Let's do a group deal on the new Cattman 6-speed short shifters! They retail for $160 and we'll sell them for $139, shipped within the US, $15 extra for Canada. [Just to be clear, this is the very nice design made by Watkins Manufacturing. They encourage us to private label them, so we'll call it a Cattman part.] I highly recommend installing this with the ES 6-speed bushing set, and you can buy both together, shipped, for $159.

Orders for the shortshifters can be called into 520.730.9309, 9-6 Pacific Time, M-F. Let's say the deal will end on June 10.

I recently installed this 2-piece shortshifter mechanism for the 02-05 Maxima 6-speed (also fits 02+ Altimas and Sentras with cable-link shifters) in my '02, and I've been VERY satisfied with the results, particularly when combined with the Energy Suspension shifter bushing set. I put it in myself, which suggests that most people could accomplish it.

The 2-piece Watkins design is superior to the 1-piece TWM design because the shift pattern stays centered rather than moving forward more than an inch. Obviously the shift throw is shortened, but it tightens everything up too, and its a lot less easy to mis-shift.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

What does this part look like? I couldn't find the part on your website. Thanks.

 

Hey Brian......you wouldnt be able to get me just the one piece that goes by the shift rod would you. I have the one that goes under the hood, I just need the other one. If I have to I will buy the whole thing and just sell the piece under the hood.
Thanks,
Sean

 

I was really dumb to install the two parts without taking pictures first, so I've contacted the manufacturer to see about getting a photo or two.

Although we're private labelling these, the source is not a secret. They're made by Watkins Mfg., and I think they're also known as the "Active Tuning" shifter and perhaps you've seen a picture of those.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I can sure find out if its available seperately. I guess you're trying to bring the shift pattern back towards you. I don't like it when its farther forward either, it seems to put my arm in an unnatural position.

BCC

 

Hey Brian, does the ES bushing set work on the 04 maximas? I havent seen it advertised yet so I wasnt sure. If so il be ordering me some goodies soon.

 

ES probably doesn't realize it, but there's no reason why they shouldn't, the mechanisms are the same. If you want to be the guinea pig and try it out, I will be happy to fully refund the cost of the bushings if they don't work.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

Sounds good. Is the install very hard? I havent read much about these bushings yet, if you have any links to some info about them it would help a lot. Thanks

 

If you could find out for me that would be great Brian. Just pm with a price if you can.
Thanks,
Sean

 

The bushings come with an instruction sheet, and there has been some discussion about installation in the long thread you'll find in the GD forum. [You'll also find a fair amount of input on what people like about them.] Its not too complicated and there's nothing requiring a press, c-clamp or cutting torch!

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

Just to chime in about the es bushings.....I have them on my 6 spd and I love them they are worth every single penny and I think no 6 spd should do without them. The install isnt really that bad either.
Sean

 

Brian,

Has there been any progress on getting pics? I am interested, but I just want to see what I am getting before I buy. Thanks

Edit.. I was able to find pics here.. http://www.activetuning.com/products...02STS2-ALSNMX/

 

I placed my order with Cattman today. Its too bad the shifter itself is not shortened. It is one thing I have always wanted to change on my max, but if the throws are shorter that will be quite an improvement over stock. The bushings will be going on too, so I'm looking forward to much better shifts.

 

You are going to love it believe me especially with the ES bushings. I just wish that I would have waited and got this one with the two piece instead of the one piece. Hey Brian, any word on wether you can get me just the one piece that goes by the shifter???
Thanks,
Sean

 

What exactly do the bushings do?

 

Hi Sean, glad I ran across your question again. Yes, we can sell the second piece that attaches to the shifter by itself. This will compliment the one-piece shifter designs by moving the shift pattern back to its original position (instead of being shifted forward).

Price is $85 for just the shifter piece. Its a special order part, but I can get it quickly.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

The bushings tighten up the shifter movement considerably. I think that in every case I've heard about, the stock bushings came out in pieces so they are obviously not up to the job - once they disintegrate, things get really sloppy. When I first heard about them falling apart I figured it was a case of "wild man shifting" but when my mechanic took mine out in fragments I knew there was a problem, because I don't shift that way.

These comments relate to the two large cable bushings, but there are also 4 small pairs that replace the stock mounting bushings at the 4 corners of the large nylon yoke that holds the shifter assembly. These have a more subtle effect, but do make a difference because they better stablize the entire apparatus and give it a much more solid feel.

I repeat that our short throw shifter kit and the ES shifter bushings each are great products, and both are necessary to achieve the same excellent result. If you're putting in one, you'd be making a big mistake not to do the other.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I called my order in. Can't wait to try it out.

 

Excellent. I will be getting in contact with you next week to get that ordered and as always thanks.

Sean

 

This won't cause the shifter to be out of center will it? I want to keep things the way it looks but hate the long throw of stock. Pics of the shifter position when in gears available?

thanks!

 

Henry if you search for the old thread on when the sts came out you will see pictures of the shifter positions. The major difference between the original and this one is the extra piece that centers your shifter back up.

Ill try to see if I can find those pics for you.

 

Cool, thanks. The last time I seen pics of a STS on a 6spder. The shifter was out of wack.

 

I received the STS kits on Saturday, so all the backorders are going out today via USPS priority mail and all should be received by Thursday/Friday. Thanks for the nice response, these are selling well.

