New Product Release - MAZDASPEED 3, GEN 2 Adjustable Short Shifter!

[MizzyMS3]

Wifey gave me this shifter for Christmas (we opened gifts early) and I started install. All is going smoothly, but I cannot for the life of me get the shifter out of the shifter base (where you have to depress the 3 tabs to take it out. One tab has a paper clip holding it open, but no matter how much we press the other two tabs, the shifter still does not come out. Any tips for this?

[jeopardy98]

There are access holes to each tab. You can slide a flat head in each one and then it should pull right up.

[mrmonk7663]

Make sure you are pushing the tabs IN IN IN...do not push them out. Push tabs in then put paperclip behind it, it will come right out. I pushed out at first and was like WTF.

Originally Posted by MizzyMS3 Wifey gave me this shifter for Christmas (we opened gifts early) and I started install. All is going smoothly, but I cannot for the life of me get the shifter out of the shifter base (where you have to depress the 3 tabs to take it out. One tab has a paper clip holding it open, but no matter how much we press the other two tabs, the shifter still does not come out. Any tips for this?

[MizzyMS3]

Thank you guys! I feel so stupid haha. Once I got that part out of the way, it took about a half hour to get everything back together, and put back in the car, with the upgraded shifter bushings. Shifter feel is AMAZING. Thanks again guys!

[mrmonk7663]

No problem haha. I did it as well, that's how I knew what your issue was, so don't feel bad

[Djohns]

Okay after using this shifter for a couple weeks now my overall Impressions are FANTASTIC. Take a little time to tune it in really nice and make sure to use a lot of grease on the spring! Where it goes on the selector arm and where the base of the spring is. (Not sure that part was mentioned in install instructions) I used the Lubriplate grease and that stuff is fantastic. Once again Jamie released another fantastic product! Shifts are super smooth and crisp

[XxSmarTz]

Ordered

[TheDukeZip]

Santa dropped off this wonderful goodie and I got a chance to install it today. Installation wasn't difficult, just tricky - getting the retainer clip both off and on, as well as putting the spring back on required a lot of patience. For someone who's never done this before and took their time - took about 2 - 2.5 hours.

I put the throw just a hair below max reduction as seems to be recommended. With this, putting the neutral attachment all the way forward (so the shifter goes as far towards the back of the car as possible) seemed to be just right. Seems to be dialed in just right for me like this, but glad there are lots of adjustments that can be made on the shifter and on the shift cables to dial it in just right if necessary.

Thanks JBR!

[Djohns]

Quick question, I love this shifter but after a night of hard driving (Having fun with my buddy and his ms3 and another with a 350Z) I noticed it to be a bit notchy during shifts I'm running ford motorcraft trans fluid and the fluid change was fairly recent so I'm not sure what is causing this. Feels smooth shifting when the car is off but when driving I feel the notchiness and downshifting to first only happens on occasions. I have to be gentle when shifting into 5th or I will get a possible grind

[macdiesel]

Probably needs to be adjusted out.


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[Djohns]

Sorry for my slowness lol but what do you mean adjusted out?

[macdiesel]

Mess with the adjuster? Take off ssp if you have one? I'm confused because you gave rave reviews before.


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[Djohns]

I have the stock shifter plate and weight on now. I do own a JBR ssp and counter weight. That's why I'm confused as well because it was great before then after that night it wasn't the same. I was wondering if I knocked something loose or what the deal is. I've been trying to adjust the cables but it doesn't seem to be working

[JBR]

It's possible the adjuster plate is loose or maybe the selector arm actuator. If it's not either of those, I'd venture to guess it's not the shifter.

[Djohns]

Okay thank you for input! I will dig into it again asap and post up what happens!

[Djohns]

Okay I think Ive narrowed it down to something with my linkage cables. So it is NOT the shifter. Couldn't find anything loose or out of place when I took it apart so I pulled just the cable that hooks to neutral and it still felt weird. Then we had one warmer day and it was back to smoothness. Back to cold and once again feels wrong.

