[cjjreed]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forums, so I apologize if I am beating a dead horse. I searched for the topic, but couldn't find anything so I am asking now.

I am currently having problems when I shift from 2nd to 3rd on my 2006 Mustang GT, stock, manual transmission (obviously, but filling in the details). Sometimes I'll "miss" 3rd and grind the gears HORRIBLY. I brought it to a Ford dealer and they told me, and I quote, "It's a design flaw. There's nothing we can do to fix it, except recommend you install a Steeda Tri-Ax shifter." They mentioned that, under heavier than normal load, the tranny will twist from the torque, but the shifter won't since it is a remote type shifter.

I'm fairly car savvy, so of course I've heard of Steeda and know they work hand in hand with Ford on a lot of their parts. Now, my question(s) are:

1. Does it void the warranty if I put in an aftermarket shifter?

2. Has anyone else experienced this problem and was recommended the same solution?

3. Is the Steeda shifter a good choice for an aftermarket shifter?

Thank you in advance for any feedback I receive. I look forward to getting a solid answer from a great community...

Regards,
Chris

[ChrisJ]

I love my Steeda Tri-Ax...

I would go back to the dealer and ask him about the warranty...

I have not heard of this issue though...

[Emay]

Grinding gears is not a shifter problem. That's a technque issue with the clutch. What I mean is, if you have the clutch depressed fully when you are putting it into any gear, it will not grind. If you partially depress, you will likely get a grind.

When your driving the car hard and attempting to slam 3rd are you sure your technique is sound. Trans flex would not stop you from putting the car into the next gear and it definately wouldn't force a grind. Not sure why the dealer is throwing you a line.

My first mod was a short shifter on my 07 gt. Only went in because of the excessively long throw of the stocker. However if my technique wasn't sound, the short shifter would cause more grinding due to the quicker engagment of the next gear.

[cjjreed]

Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate your input, but I'm positive I had the clutch pushed all the way in! I brought it to the dealer with the complaint that the gears were grinding and they told me about the problem with the remote shifter...

Maybe I am just pushing the clutch in half way, but it happened to me again today, and I'm positive I had the clutch to the floor. Well, I'm getting the shifter installed on Thursday, so I'll let you know how it goes.

[mdvaldosta]

Originally Posted by cjjreed 1. Does it void the warranty if I put in an aftermarket shifter? 2. Has anyone else experienced this problem and was recommended the same solution? 3. Is the Steeda shifter a good choice for an aftermarket shifter?

1. It shouldn't. Law states that the aftermarket parts are allowed to be installed and can only void the warrantly if the part is shown to have actually caused something to go bad (though I've heard of some dealerships being ignorant to this law or the causes of failure). I'd suggest if your really concerned with your warranty, that you get the service manager to put the suggestion to try a Steeda Triax in writing and have them install it if possible.

2. I haven't experienced your problem as I don't have an '05+, though I can tell you the dealership's response makes sense. Maybe you can install stiffer (urethane) engine / transmission mounts to reduce the twisting, or try the aftermarket shifter.

3. Steeda makes great stuff, I run their Triax shifter in my '02 GT and can tell you it significantly reduces the chances of missing / grinding a gear and made driving more fun. It's even more of an improvement on the 2005+ Mustangs from what I hear.

[Shaguarama]

I installed a Hurst shifter a while ago but still wasn't happy with 2-3rd shifts at WOT. So I recently bought a K-member brace with torque limiters from CHE Performance. It cost me about $187 shipped if I remember right. This performance mod prevents the transmission from torquing at high rpms. I have no problem with shifting from 2nd into 3rd at all anymore. -Andrew

[cjjreed]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I'm going to be getting the shifter installed in a few days so I will let everyone know how it goes. If it doesn't alleviate the problem, I'm going to look deeper into my shifting habits, but I hope that I know how to use a stick shift!

If everything else fails, I'm going to get on Ford and have them look at the clutch because something doesn't sit right in my stomach about how the car is acting. But we'll see!

Chris

[Emay]

Don't take it as if you don't know how to drive a stick. That's not the problem. Some cars just don't like some of our driving styles. Sometimes we have to adjust to the car a lil, rather than force it into our habits.

[blue05GT]

Does anyone have a perference between the Hurst and the Steeda shifter? Pros or Cons?

[cjjreed]

Hey everyone,

Well the shifter was installed, and works beautifully... now... I have increased cabin noise...

Is that normal? I'm thinking that since it is an aftermarket shifter, the engine noise is vibrating into the body a little more, since it's a different material. I dunno.

Other than that, it works great! Shifts smoothly with no more grinding. I haven't had a chance to get REALLY onto it, but from what I've got so far, it's good.

Chris

[Emay]

cj,

You shouldn't have gotten increased cabin noise from a shifter change. Check a couple things for us and report back.

Look and see that the weather boot was replaced correctly. Not the boot you see when your sitting in the car, the weather boot is under that. Sometimes the installers give up on securing the bottom of the boot around the base of the short shifters. It's a simple fix.

[cjjreed]

Alright, here's what I got so far...

I brought my 'stang back to the DEALERSHIP that installed the shifter and I was told that the swap would cause increased vibrations throughout the car because of the polyurethane bushings that are used. I know the bushings are stiffer, but dang, enough to shake the whole cabin??

I checked the weather boot UNDER the interior boot and it looks alright... the new Tri Ax doesn't have a round stem, so the boot is around a rectangular shaped stem, but still seems to seal pretty good...

A little, and I mean little, increase in noise I can understand, but man... my car roars now after that install and not in a good way. I'm seriously thinking about putting up with the missed gears and put the old shifter back in! But it does shift better...

Chris

[Emay]

wish I could go for a ride with you to see what your talking about. I did the hurst shifter and I didn't get any noise change.

If they are right about the bushings, then you would have more noise traveling over bumps and while actually shifting. Is this the case, or is the noice still equal when at cruising speeds on smoothe pavement?

[cjjreed]

The noise (exhaust specifically) is louder at all stages of driving. When I start the car, when I rev the engine, and even at cruising speeds. It's hard to describe, but the only people that have noticed are my wife and I, since we're the only one's that spend the most time in the car!

I guess more in depth, other than the increase in overall noise, is there is a "Tick" of some sorts if you pay attention to the exhaust close enough. I'm sure you've all heard an exhaust leak... it sounds like that. I guess it's more of a like a sputtering?

Well, if I can't get lift time at the local car hobby shop on base here, I will take it to a 3rd party and have them check it out. I want to try to get a look-see under the car. Maybe there is something I'm not seeing.

Thanks again for all the feedback in trying to help me solve my mystery noise! It's really appreciated!

Chris