Axial Flow short-throw shifter issue
11-11-2008, 01:44 AM
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Axial Flow short-throw shifter issue
So I've had the Axial Flow short-throw shifter for a while now, and had no problems installing it or using it since the install. A while ago I had to take my car into the dealer for some work and figured I would swap the stock shifter back in, but after doing the swap back I noticed an odd noise from the shifter. I figured the shifter wasn't seated right or something, so I pulled it out again to check. I noticed there was some wear on the plastic bushing on the Axial Flow shifter. It wasn't cracked or really damaged, but there was a bit of frayed plastic hanging off the bushing like it had been scraped/rubbed. I cleaned up the bushing and reseated it very carefully to make sure it was in comfortably. It cleared up the noise and I thought nothing of it. Now it seems the sound is back and worse than before. It happens mostly in 1st and 2nd gear, loudest when the car is in gear and driving, but it still makes a noise if the clutch pedal is fully depressed and the shifter is in gear. If I were to describe the sound, it sounds like marbles in a can... Just kidding...!! It sounds more like a spinning/rubbing against the plastic bushing.
Anyway, I wondered if anybody else had noticed any wear on the plastic bushing and any corresponding sounds. Is there anything I can do to resolve it, and should I be worried about damage being caused to my synchros or transmission? Wasn't there an issue a long time back about the material Axial Flow used for those bushings?
Anyway, I wondered if anybody else had noticed any wear on the plastic bushing and any corresponding sounds. Is there anything I can do to resolve it, and should I be worried about damage being caused to my synchros or transmission? Wasn't there an issue a long time back about the material Axial Flow used for those bushings?
11-11-2008, 02:08 AM
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11-11-2008, 02:25 AM
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11-11-2008, 09:43 AM
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So I've had the Axial Flow short-throw shifter for a while now, and had no problems installing it or using it since the install. A while ago I had to take my car into the dealer for some work and figured I would swap the stock shifter back in, but after doing the swap back I noticed an odd noise from the shifter. I figured the shifter wasn't seated right or something, so I pulled it out again to check. I noticed there was some wear on the plastic bushing on the Axial Flow shifter. It wasn't cracked or really damaged, but there was a bit of frayed plastic hanging off the bushing like it had been scraped/rubbed. I cleaned up the bushing and reseated it very carefully to make sure it was in comfortably. It cleared up the noise and I thought nothing of it. Now it seems the sound is back and worse than before. It happens mostly in 1st and 2nd gear, loudest when the car is in gear and driving, but it still makes a noise if the clutch pedal is fully depressed and the shifter is in gear. If I were to describe the sound, it sounds like marbles in a can... Just kidding...!! It sounds more like a spinning/rubbing against the plastic bushing.
Anyway, I wondered if anybody else had noticed any wear on the plastic bushing and any corresponding sounds. Is there anything I can do to resolve it, and should I be worried about damage being caused to my synchros or transmission? Wasn't there an issue a long time back about the material Axial Flow used for those bushings?
Anyway, I wondered if anybody else had noticed any wear on the plastic bushing and any corresponding sounds. Is there anything I can do to resolve it, and should I be worried about damage being caused to my synchros or transmission? Wasn't there an issue a long time back about the material Axial Flow used for those bushings?
11-11-2008, 10:12 AM
#9
SHKWAV
Greg,
it's called paranoia. leave the shifter in.
As for the noise issues, plastic bushings wear out... Is it possible to buy comparible aluminium bushings instead? Substitute washers of equal diameter? I don't know, which is why i am asking. i dont have this STS but in my other car i swapped out the stock shifter for a custom made one and i ended also replacing the linkage bushings, shifter base bushings, etc with resin and aluminium versions. It really made the whole system rock solid as opposed to the crappy plastic and rubber bushings that were there prior.
If not, well... ignore what i asked then and sum the questions up to ignorance.
it's called paranoia. leave the shifter in.
As for the noise issues, plastic bushings wear out... Is it possible to buy comparible aluminium bushings instead? Substitute washers of equal diameter? I don't know, which is why i am asking. i dont have this STS but in my other car i swapped out the stock shifter for a custom made one and i ended also replacing the linkage bushings, shifter base bushings, etc with resin and aluminium versions. It really made the whole system rock solid as opposed to the crappy plastic and rubber bushings that were there prior.
If not, well... ignore what i asked then and sum the questions up to ignorance.
11-11-2008, 10:51 AM
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If the bushing is damaged in any way have RP send you a replacement. I say this from experience, my bushing looked like you described yours. One day while in turn 11 at Road America the bushing gave and I was unable to shift. RP did the right thing and sent me a new unit.
11-11-2008, 11:54 AM
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If the bushing is damaged in any way have RP send you a replacement. I say this from experience, my bushing looked like you described yours. One day while in turn 11 at Road America the bushing gave and I was unable to shift. RP did the right thing and sent me a new unit.
