Ways to Improve Shifting Feel

Ford-o-phobic · 10-29-2006, 06:38 PM

My cars shifter feels clunky and heavy, are there any tricks on how to improve it? I know a little bit about the shift lever rod being worn, and tightening up the bolt on the transmission. But everytime i drive a new car with a standard transmission it feels so light and easy. I dont mind the throw length, but how big is the improvement with a short shoft kit? And why would there be an improvement in the shifting with a ss kit?
-Thanks

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Welcome to the Porsche 944.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Alot of what your experience is what you get with the early Audi trannys. Ive driven a couple of pre '00 Audi's and all of them have the same gearbox feel. I was suprised to see my friends '99 A4 had the same exact gearbox feel as my car. My friends '04 A4 tranny is incredible though, smooth as butter..probably one of the best gearboxs ive ever felt.

Anyhow its the nature of the car. One thing that really changed the feel of the gearbox the most in my opinion was the short shifter from 944Racing. Its the linakge type, also sold by Schnell and Speed-6 now. Other than that, change the gear oil. Thats about all you can do. The short shifter will make the gearbox feel even more notchy..but i kind of like the feel. Its very affirmative, no guessing if the car is in gear or not.

I drove a good friend of mines 944 Turbo with a recently rebuilt transmission (only 2k miles on it). Brand new synchros on every gear. The feel was spoiled by a worn shift rod..but the gear box was suprisingly smooth compared to almost every single other 944 gearbox i have ever used. And let me tell you, its weird being able to shift quickly from 1st to 2nd without a hesitation or a grind as the worn synchro catches up.

I have actually grown to like the feel of the gearbox on our cars. In reality its kind of a crappy transmission, not very strong and does feel clunky. But it feels solid enough. If my gearbox felt like my friends '06 M3.. i wouldnt be very happy. It feels like the transmission is made of rubber on the M3. If your not used to the feel of the gearbox, you will constantly question if the car is even in gear!

Nothing beats that Audi though.. if you know anyone with a standard gearbox A4.. just sit in the car and go through the gears, its amazing!

Eldorado · 10-29-2006, 08:51 PM

change to a synthetic gear oil... i've got mobil 1 80w90 in my car right now... really nice feel with that...

i know what Jon's saying as far as gear boxes and wondering if they're even in gear... i drove a friend's mazda protege (the only other standard car i've ever driven) and her car was just so questionable.... it was smooth, but damn you never knew if the car was in gear or not...

Ford-o-phobic · 10-29-2006, 08:55 PM

Yea actually im starting to like it more and more. How much and where can i get a schnell? My transmission probably should have a rebuild but i am poor and only do work myself so a transmission rebuild is iffy... Funny my friends dad has a 2000? A4 with a standard.

Eldorado · 10-29-2006, 08:59 PM

you can buy a schnell from ebay for about 100-120 bucks plus shipping...

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

The '00 A4 is still a first gen, you need to get into a 2nd gen, '01-05. I am completley serious when i say you will absoltuley love the feel of the gearbox on that car. It really is one of the smoothest gearboxes around.

But you will find the '00 A4 probably feels very similar to your car.

It may be clunky as hell, but its very affirmative!

After feeing my friends rebuilt tranny with 2k miles on it, i want to get mine rebuilt also. But im looking at $1000 in labor and i couldnt live with myself if i didnt put in a LSD while i was at it. So make that $2000.

Ford-o-phobic · 10-30-2006, 02:41 PM

I dont know the actual year, could be a 2001 or later. I hear you about a tranny rebuild, if only i owned a press an oven and a whole bunch of other specialty parts...

Ill look into a schnell and i will check out the shift linkage connecters also.

rammstein · 10-30-2006, 03:43 PM

In the meantime, change your fluid. If its been awhile, it will make an immediate difference.

liljon's924S · 10-30-2006, 03:54 PM

I'm with Kyle on this one. I have the same gear oil as he does(mobil 1 synthetic). I have a friend that has a '93 Ford Probe, and I have driven it and I love the smoothness of my car compared to his. His car has a short shift kit in it and the thing is very choppy. I left him "try" to drive my car once in which he stalled it and that was the last her tried- can't let him beat her, but anyway he rants and raves about how smooth my car shifts with the synthetic oil in it. Yeah it's close to $9 a bottle but I think it was the best $30 or so dollars I put in my car period. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by CJFusco
Welcome to the Porsche 944.

I dissagree, the shifter feel in my very low mileage '84 944 is great, not Boxster level, but close. On my '86, its just kinda "there". Big difference in previous owner's between the cars - big difference. The last place the '84 was owned at, was a guy with two 944's, his track prepped, and this one. He knew how to drive, and how to shift smoothly with little wear. It also has a quick enough RPM change on that car to make double clutching very practical.

Ford-o-phobic · 10-30-2006, 04:25 PM

Already changed gear oil, didnt make a difference.

liljon's924S · 10-30-2006, 04:32 PM

What gear oil did you use?

Eldorado · 10-30-2006, 04:47 PM

yea, what did you change to?

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

every 944-series car I have driven has had a clunky shifter, including both of which that I've owned. It's just the personality of these cars.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by CJFusco
every 944-series car I have driven has had a clunky shifter, including both of which that I've owned. It's just the personality of these cars.

I've driven two '86s, an early model '85, '84, and a '83. My '86 has a gearbox from a '89, and the previous owner has not been the friendliest to it I can tell. My brother's '86 has a smart feel to it, not effortless, but has a good sharp feel. The '83, I was fourteen, I don't know... My early model '85 was in excess of 210K miles on its original gearbox, it felt a bit sloppy and a little snicky. The '84, is smooth, great action, doesn't feel like an old car at all, it doesn't top a Boxster (best shifter feel I've driven), but has a great feel. Not clunky or whatever at all.

I've also driven the Porsche five speed found in a 924 Turbo. (based off a G31 if memory serves me right, realy weak Synchro in 1st and 2nd.)

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

I think alot of the clunkyness is from worn synchros and just being worn out in general. Our Audi gearbox is not exactly known for its stength and durability.

Ford-o-phobic · 10-30-2006, 07:28 PM

Man, i cant remember what oil i used. I got it at schucks, if that helps. Yea my first and second synchros are definatly shot, why i want a rebuild. A nice shifter feel i have driven is a ford mondeo diesel when i was in Ireland, I believe they are the ford fusion in the US (great car by the way). The shifts felt mechanical but crisp and smooth, that is what i thought a Porsche should feel like. In ireland it was fun to drive on the "wrong" side, i actually liked it better, felt more natural.

Inferno_Rob · 10-31-2006, 07:42 AM

I think a part of any probem for shifting feel is how good of condition the clutch and throwout bearing is. If either of them are grabbing slightly there will be a little bit of notchy feel when selecting 1st compared to when the car isn't running.

Mike B · 10-31-2006, 12:28 PM

Another alternative...

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=308340