Orders received from this point forward will be shipped within 24 hours.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

also interested in seeing pics...

 

I have search for the damn pics that shows the difference in shifter position and have had no luck. I have no clue what thread it was on but I will continue to search.

 

just ordered mine. thanks brian

 

i'll hopefully be putting my order in on Wednesday....I'm pretty much a 'level 1' mechanic with absolutely no experiance with this kind of stuff, so the instructions are fairly detailed, yes?? also, it seems that everyone comments on how stiff the ES bushings are, and that white lithium grease should always be applied. But where exactly do you apply the grease? thanks in advance!
i recently drove my stepmom's audi A4 1.8T and realized just how sloppy my shifter is! The shifter in the audi was SO precise, and i'm hoping that's how mine will be after installing this...

 

well i just installed mine and i think its the best mod i have done...WOW!!!

throws are so much shorter. shifting is as crisp as they can be with the transsmission linkage that nissan has.
the STS part took me about 10 minutes for both pieces.
the bushing were a pain in the @ss to do especially the ones under the plastic shift housing. its just hard to get in there.
the bushings on the ends were hard until i tried a C-clamp and it worked like a charm. just lined up the bushing and slowly twisted until it popped in.
my stock bushings were shot since it isnt a solid piece of rubber. i had rubber shavings around my shifter from were it had worn down.
the bushing took me about an hour

i recommend that everyone get one....well worth the money.

thanks again brian

 

I installed mine also. I have to say, the bushings were a pain. Once I got everything installed, I couldn't get into Reverse at all. I loosed up the two screws by the shifter and it helped a little, but it was still too hard to get in. I read on another post to try lithium grease, but I didn't feel like going out for it. Finally, I took out the ES bushing on the shifter and replaced it with the OEM bushing. Now I can get into reverse. I must have spent 2 hours just trying to work it out. Very frusterating.

I have to say that I didn't notice any difference with how the shifts felt with or without the ES bushing on the shifter. I did install the ES bushing under the hood and also under the white plastic piece under the shifter. It feels tight, the shifts are shorter, and overall, a very solid feel to it.

 

If you put the lithium grease grease the shift will be smooth and you will be able to get it into reverse.

 

where did you spray it?

 

i've seen this question asked SEVERAL times, but have never seen an answer...a pic would be nice too

 

I sprayed it all around the pivot ball at the bottom of the shifter, unscrewed the shifter cable beneath the console and spray the inside and outside of that bushing and also sprayed the inside and the outside of the bushing of the one under the hood. I had a loud creaking sound from the one under the hood until I sprayed it and damn did it make a difference, believe me. Basically any piece of the shifter and bushings that that rubs against something or moves I sprayed it.

 

Good to know, I've never been unable to get it into reverse, but its a little stubborn.

I attribute the issue to the fact that there should be three large shifter linkage bushings in the set, rather than two. They didn't make the one for the reverse linkage and I think its that difference that makes it tough.

BCC

 

I installed the STS on Monday and it feels much better than stock. One of my few real gripes with this car has been the rowboat like action when shifting. It just wasn't sporty. The STS is a huge improvement.

After I got it installed and move the shifter around, I thought "its not that short of a throw", but when you drive it it feels great. The shifts take more effort, but it is worth it now that I can shift without the front of the car dipping like crazy!

The ES bushing were quite the bear , and I ended up leaving them off. My stock bushings were fine, not falling apart yet. Other than messing around with the bushings, it would have taken about 30 minutes to install. Whoever ended up using the C-clamp, that is a good idea and I'll try that later.

Oh, I did take a few pictures of the parts before the install and after. I can post those when I get home for all of you that want to see pics.

The directions were good, except where it gave one set of directions for those with an 8mm nut on the shift cable to shifter connection and one set for those with a 9mm. Mine was 10mm .

The parts shipped out quick, it works great, and Cattman was great to deal with, so no regrets on this purchase.

 

I forgot, on the reverse issue I also am having more difficulty getting it into reverse. However, I think this is because I wiped off most of the grease that was in the spot where the lockout device hits the shifter base when I was trying to get the bushing on. I ended up with grease all on the back of my knuckles. Applying some in that spot should do the trick.

 

so i have a question: it seems like a lot of you aren't really going for the ES bushings and just leaving them off....does it still stiffen up the shifter without them? and do the throws feel more 'precise' and not so sloppy? that's my main gripe about our shifter...i could care less that the throws are long, i just hate how it feels so sloppy...

 

My oem bushings were torn and made like ****. I purchased the bushings after I got the sts and installed everything in about 30 - 45 minutes and really noticed the difference with the shifter being stiffer and more precise. I think that they are work the money and the time.

The lithium grease if a must though for anyone with the sts. Just shoot it on every part that moves and if will feel a lot smoother and like I said earlier that you will be able to get it into reverse a little easier.

 

well after a while of being tempted to spend my suspension money on an STS, i decided against it....i just bought my H-techs this morning and illuminas will be coming soon after....overall i'm OK with my decision, but the STS will definitely be the next thing i save up for...oh well...

 

i installed everything but the bushing under the hood and loved it. i put that bushing in yesterday and it is to stiff. you have to tug the **** to shift!! i used grease too. im going to remove that one tonight.