Will a Aftermarket Shift Knob Help Smooth Out Shifts?

SunnyDays · 10-09-2018, 06:32 PM

Hey all,

The 370Z shifts have always felt quite notchy and require a good amount of force to slot in to gear.

Would a heavier shift knob help reduce these 2 issues?
And if so, what weight knob should I be aiming for.

I always liked the look of the titanium ball shaped knobs, is there anything I should be aware of with such knobs like these?

Thanks!

cooltoy · 10-09-2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Would a heavier shift knob help reduce these 2 issues?

Somewhat. Notchy is good. More precision.

Quote:

And if so, what weight knob should I be aiming for.

Tommy Kaira or its clone.

Quote:

I always liked the look of the titanium ball shaped knobs, is there anything I should be aware of with such knobs like these?

Titanium would be light.

cooltoy · 10-09-2018, 08:26 PM

best shift knob

nis350 · 10-09-2018, 09:54 PM

this isn't common based on my experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunnyDays

Hey all,
require a good amount of force to slot in to gear.

JARblue · 10-09-2018, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooltoy

Notchy is good.

If you are looking for a soft MT, you bought the wrong car. Try the Coolerworx shifter and see how it feels

400 grams is a solid weight to aim for. I'm just not sure it will accomplish what you are looking for.

ChopsZ · 10-09-2018, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooltoy

best shift knob

Post #280 is spot on! LOL

CRiZO · 10-09-2018, 11:42 PM

A heavier shift knob may not help, but it's worth a try. It may do the trick of masking the character of the Z's manual. You'll get used to whatever you're driving though.

It shouldn't take effort to get into gear though. Agreed on 400g. I had something similar in my MR2 and shifts felt great. Very much like you're "operating a machine".

ChopsZ · 10-09-2018, 11:51 PM

In my Miata's, I used the 2" ball VooDoo knob in the 2002 NB and the "Tall" JoyFast knob in the 1991 NA. I much preferred the JoyFast. In fact, I much preferred the NA as well.

As for the 370Z, I am really surprised and happy with the Z1 M-Spec. It's well balanced and weighs about as much as the stock knob. I'm really impressed with how it feels in the hand.

SunnyDays · 10-10-2018, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

this isn't common based on my experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

If you are looking for a soft MT, you bought the wrong car. Try the Coolerworx shifter and see how it feels

400 grams is a solid weight to aim for. I'm just not sure it will accomplish what you are looking for.

When I say difficult or heavy I mean in comparison to other cars that seem to be buttery smooth such as an S2K

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRiZO

A heavier shift knob may not help, but it's worth a try. It may do the trick of masking the character of the Z's manual. You'll get used to whatever you're driving though.

It shouldn't take effort to get into gear though. Agreed on 400g. I had something similar in my MR2 and shifts felt great. Very much like you're "operating a machine".

Ahh excellent, I have seen a knob I like that is 500g, I am just not sure what to expect in terms of feel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooltoy

Somewhat. Notchy is good. More precision.

Tommy Kaira or its clone.

Titanium would be light.

Thanks dude, I have seen a shift knob I like that is around 500g, when I said titanium I just meant the titanium look. What should I expect to feel in terms of difference shifting with a heavier knob?

cooltoy · 10-10-2018, 08:25 AM

I think it made it a touch easier.

StormWhite · 10-10-2018, 08:42 AM

When I bought my MT 370Z over a year ago I found the gears very precise and somewhat difficult. However, after a few weeks the problem disappeared - I improved my gear changes.

BTW I have never owned an Auto.

KingTdot · 10-15-2018, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChopsZ

In my Miata's, I used the 2" ball VooDoo knob in the 2002 NB and the "Tall" JoyFast knob in the 1991 NA. I much preferred the JoyFast. In fact, I much preferred the NA as well.

As for the 370Z, I am really surprised and happy with the Z1 M-Spec. It's well balanced and weighs about as much as the stock knob. I'm really impressed with how it feels in the hand.

How did you get the stock shift knob off? I tried taking it off the other day and looked at youtube videos but it was too difficult and most of them ruined the stock one.

JLarson · 10-16-2018, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingTdot

How did you get the stock shift knob off? I tried taking it off the other day and looked at youtube videos but it was too difficult and most of them ruined the stock one.