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Djohns Okay I think Ive narrowed it down to something with my linkage cables. So it is NOT the shifter. Couldn't find anything loose or out of place when I took it apart so I pulled just the cable that hooks to neutral and it still felt weird. Then we had one warmer day and it was back to smoothness. Back to cold and once again feels wrong.

I can see the cold having an effect on the lubricant used inside the cable sheathing.

Did it feel like there was any rough spots as you moved the cable in all the way and out? If so it could be some debris has managed to find it's way in nut that's sort of a long shot. It sounds like the cold is the issue. What are the temps when you say cold?

-Jamie

[Djohns]

Originally Posted by jbarone I can see the cold having an effect on the lubricant used inside the cable sheathing. Did it feel like there was any rough spots as you moved the cable in all the way and out? If so it could be some debris has managed to find it's way in nut that's sort of a long shot. It sounds like the cold is the issue. What are the temps when you say cold? -Jamie

It was rough moving it in and out. Can pin point a specific spot with just the cable. But when attached to the shifter and actually driving not just having the car run, 5th feels awful. I have to line it up and apply light pressure until it decides it wants to go in and even then it feels really rough. like it is grinding on something but it doesn't make any noises. The others just feel a bit rough and notchy but not like 5th. By cold I mean 40's. (Illinois weather) then we had one day of 55 and it felt great

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Djohns It was rough moving it in and out. Can pin point a specific spot with just the cable. But when attached to the shifter and actually driving not just having the car run, 5th feels awful. I have to line it up and apply light pressure until it decides it wants to go in and even then it feels really rough. like it is grinding on something but it doesn't make any noises. The others just feel a bit rough and notchy but not like 5th. By cold I mean 40's. (Illinois weather) then we had one day of 55 and it felt great

Hmmm I wonder if it's trans related? What fluid is in it?

[Djohns]

Sorry first post was supposed to say can't pinpoint. Just changed the fluid switched to Ford Motorcraft about a month and a half ago car has 29k miles. Always let the car warm up before driving

[WFO!]

Originally Posted by jbarone I can see the cold having an effect on the lubricant used inside the cable sheathing. -Jamie

The cables are teflon lined. Dry. (E-brake cables too)
Id look somewere else. Could just be the fluid fill.
Impossible to say without being there to feel it in person.

[JBR]

Originally Posted by WFO! The cables are teflon lined. Dry. (E-brake cables too) Id look somewere else. Could just be the fluid fill. Impossible to say without being there to feel it in person.

Yeah, I thought there was some lubricant too; maybe not. I know I've gotten some kind of something on my fingers similar to graphite when I've pulled the boot back at the transmission.

Not sure what what could be the problem.

[Djohns]

Originally Posted by jbarone Yeah, I thought there was some lubricant too; maybe not. I know I've gotten some kind of something on my fingers similar to graphite when I've pulled the boot back at the transmission. Not sure what what could be the problem.

Dang this has everyone confused. It feels like little bumps as I shift into the gears. Thats another way to describe how it feels. I feel maybe 2-4 of the bumps when going into gear. It's very weird is there a possible way to check/clean the cables? Luckily I have tomorrow off so I can go digging in the engine bay to see if the cable is catching on something. Gunna check where it goes through the firewall and make sure they're not rubbing and other places. I'll post up what happens and if I find a fix so if anyone else has this issue they'll know what to do.

