Taxvictim

Anyone else not dig the six-speed manual transmission? I have a 4th gen. I-30t with the five-speed VLSD and love it, but the "close ratio" aspect of the six-speed in my new Max is bugging me. When the light turns green, I have to shift twice before I get across the intersection.

Also, anyone else hate the way the engine takes so long to rev down after you take your foot off the accelerator?

Hate to rag on my new Nissan, but I'm seriously thinking about trying to trade it back in for something different.

I tried to install a short-throw shifter, but it wouldn't fit the piece under the hood. (Separate thread about that.)

Glude

iTrader: (5)

Did u buy the right STS? There shouldnt be any reason for it not fitting, you have to work it a bit to get it on. I like the gearing of my 6 speed, I guess if you were coming from something with longer gears it would feel a bit different.

Tek-Niq

iTrader: (3)

I kinda like how my car coast after you let the pedal go, what I can't stand is a car that does slow down like my mothers malibu lol...

I think all the maxes have a close ratio for first, I can't imagine it being longer, I spin all through first into second now with the ecu...

I have a 5sp auto though, maybe a 6sp can chime in..

3.5 Lover

I like my 6 speed. The only problem I see that they (Nissan) should have thought through is that the RPM's are too high in top gear. It really wastes too much fuel with the RPM's up a significant amount higher than a 5 speed automatic transmission registers at the same speed.

kamski

iTrader: (9)

I wish that around 120kph my car did 1200rpm instead of 3000.

My dads Boneville does that and its silent while mine has the engine screaming.

Thanks,

Kam

daves04smoke

Yea, the ratios between the gears are pretty short, how about between 2nd and 3rd....most of the time it feels like I never changed gears....thought it was just me...

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

Start in second gear, it's pretty easy to do.

Get a lightweight flywheel and that issue will be solved for the most part.

Ther should be some good deals on the GTO.


Make your own. You only need a drill bit, 8x1.25 tap and a 25-30mm M8x1.25 bolt.

Majestic303

I like my 6speed and pretty happy with it with two exceptions, the 'notchy' feel when shifting (but hoping changing out to MT90 will imrove that) and just as a few others mentioned, I'm not too fond of the high rpm's in top gear.

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

There are dozens of A33B drivers that would gladly trade transmissions with you guys.

Your 4.133 vs. their 3.812 final drive.

logik05se

i drove a 6 speed max for the first time the other day and i deffinatly was not impressed, shifter felt rubbery and it was also very notchy switching gears...and tek stock 5 speed autos that i drive at my dealership spin from a dead stop into second all day long while mine with mods doesnt.

but my mid-hi rpm range is def more powerfull.

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

I ahve to dissagree with you entirely on calling them 'rubbery', because they're anything but. You don't have 'rubbery' and 'notchy' at the same time.

Most of the notchyness can be fixed with Redline MT90.

kamski

iTrader: (9)

Have you ever worked on a 6sp tranny? Would it be hard to install a shorter 6th gear in there for lower highway rpms at cruise?

Thanks,

Kam

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

I can take them apart pretty quickly now, ive done a few of my own.

The Maxima already gets the tallest 6th gear for that transmission (0.630). A shorter gear would be the opposite of what you want. The only option you have is to get a 3.812 final drive (which is the tallest made for that transmission, found in the A33B Maxima). I have used both in my car and there only appears to be a 150rpm difference in 6th gear @ 60mph (100km/h) (2000rpm vs. 2150ish).

06MaximaSE

Before my 5AT '06 Maxima I had a 5M '04 Altima SE. I went w/ the auto max b/c of the 5 speed Altima. The Altima shifter was sloppy and unpredictable. Miss-shifts were common in WOT "mode". It became even worse w/ the addition of a short shifter adapter. For that reason I decided the Maxima was going to be an auto. I like my choice. The Maxima auto is a nice and quick shifting tranny as auto trannys go

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

The short shifter I made for myself has only made shifting better for me.

