When you Shift

SteveBad

I am 64 yrs old, and have owned nothing but stickshifts. This Z is my 15th lifetime vehicle, and to see me drive it you would swear it was my first driving lesson...........until I got rid of that silly clutch helper spring. Lose the spring, and it drives as a proper car should.

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Vaughanabe13

This has been covered before and everyone always jumps straight toward "replace the helper spring", but that is not the problem here (although I recommend you definitely do that anyway). That only helps feeling the engagement point. In the lower gears you need to raise the RPM into the 4K range at least if you want smooth, fast shifts. This car likes higher rpm. Otherwise if you try to shift too fast <3K it will jerk. When you clutch in, SRM holds the revs for a split second while the computer is determining how you're going to shift, then the revs finally start to fall. This means if your revs are held low and you try to clutch out too fast on the next gear, the revs would not have fallen fast enough and it won't be smooth.

Just remember - High rpm -> shift fast. Low rpm -> shift slow. That is the only way to prevent jerking and feeling like you're doing something wrong in this car. This is with the SRM on.

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2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, w/sport, 6MT, chicane yellow/black.

RoshDawg

Is removing the spring better than replacing it? I replaced mine and I don't seem to have the same reaction as everyone else who's done it. I personally think its the flywheel. I feel like I'm waiting around awhile on up shifts for the revs to come down. Downshifting is perfect.

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Tiny Tokes

Had the same "feel" when I got my Nismo... Do yourself a favor, check out the threads on the RJM clutch replacement. Best money spent on a mod. You can adjust the fulcrom point (did I spell that right?) and engagement point... Pure bliss...

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P's_Z

+1, but i actually replaced mine with the "aftermarket" spring which provides less assistance and now the Z feels like a proper sports car

Magic Bus

I replaced mine with the softer spring and I felt it helped with feel. However you still have to shift like Vaughanabe stated above.

///PureSwank

Something is wrong. I will softly run the clutch until it grabs with MINIMAL gas to it. Never had a problem. Check your tranny. As smootg as an auto during change.

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/Angelo350Z/

Am I the only one who thinks the Z's clutch feels fine as it is?

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2013 MB NISSAN 370Z SPORT

Minsu

yea thats what i do as well then i tap the gas a couple a times to get me rollin a bit before i give it steady gas. tranny is fine i think lol

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G37Sam

I drove an MT 370Z the other day and the first thing I noticed was how soft and emotionless the clutch pedal was. I'd remove the helper springs before taking it off the dealer lot if I were to buy one. What background does your friend have that qualifies his advice to be so holy?

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Shade

... more rpm's help a lot with the shift 1st to 2nd...

IDZRVIT

My Z shifts fine, skips gears without issue, power shifts great, etc. Learn where the clutch engagement point is and you won't need to do anything else except practice your shifting.

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Chuck33079

Nothing's wrong with the tranny. He's been driving a manual for a week. Don't scare him.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

MyKindaGuise

Am I the only one who enjoys how the stock clutch pedal feels? haha

This all sounds like human error and needing to just get used to the car. It took me a solid week to get everything perfect. But I did have a month of practice driving a manual before I bought the Z.

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jburke26

Please just remove the spring and replace it with the lighter spring. Its MUCH MUCH better. I think you may be over analyzing your shifting. Just do what feels right and it becomes natural.