[Djohns]

Okay i started trying to pinpoint my issue this evening and well. I did just that. I was looking at the cables under the hood and found that the rubbing is from that area then I found that it was coming from right above the trans boot on the shift lever shaft or pivot shaft?(not sure what the part is called) in the photo the piece to the left is a bit loose and is rubbing the other side quite a bit as I change gears and is producing little metal shavings. Hence that feeling in 5th. And the roughness in all the others. But I can't figure out how to tighten up that loose piece. Sorry for the photo being cropped! The boot is supposed to be at the bottom of the picture

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Djohns Okay i started trying to pinpoint my issue this evening and well. I did just that. I was looking at the cables under the hood and found that the rubbing is from that area then I found that it was coming from right above the trans boot on the shift lever shaft or pivot shaft?(not sure what the part is called) in the photo the piece to the left is a bit loose and is rubbing the other side quite a bit as I change gears and is producing little metal shavings. Hence that feeling in 5th. And the roughness in all the others. But I can't figure out how to tighten up that loose piece. Sorry for the photo being cropped! The boot is supposed to be at the bottom of the picture

That shot is of the secondary selector linkage at the point where it engages the selector shaft. It's design is to move in and out and also to pivot up and down. It's not meant to be tightened. Our shop cars have a considerable amount of grease in that area. It would appear the the metal you are seeing is from the lack of grease over a long period of time. I suggest greasing the area well to see if after some time the issue goes away.

-Jamie

[Djohns]

Yea I figured it was supposed to move but I was thinking that it may have been excessive with how much it was rubbing. Yea I cleaned it all out of the metal shavings and put some lithium grease in it. Should I use a thicker grease or should lithium be sufficient?

[JBR]

Originally Posted by Djohns Yea I figured it was supposed to move but I was thinking that it may have been excessive with how much it was rubbing. Yea I cleaned it all out of the metal shavings and put some lithium grease in it. Should I use a thicker grease or should lithium be sufficient?

Lithium should be OK. Let us know if the problem goes away.

[Djohns]

Originally Posted by jbarone Lithium should be OK. Let us know if the problem goes away.

I'll post up what happens after a week and how often I regreased

[Djohns]

Just an update on the issue I was having: the grease seems to be working. Still having occasional trouble down shifting into second and first. But overall it is slowly getting better. Cold weather really does play a big role into this. So far within a week I've greased about 3 times

[JBR]

Shifters are back in stock. All back orders have shipped or are being prepared to ship now.

Thanks for your patience.

We have plenty now.

[hobbit-monster]

Originally Posted by SaveMelMac I do have a small amount of play in the shifter if you twist the knob back and forth. I found it's coming from the shifter neck itself from the pin next to the spring that pushes the shifter back up when you push down for reverse.

I too am having the same issue. It's not major by any means but it is a slight annoyance. Besides that props to JBR for an amazing part. Its incredible how smooth it is compared to a SSP or stock. Not to mention an awesome price.

[jeopardy98]

I have slight slop on the shifter now as well. Not sure what changed. I popped the console out and looked today abs it looks like somethung in the actual cup or in the return spring. Everything was tight on the attachment points.

[JBR]

There is about .007" of play in the vertical slot for the reverse lock out pin which exhibits a slight amount of rotational play. This allowance is necessary to avoid any binding and for smooth operation.

[jeopardy98]

I'm talking about more than a 1/2". I'll make a video.

[JBR]

Originally Posted by jeopardy98 I'm talking about more than a 1/2". I'll make a video.

If that's the case, I would suspect something has come loose.

[jeopardy98]

What could have come loose in the cup?

[Djohns]

Originally Posted by jeopardy98 What could have come loose in the cup?

Maybe the spring? I Noticed on mine when I was greasing the slide and had the spring up it had a lot of play like that

[JBR]

Originally Posted by jeopardy98 What could have come loose in the cup?

I was talking about rotational play not side to side.

Not sure. You'll need to get in there and look.

[jeopardy98]

I did. I took it apart yesterday. The looseness is in the cup itself. All the cables and adjustments are tight. The spring or a broken cup are the only options left...

[Djohns]

Originally Posted by jeopardy98 I did. I took it apart yesterday. The looseness is in the cup itself. All the cables and adjustments are tight. The spring or a broken cup are the only options left...

Can you take a video of it when the shifter boot and all that are out so we can look at the shifter base and shortshifter itself and maybe pinpoint the issue?