how i stopped short shifter rattle
06-08-06, 09:15 PM
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how i stopped short shifter rattle
ok, well i guess this only applies to the two-piece short shifters, like my Miata short shifter. this might not actually fix other people's shifter rattles, but i am just saying how i fixed mine, so it might help. who knows.
anyways, basically i realized that the source of the rattle was the fact the shifter was a two piece design. if the upper part wasn't on tight, i would notice that the shifter would rattle a lot. even after i tightened it there would be rattle at higher rpms.
i concluded that the threaded joint on the two parts was the cause. for some reason there is some metal-on-metal vibration.
so, taking a cue from the stock shifter where the upper section is isolated by rubber, i figured i would try filling the junction with silicon rtv to create an "absorption barrier" (i can't really think of a better term right now, sorry).
1) put a whole bunch of rtv on the lower section thread
2) put rtv around the bottom part of the upper section
3) wait about 20 minutes for the rtv to get a little dried, then thread the top section back on, and hand-tighten. wait 30 minutes, then put a towel around and clamp down with vice grips, and tighten further.
so that seemed to do work for me. no more shifter rattle. don't know if this will work for others, but it is worth a try.
and yes, that is an OEM shift **** from a 5-speed RX-8.
anyways, basically i realized that the source of the rattle was the fact the shifter was a two piece design. if the upper part wasn't on tight, i would notice that the shifter would rattle a lot. even after i tightened it there would be rattle at higher rpms.
i concluded that the threaded joint on the two parts was the cause. for some reason there is some metal-on-metal vibration.
so, taking a cue from the stock shifter where the upper section is isolated by rubber, i figured i would try filling the junction with silicon rtv to create an "absorption barrier" (i can't really think of a better term right now, sorry).
1) put a whole bunch of rtv on the lower section thread
2) put rtv around the bottom part of the upper section
3) wait about 20 minutes for the rtv to get a little dried, then thread the top section back on, and hand-tighten. wait 30 minutes, then put a towel around and clamp down with vice grips, and tighten further.
so that seemed to do work for me. no more shifter rattle. don't know if this will work for others, but it is worth a try.
and yes, that is an OEM shift **** from a 5-speed RX-8.
Last edited by coldfire; 06-08-06 at 09:20 PM.
06-08-06, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Terrh
I didn't know there was a 5 speed rx8... just automatics and 6 speed manuals!
Last edited by coldfire; 06-08-06 at 10:15 PM.
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06-09-06, 07:39 AM
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i should mention that i thought of using something like thread locker, and xboxthug13b mentioned jb weld, but the the thing with using the silicone rtv is that it remains flexible and gives a soft bushing-like barrier to absorb some of the vibrations between the metal surfaces.
it would be cool if someone else could try this out and see if it works for them.
it would be cool if someone else could try this out and see if it works for them.
06-09-06, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by RETed
When were the two piece threaded?
-Ted
-Ted
What are you asking exactly? I said the Miata short shifters are a threaded two-piece design. I am not quite sure about what other short shifters are like, just that what i did applies to two-piece threaded ones.
You and your one-sentence posts
06-09-06, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Secondmessiah
yeah until someone borrows your car and shifts in to reverse on the highway
07-13-06, 11:55 AM
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just an update, i started to get a little bit of rattle again. i'm not quite sure why. damn short shifters...
but, what i did still helped compared to the way it was before.
but, what i did still helped compared to the way it was before.
07-13-06, 12:03 PM
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this is a good idea but i also read somewhere else that you're trans mounts could be cousing the vibrations. i dunno how much truth there is to that but i figured id throw it out there, maybe sombody else has heard the same. i read it somewhere in the old how-to thread for using the miata short shifter in an fc.
07-13-06, 12:24 PM
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i haven't heard anything new from him lately. i'm sure he is busy working on all sorts of stuff though.
and yeah, tranny mounts could be possible. but i'm not about replace them just to maybe get rid of a little noise.
and yeah, tranny mounts could be possible. but i'm not about replace them just to maybe get rid of a little noise.
09-25-06, 06:24 AM
#22
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I have no rattle at all...
I ghetto fixxed the rattle thing by doing this....
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...07#post6116007
Sounds ridiculous but it works so far!!!!!
I ghetto fixxed the rattle thing by doing this....
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...07#post6116007
Sounds ridiculous but it works so far!!!!!
09-25-06, 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Secondmessiah
yeah until someone borrows your car and shifts in to reverse on the highway
10-11-06, 11:09 AM
#24
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Greetings
What you have to do in order to fix this problem, is to find an elastic heavy duty cylidrincal cover for the spherical bottom.I found something like this in my friends workshop.
The outer diameter of this cover must be 18-18,5mm in order to fit perfectly( that is correct if you havent removed the stock white plastic ring.Then you just install this cover on the shifter and then in the gear box.
Now my shifter doesnt rattle at all and i believe that it is even better than the stock shifter.
good luck
What you have to do in order to fix this problem, is to find an elastic heavy duty cylidrincal cover for the spherical bottom.I found something like this in my friends workshop.
The outer diameter of this cover must be 18-18,5mm in order to fit perfectly( that is correct if you havent removed the stock white plastic ring.Then you just install this cover on the shifter and then in the gear box.
Now my shifter doesnt rattle at all and i believe that it is even better than the stock shifter.
good luck
10-11-06, 02:50 PM
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yeah, i believe the source of the rattle comes from the bottom ball hitting against the tranny shifter bore. i think you are on the right track trying to get more isolation so there isn't metal-to-metal contact.
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