It's not like its hard to remove the shifter, so if I get the chance I'll pop it out to post some pictures... if it looks like I should get it replaced I'll contact the company and see what they say. I absolutely love the product, I just want to make sure its in healthy working order.
11-11-2008, 12:01 PM
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Hmm, mine looks like that too. I bought mine from someone else on the forum though.
I might hit up RP when I get a chance to pull the shifter out and take pictures. The white ball at the end has plastic shaved off it from use. I think this shifter is one of the first ones made.
I might hit up RP when I get a chance to pull the shifter out and take pictures. The white ball at the end has plastic shaved off it from use. I think this shifter is one of the first ones made.
11-11-2008, 01:03 PM
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this is NOT a common occurance. The bushing is also not plastic, but either way if you're having issues talk to Richard and he will send you the new upgraded (kevlar ) bushing.
11-11-2008, 01:28 PM
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the clear one?
11-11-2008, 03:55 PM
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Yea mine is like that as well. The sound i just thought was "normal". When im thifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd at around 8k + rpm it almost sounds like a small supercharger due to the super rapid spinning sound it produces. It was a concern at first but i have gotten use to it. Sounds like something needs to be lubed up but i went in and made sure the ball was oiled and everything but the sound remains.
11-11-2008, 04:10 PM
#20
SHKWAV
unless either your clutch is fubar or you are doing about 5mph, you can't downshift to 1st gear. careful there mate... gonna find gears laying on the ground. lol
11-11-2008, 05:42 PM
#21
Vtak just kicked in yo!!
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lol, I guess I should stop downshifting into 1st at 32mph coming up to red lights then huh 
**being a smartass......kinda.......allright Ive done it before*
**being a smartass......kinda.......allright Ive done it before*
11-11-2008, 11:38 PM
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Yea mine is like that as well. The sound i just thought was "normal". When im thifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd at around 8k + rpm it almost sounds like a small supercharger due to the super rapid spinning sound it produces. It was a concern at first but i have gotten use to it. Sounds like something needs to be lubed up but i went in and made sure the ball was oiled and everything but the sound remains.
11-15-2008, 06:03 PM
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Alright, well the sound started getting worse yesterday on the way home from work, so I figured I would pull the damn thing out again today and check for wear. The sound had become a louder "zzz zzzz zzz zzzz zzz zzz" rubbing sound when in gear, or a softer similar sound in gear with the clutch pedal pressed.
I pulled the shifter out today, and noticed a couple of things, none of which really answered my questions. The rubber gasket for the retainer plate had seen better days, it was missing a chunk and had a hardened film of transmission fluid on it. This gasket has 0 contact with any major surface so I doubt it was affecting the noise in any way, but figured I would mention it since it appears in one of the pictures. The end of the Axial flow shifter had some visible wear on it in a ring around the end. Sort of a braised or scraped circle. It wasn't deep and had no gouges, but I can only assume this is wear the rubbing sound is coming from. It doesn't look bad in the picture, and looked minor in person so I simply reseated the shifter and tightened everything back down. Ironically the sound is more noticable in 1st gear and less noticable in 2nd than it was before... almost like the bushing on the end is seated in a slightly different way.
I should re-clarify that the sound I'm talking about is NOT the regular whirring/whining sound the Axial flow sts makes. I have had the shifter for several months now and am very familiar with the normal sounds. This is a rubbing that sounds almost like a ticking as if a rotating part is rubbing against that plastic. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures...
The bushing wear:
Highlighting the area that is braised or rough now:
Retainer plate and sad gasket:
The depths of my transmission:
I pulled the shifter out today, and noticed a couple of things, none of which really answered my questions. The rubber gasket for the retainer plate had seen better days, it was missing a chunk and had a hardened film of transmission fluid on it. This gasket has 0 contact with any major surface so I doubt it was affecting the noise in any way, but figured I would mention it since it appears in one of the pictures. The end of the Axial flow shifter had some visible wear on it in a ring around the end. Sort of a braised or scraped circle. It wasn't deep and had no gouges, but I can only assume this is wear the rubbing sound is coming from. It doesn't look bad in the picture, and looked minor in person so I simply reseated the shifter and tightened everything back down. Ironically the sound is more noticable in 1st gear and less noticable in 2nd than it was before... almost like the bushing on the end is seated in a slightly different way.
I should re-clarify that the sound I'm talking about is NOT the regular whirring/whining sound the Axial flow sts makes. I have had the shifter for several months now and am very familiar with the normal sounds. This is a rubbing that sounds almost like a ticking as if a rotating part is rubbing against that plastic. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures...
The bushing wear:
Highlighting the area that is braised or rough now:
Retainer plate and sad gasket:
The depths of my transmission:
11-24-2008, 11:55 PM
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I ordered mine and I assume that I will receive the most update rubber version that you guys mentionned?
Im really worried about having this noise thing, though everyone says it's a great mod to have.
Im really worried about having this noise thing, though everyone says it's a great mod to have.