Use a strap wrench.

cooltoy · 10-16-2018, 08:21 AM

OEM shift knob removal (SEARCHED)

Shift Knob Removal -All you need

Cyber370 · 10-16-2018, 01:26 PM

I wrapped a lot of painters tape around the knob until it was nice and thick and the size of a baseball. I then used a pair of vice grips at the bottom of the shaft (to keep it from turning) and a large monkey wrench on the knob. It took a lot of brute force but I got it off without damaging it. Hope this helps.

By the way, I had no luck with a strap wrench. The strap snapped on the first try.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-09-2018, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
SunnyDays Base Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: United Kingdom, Posts: 76 Drives: Nismo 370Z Rep Power: 9	Will a Aftermarket Shift Knob Help Smooth Out Shifts? Hey all, The 370Z shifts have always felt quite notchy and require a good amount of force to slot in to gear. Would a heavier shift knob help reduce these 2 issues? And if so, what weight knob should I be aiming for. I always liked the look of the titanium ball shaped knobs, is there anything I should be aware of with such knobs like these? Thanks!

10-09-2018, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
cooltoy Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Calgary Posts: 13,973 Drives: 14 PW 370Z S/T MT Rep Power: 243722	best shift knob Boomzig and ChopsZ like this. __________________ Member of kenchan's "photoshopped mods" and "proper offsets" gang.

10-09-2018, 11:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
ChopsZ Track Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Central Florida Age: 49 Posts: 965 Drives: 2016 370Z GM 6MT Rep Power: 2301	In my Miata's, I used the 2" ball VooDoo knob in the 2002 NB and the "Tall" JoyFast knob in the 1991 NA. I much preferred the JoyFast. In fact, I much preferred the NA as well. As for the 370Z, I am really surprised and happy with the Z1 M-Spec. It's well balanced and weighs about as much as the stock knob. I'm really impressed with how it feels in the hand. NISMO IX likes this. __________________ She's For Sale! PERFORMANCE: Aero Workz \| Akebono \| BC Racing \| EcuTek \| HKS \| MaxBore \| Motordyne \| Nismo \| RJM \| SPL \| StopTech \| Z1 AUDIO: Arc Audio \| Bazooka \| Helix \| Pioneer \| Stereo Integrity

10-10-2018, 08:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
cooltoy Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Calgary Posts: 13,973 Drives: 14 PW 370Z S/T MT Rep Power: 243722	I think it made it a touch easier. __________________ Member of kenchan's "photoshopped mods" and "proper offsets" gang.

10-16-2018, 08:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
cooltoy Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Calgary Posts: 13,973 Drives: 14 PW 370Z S/T MT Rep Power: 243722	OEM shift knob removal (SEARCHED) Shift Knob Removal -All you need __________________ Member of kenchan's "photoshopped mods" and "proper offsets" gang.

10-09-2018, 11:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
CRiZO Track Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 672 Drives: in traffic Rep Power: 20699	A heavier shift knob may not help, but it's worth a try. It may do the trick of masking the character of the Z's manual. You'll get used to whatever you're driving though. It shouldn't take effort to get into gear though. Agreed on 400g. I had something similar in my MR2 and shifts felt great. Very much like you're "operating a machine".

10-10-2018, 08:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
StormWhite Base Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Hampshire UK Posts: 225 Drives: 2017 370Z Coupe Rep Power: 74894	When I bought my MT 370Z over a year ago I found the gears very precise and somewhat difficult. However, after a few weeks the problem disappeared - I improved my gear changes. BTW I have never owned an Auto.

10-16-2018, 01:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cyber370 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 679 Drives: 2016 370Z Nismo 6MT Rep Power: 19372	Will a Aftermarket Shift Knob Help Smooth Out Shifts? I wrapped a lot of painters tape around the knob until it was nice and thick and the size of a baseball. I then used a pair of vice grips at the bottom of the shaft (to keep it from turning) and a large monkey wrench on the knob. It took a lot of brute force but I got it off without damaging it. Hope this helps. By the way, I had no luck with a strap wrench. The strap snapped on the first try. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ "That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shut the fck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence.”-Mia (Pulp Fiction)* Last edited by Cyber370; 10-16-2018 at 01:30 PM.

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