Does anyone have a write-up on how to install this? On a scale of 1-10, how hard is it(10 being most difficult)?
Where can I buy one?

 

i'd say its about a 6 or 7. it all depends on how hard it is to remove the bolts on the exhaust. also, the plastic ball on my pacesetter was way too big and I had to buy a dremel to sand it down . however, the shifting is really nice, and it doesnt feel like rowing through the gears anymore

 

Well, would it make it any easier for me if I have had the y and b replaced in the past 3 months? Thanks!

 

yes, because the bolts arent going to be rusted if they were removed for the exhaust installation. if you have good jackstands and a jack, this installation should be no problem for you. which STS are u thinking of getting?

 

I don't know which ones are out there. Since I can't search, I don't know?? Any suggestions?

 

theres pacesetter, which is like 60 bucks, you can get it from custommaxima and maybe southwestautoworks.com

theres also B&M, I don't know much about it, but its kind of new, and some people have had good feedback about it. try searching for "maxima shifter" on ebay, and see which ones you come up with.

theres also the $tillen, but thats like a lot more expensive

 

How long would the install take knowing that the bolts have been removed recently, and I do have a jack and jack stands? Also, my dad's tool set is very extensive. I could probably do anything on this entire site with his tools. The problem is, I am not very experienced with these types of things.

 

1. jack up car high enough to get fully under it
2. remove bolts holding ypipe to catalytic converter, let ypipe hang down.
3. remove heatshields around the cat
4. go inside the car and remove the trim around the shifter, the shift ****, and the shift boot
5. after that i kind of forget, but basically theres some bolts holding the shift assembly in, as well as a spring that makes your shifter return to the original position. just remove everything, and replace with the new shifter, its not very hard once you see what it looks like.

theres used to be a writeup on maximadriver.com, but that site is totally different now and doesn't seem to have the write ups. search on google or something.

 

Holy giant a$$-raping, Batman! The stillen shifter is 234.94 on their website! WTF. How do they get away with that crap?

 

i just picked up a B&M STS for $133 from ptuning.com using their 5% discount.

http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_p...0_136_full.jpg

 

Will the thread on the B&M shifter fit my AE shift ****? Also, what is the difference between the B&M and the PaceSetter?

 

from what i have read the B&M uses the stock tread patern. But i will find out for sure when i try and install it.

 

get b&m. end of story.

also, you dont have to unbolt the cat, at least i didnt.

 

How did you get to the bottom of the shifter, did you just take the exhaust of the hinges? Can you please explain.

 

There have got to be plenty of people with B&M shifters now...can someone say if the AE **** will fit and when the install is done if the shifter sits centered! I want to order one soon

 

I've had a pacesetter STS in box for a year now, I think I might install it this year

Anyone have any experience with the B&M and the pacesetter units?

 

My AE **** fits on the B&M just fine. Yes, the shifter does sit slightly more forward than stock. So far (only 2 days since intall), I do like it. It is a little bit more stiff than I was hoping for. I haven't had a problem with upshifts, but 3-2 and 5-2 downshifts are a little bit tough so far. This of course could be due to either less than perfect installation or just the fact that I haven't driven it much yet. Hopefully it will loosen up a bit or I'll get used to it. No regrets at all, though.

 

It took me about 1.5 to 2 hrs. by myself. I had anti-seize on my various exhaust bolts which made removing them really easy. If you're getting a Pacesetter STS, a Dremel tool is a must. I've had mine on for 1 month & love it.

Here's a good link: http://www.vbxmaxima.8m.com/shifter.html The instructions and pics are excellent!! Having good tranny fluid like Red Line/Amsoil will make the shifting much smoother too. IMHO, it's worth the investment.

 

I asked my dad if he had a dremel. He said that he has a tool that is just like a dremel, but not exactly the same. Would that work? What do you have to do with the dremel?

 

I just tried to order...it came up as a total of 149.10. How did you get it for 133?

 

If you're getting the B&M sts, you won't need the dremel to grind down the pivot ball. Pacesetter's pivot ball is a bit too big (who knows why?? ) The dremel with a grinding bit is used to shave down the ball so that it pivots freely in the holder thingie. I ground mine down a hemisphere at a time. Work from the "north pole" down to the equator; then "south pole" to equator if you can picture that. Test fit every now & then to make sure it's not shaved down too much. Although this sounds like a real pain, it only takes all of 5 min. tops to get a perfect fit. It's really no biggie.

 

How much more forward then stock does it sit? Got any pics? Also, the B&M isn't adjustable right...so does it sit any lower? Thanks

 

i dont know, might have been a sale or something cause i just checked it a i got the $149. I ordered it on Thursday and got lucky i guess.

 

Thanks a lot. That really helps! So, would you recommend the PaceSetter or the B&M?

