pointing straight down holding the bushing to the chassis
We are not taking orders until the molds are completed, taken out, and had proper time to cure. I will make a new thread then and the buyers can post their general reviews in this thread after testing it for 1-2 weeks.
1. jack up car
2. 10mm heat shield bolts underneath cat (4)
3. 14mm bolts on cat (4) wd-40 recommended cause these bolts are known to snap off the cat
4. 10mm heat shield bolts on top of cat (5)
now you should be able to see the entire shifter assembly
There is a 14mm bolt going through the bushing holding it to the shifter rod and (2) 12mm bolts pointing straight down holding the bushing to the chassis
We are not taking orders until the molds are completed, taken out, and had proper time to cure. I will make a new thread then and the buyers can post their general reviews in this thread after testing it for 1-2 weeks.