The 5spd auto is a good choice though. I have even considered giving that a try if I come across one (and the matching TCM) for a good price.

macming

Do you have a detailed how-to on that subject?? I am sort of interested in having a short throw, but I don't want to spend $150US for it.

I hate the notchyness of the transmission as well, and I'm going to put the AMSOIL in this weekend. Hopefully that fixes it.

Thanks,

Ming

SR20DEN

iTrader: (7)

I don't really do "How-to's". But there is information reguarding all of my projects plastered all over maxima.org.

Making the short shifter is very easy and can be done for <$10, assuming you already have a power drill.

DeusExMaxima

iTrader: (1)

I LOOOOOOOOVE my 6 speed. I love the way it shifts. Its not rubbery, but teh notchiness is appealing because its a more sure shift. Try driving a Ferrari or other exotic. Talk about notchy . There is a reason for it, surer shifts. As far as teh close ratio complaints . Im baffled. Close ratio trannys are performance-oriented. Changing the final drive will resolve a lot of the problems. With my added power, I wouldnt mind droppnig down a few numbers for my final drive.

logik05se

yea rubbery wasnt exactly the word i was looking for but notchy definatly...and i dont know if the one i drove needed a clutch adjustment (it had 6 miles on it so i doubt it) but i really didnt like the clutch to much either.

macming

Would you describe that clutch as stiff or soft?

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Whoever is close to DC and wants my A33B 6 speed for your A34, we can deal.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Just as another comment, a good way to make the 6 speed tighter and more crisp is to replace the shifter bushings with some stiffer polyurethane ones.

Link to my thread on that (as well as some thoughts on my STS):

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=455387

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

I think the 32 lb flywheel has something to do with that. Its not necessarily a bad thing because it makes it easier to keep rpms up and thus allows smoother transition between gears or better street "driveability" as some people call it. Some people like it and some people don't, but as already posted, you have the option of finding a lighter flywheel.

04BlackMaxx

You arent the only one, in Motortrend or C&D (dont recall which one) they compared our car to an A4 and in closing also mentioned to get the 5sp auto because the manual yields no benifit other then the fun of shifting.

RHMax

Except for domestic cars with 6MT, all others I've driven seem to have short ratio regardless of engine size.

UK-nissan

Subscribe...

NismoMax80

iTrader: (6)

so ?

UK-nissan

Its to make it easier to find the thread again as search is not available to me.

Its common on a lot of forums, even when there is a search function.

Mike

SilverMax_04

Correct on all points I leave in your quote. I too like my 6-speed and agree with others that the notchiness is not a real problem and increases shifting accuracy. Change the original trannie fluid before 30 K miles for better shifting. (Amsoil or Redline are the best fluids.)

When I test drove the 04s back in May of 03, I did not notice that much difference in engine RPM between the manual and the 5-speed auto trannie at highway speeds. The auto may have a slightly lower RPM at 60 MPH, but there is not very much difference.

Others have pointed out that a close-ratio manual trannie is meant for obtaining optimum performance on winding roads and tracks. By shifting one gear (up or down), a driver can keep the VQ's RPMs closer to the engine's miximum performance RPM range. But for cruising the interstates the 6th-gear's relatively high engine RPMs suck. Turning 3 K RPM at 82 MPH is a gas eater. Nissan needs to recognize that few of us actually want to use the close-ratio for racing, and want better mileage on the highway. They need to give us a higher (taller) top ratio for better highway mileage.

Correction on Post #13: 100 kph is closer to 62.5 MPH than to 60 MPH.

NismoMax80

iTrader: (6)

I know, I do it myself, but why is it necessary to post about it???

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Checked with Glude and the Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings for the 02-03 Max 6 speed can be used on the 04+ as well. I'll let him chime in with more info if he so pleases.

They are listed as the shifter bushing set here:

http://www.suspension.com/nissancars.htm

Also:

www.sportcompactonly.com - talk to Steve G (Y2KSESteve)

www.cattman.com - talk to Brian Catts (Cattman)

www.mattblehm.com - talk to Matt Blehm (Matt93SE), I know he has some of those sets in stock right now.