 

Sorry, no pics. As far as how much farther forward it sits when comparing the shifter shaft in relationship to the plastic trim surrounding the shift boot-- When in 1-3-5 it sits about 1/2" away from the front. When in 2-4-R it sits abount 3" from the rear. This may sound like a lot of difference, but keep in mind that in 2-4-R it is angled backwards slightly. It has not been a concern for me at all, even with me being short and not having a long reach. It might be a concern if you have a short reach and like to sit far back or reclined a lot.
It sits noticeably lower. Someone else could give a better answer if they put it side by side with the stock shifter out of the car, but I would guess 2".

 

Both are good products. It comes down to whether you want to go with the "value-oriented" approach or the "top quality" approach.

I've heard many good things about B&M. I'm personally on a bit of a budget (got wifey/2 kids/house) so I went with the Pacesetter after talking to at least a half dozen folks over a 4 month period & hearing good feedback. One guy has had the Pacesetter for over 3 yrs & no problems with notchiness or synchro issues. Apart from the big pivot ball, I've not heard any quality issues with it. The money I save from not getting the B&M, I put towards 94 octane gas.

 

I got the 20$ ebay shifter and i love it, i have felt the pasesetter and mines fells smoother and better. I bought this shifter cause to me a shifter realy wont make a differance . But if you got the money b&m is the best.

 

I'm selling my Pacesetter, $60 shipped, It's new still in box. Send me a PM to get it. Fits 95-2001

 

Neither.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=229985



Dave

 

I have the Pace Setter STS, and I did not have to shave the plastic ball...you just have to grease to ball. It took my friend and I about 2.5 hours to put it in. I am very happy with mine, and it was cheap.

 

i just got the b&m STS installed last week, and i have loved every single shift, its takes a little more effort but its not hard at all. I also have an ACT clutch and redline tranny oil so that also helps, every thing seems to fit very well with each other.

 

had the pacesetter for years, installed in without taking off the cat or anything id say it wasnt a hard install at all, over tiem the bottom end rusted and it was really hard to move, and i ended up replacing the whole thing with a b&m with larrio bushing, b&m ftw. its a lil low in my 00 but its really smooth.
had a fellow orger install it since he had the car anyway.

 

i think most people are confused as to what a short shifter means ,most people think is just a shorter stick and thats it what a real sts do is decrease the travel between each shift instead of moving the stick almost 3" to go from 1st gear to 2nd gear and so on with a real sts like B&M now you only need to move the stick just 1.75" (not sure about the real lenght on maximas but thats the measuremnt i took on my 240sx) the benefir os this is way faster shifting specially good on race car where every second counts besides this the B&M unit has its own base that its a improvement over the stock shifter because now its a little bit more precise,it don't really move the stick forward neither backward thats a false impression must people have


looking further i found this write up and this member gives even better explanation as to how the shifter works take a look at the stock shifter(the one without the **** and look and the sts on same picture see how much less travel it takes for same gear barely need to move the stick to go from one gear to the other

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=255634

 

sticky please

 

Hey that looks familiar!!...lol...thanks for quoting it before me.


As I have said before...the 'further-forward' location of the shifter compared to stock is actually an advantage. The shift from 2-3 or 4-5 is much easier since 2 & 4 are almost vertical. If you moved the shifter back some more then those shifts would require much more effort. Just my 2 pennies.


I still love my shifter and wouldn't go back to stock whatsoever. Everyone that checks out the throws simply loves the feel of my B&M.

 

Thats the same link I used to give me an idea of the shifter installed. I love it and cant wait to do the transmission fluid changed (redline MT90). But even without it - its notchy (not too bad though) and I like it..ALOT..

 

Okay, this is a 4 year old thread.. uh. but anyways what's the best place to get a B&M now? The best price I can find anywhere is 149.99 before shipping on ebay...

ptuning's site is up to 164.95..

i need a shifter, my car is sitting in my driveway with a drilled hole + bolt + vice grips and I can only use 2nd, 4th, and reverse.

 

i have had the pacestter for acouple years now, it is okay....i got it before the whole shave the ball down idea was put around. It is kinda notchy and if i am driving slow and easy it is kinda a pain in the ***.

But when i am ripping on the it is real smooth feeling as it should be cause i am shifting fast. It has been good, and for the price i do not mind it that much, it has been good to me and has not failed once on me yet

 

i just liked the pictures comparison you did it just great and still some don't understand the concept behind short shifters

i'm also a big B&M shifters fan have one installed on the 240sx/sr20det i used to have i that thing was just great is not until you try one that you then knows how good it is never missed one shift no matter how i slammed the shifter did a few solo races some circuit tryouts and just loved

 

So does anyone know where the cheapest place is to buy the B&M unit?

Also I think the Pacesetter unit is discontinued...can anyone confirm this?