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Floating / Undulating Shifter - RX-8 trait?

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Old 11-15-2005, 10:47 AM
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Question Floating / Undulating Shifter - RX-8 trait?

This isn't a problem, just a question about a trait in the (my?) RX-8. One of my friends noticed this when a bunch of us were driving around in my car this weekend. When cruising down the highway, the gearshift lever undulates up and down. I won't describe what my friend joked it looked like, but the lever definitely had a very noticable up/down oscillation while moving (probably around 1/4-3/8 an inch). It almost looks as if the lever is floating/moving with the suspension rather than being mounted to the chassis/body.

What I'm wondering is : how is that possible?! Is the RX-8's drivetrain somehow extremely isolated from the chassis? Even considering normal shock/vibration mounts, it seems like it's a lot of movement.

After a quick forum search, I couldn't find anything mentioning it.
Old 11-15-2005, 10:52 AM
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Normal, for exactly the reason that you describe.

The shifter is connected to the drivetrain, and the rest of the body is isolated by the springs.

With the Voodoo **** and short shifter, this is extremely noticable.

In a car with a hugely long sloppy shifter (cough 330i), you dont really notice it.
Old 11-15-2005, 12:03 PM
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Your gearshift actually comes off of the tranny directly...hence the tight shifter...many front drivers have cables and/or rods connecting the tranny to the gearshift so that most of that movement doesn't make it through to the shifter....so there you are!
Old 11-15-2005, 01:01 PM
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the engine is bolted to the trany, the trany is connected to the diff via a drive-shaft (carbon fiber at that! (manual trany)) and all 3 are bolted together with a PPF (power plant frame....like a backbone for the car) but this 'drive train' is connected to the car via mounts, the rx8 has pretty soft mounts and there can be quite a bit of movement.

When cruising in gear on the freeway its easy to see/feel it move up and down with the road.
Old 11-15-2005, 06:36 PM
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It is a trait, but a good one. The direct connection to the tranny makes the throws short & precise.
Old 11-15-2005, 06:43 PM
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^I agree!
Old 11-15-2005, 09:29 PM
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Classic thing for a rear drive car with the shifter that grows out of the back of the gear box.
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