Inconsistent Shifter Feel... help?

[Matty K]

Hey everybody!

(Hi Doctor Nick!)

Anyhow, here's the deal. I'm having some weird shifter feedback from my car. It's set up with a B&M short throw (always had it), HMS trans with a Torsen, upgraded forks etc, SVT clutch, Fidanza flywheel, and fresh Ford honey (all under 2k miles).

So, what's going on is when I shift, I get this feedback like the shifter is passing over 2 or 3 notches before it pops into place. It's sort of a gravel-y feeling; the car shifts fine, it just doesn't feel pleasant. It's predominant in 1st, 3rd, and 4th. On the flip side, I'll occasionally get a super-smooth, melted-butter-over-10w30 feeling. But even that isn't consistent; sometimes, the rough gears shift smooth for a while, but then revert back.

The odd thing is, I've always gotten those rough shifts once in a while, but in the past two weeks, the ratio's inverted. I would say it was something with the trans install, but it shifted fine for a month and a half after that. I'm worried something's wearing out...

TH seems to think it has something to do with the cable tugging... has anyone had an experience like this?

 

[KyleQ]

I've noticed that recently as well. Most of the time I've got buttery smooth shifts, so smooth I think somthing is wrong - and other times I feel what you are describing. I dont know what causes it -

 

[JScullin]

I'm getting this in my 2000 Cougar with a stock shifter/tranny. Only difference is I had swapped from an ATX last month so I just thought it's how it just felt so I didn't think differently of it. But it sounds like I'm getting what you describe, a sort of 2-3 extra notches it goes through or like sifting through gravel.

When I was getting back into the hang of shifting I thought the car was in gear it would catch so much and would stall.

 

[Matty K]

We think it's incorrectly dialed-in (or worn out) roll restrictors. I'll post when we fix mine to say if that's it.

FYI: Apparently the cable is a very particular length. If the engine and trans rotate under load, it tugs the cable. We think that's what this is.

 

[KyleQ]

Yeah - if I redline it in 1st, I cant get it into second all of the way and it grinds, like the teeth are just ever so slightly engauging. If I shift at anything but redline, it is smooth as glass. I think it definatly has somthing to do with cable length and I'm getting a stab-o-shock to see if it makes a difference, the ES inserts definatly did.

 

[Livinsvt]

Sounds like similar issues as I have. Also a TH trans with new fluid. I have a new front restrictor with an ES insert and a solid filled rear, bolts tourqe to spec. After some cable adjustments it shifts great, except grinds in 4th gear and grind on third downshifts. Need to get to the bottom of this, its irritating. Def don't want to pull this trans for the third time . Don't really see how only 4th could be having an issue. Everything is new inside.

 

[Matty K]

We replaced/dialed in the RR's last night. HUGE improvement on shifting. I'll still get that "notched" feel once in a while, but there's no resistance to it anymore. Here's TH's procedure for correctly installing RR's:

http://www.fordcontour.org/index.php?showtopic=6810&hl=restrictor

We found that the easiest way to do it was to get the RR hole and the bracket's holes centered, and tighten the through-bolt down. Then go back and bolt the RR in place; we had to loosen the driver's side engine mount and pry the engine outwards slightly to get the rear one on, then put the front on, then re-tightened the mount. But, it centered the engine and RR bolt correctly.

 

[Matty K]

Update:

Problem's back. We're going to try this one more time, but from the beginning; we're going to "hang" the engine on a cherry picker, center it, install the mounts, install the R/R's, install the Stab-O-Shok... only this time with a poly-filled rear R/R, ES front insert, and Redcoat Streetlink. Movement will NOT be an issue, lol. I'll update in a few weeks.

 

[98TredSVT]

I'm interested to see how brandness's engine brace helps, I'm considering buying one even with my poly filled roll resistors.