Have a 7AT? The best $2 mod ever!

jmlenz · 02-13-2011, 01:58 AM

When I got my 7AT in December one of the first things I noticed was the heavy resistance and long travel of the paddle shifters. Now maybe Im spoiled coming from an E60 M5, whos SMG paddles were short travel, and required very little effort, but I feel these paddles could use some improvement.

Well here is the fix ladies and gentlemen...$2 3M rubber bumpers! Stick these little suckers on the back of the paddles (right where the bumpers would make contact with the steering column plastic) and viola! Very little travel and almost no effort to upshift/downshift now. These basically take up the slack on the paddles and in turn reduce the "heavy" feeling and long travel. Give it a try...you'll love it! The tranny even seems more responsive (placebo obviously) because it seems to have a more immediate feeling to the paddle selection. You can even file down the bumpers a bit if you want a bit more travel.

These are what I used, they are .14" thick --> Shop 3M: 3M Self-Stick Rubber Pads, 751ES, Clear

Installed...one on each side...

Mr&Mrs · 02-13-2011, 02:09 AM

Cool, thanks.

One_Quick_Z · 02-13-2011, 12:34 PM

Cool Idea I might have to try this

DAN

Alexshen1 · 02-13-2011, 12:42 PM

ordered !

kenchan · 02-13-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexshen1

ordered !

Go to your local office supply store or ace. Lol

dwntwnall4u · 02-13-2011, 04:25 PM

About how much travel is left now after mod? Reason I ask is that I hope it is not too close to the actual shift trip point of the paddle that could accidently change the gears.

SPOHN · 02-13-2011, 05:04 PM

Nice mod. Repped

ChrisSlicks · 02-13-2011, 05:43 PM

Creative.

Vegitto-kun · 02-13-2011, 07:58 PM

I don't know I like the feel of the paddles. and resistance? I flip them barely using a finger, its like a gentle stroke

Waiz · 02-13-2011, 08:11 PM

Nice job OP.

I know know there is nothing that 3M doesn't have a solution for

jmlenz · 02-14-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwntwnall4u

About how much travel is left now after mod? Reason I ask is that I hope it is not too close to the actual shift trip point of the paddle that could accidently change the gears.

I was concerned about this as well but the thickness of this particular bumper worked like a charm the first time. Honestly, I think it is as close to the "trip" point as you want to be, any thicker and the paddles probably wouldnt engage. There is no slop any more, very little travel and barely any effort. If feels very similar to the BMW SMG/DCT paddle setup in regards to resistance and travel now. Ive been driving a few days on these bumpers and am stoked the difference a couple bucks made

And yes you dont need to order these, I got mine at CVS! most any office supply store should have them.

Sibze · 02-14-2011, 07:22 PM

Sweet. I'll have to give this a try!

Ztoon · 02-14-2011, 07:44 PM

Thinking outside the box! Good idea! Going to give try it.

Patent?...... How bout ... "The Jmlenz Pad"

jmlenz · 02-15-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztoon

Thinking outside the box! Good idea! Going to give try it.

Patent?...... How bout ... "The Jmlenz Pad"

haha maybe your on to something Ztoon! I should become a vendor and sell em for 3 bucks

pty370z · 02-15-2011, 06:32 PM

Incredible.. A $2 short-throw-shifter for the 7AT... Great job man..

I'm gonna convert my Z from MT to AT just to do this..........

02-13-2011, 01:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
jmlenz Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 645 Drives: a car Rep Power: 643	Have a 7AT? The best $2 mod ever! When I got my 7AT in December one of the first things I noticed was the heavy resistance and long travel of the paddle shifters. Now maybe Im spoiled coming from an E60 M5, whos SMG paddles were short travel, and required very little effort, but I feel these paddles could use some improvement. Well here is the fix ladies and gentlemen...$2 3M rubber bumpers! Stick these little suckers on the back of the paddles (right where the bumpers would make contact with the steering column plastic) and viola! Very little travel and almost no effort to upshift/downshift now. These basically take up the slack on the paddles and in turn reduce the "heavy" feeling and long travel. Give it a try...you'll love it! The tranny even seems more responsive (placebo obviously) because it seems to have a more immediate feeling to the paddle selection. You can even file down the bumpers a bit if you want a bit more travel. These are what I used, they are .14" thick --> Shop 3M: 3M Self-Stick Rubber Pads, 751ES, Clear Installed...one on each side... ElVee likes this.

02-13-2011, 12:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
One_Quick_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Seneca Il Posts: 1,374 Drives: 10 Civic EX Sedan Rep Power: 219	Cool Idea I might have to try this DAN __________________ -My BRZ with exhaust will decimate all if we overnight parts from Japan- 10 Civic EX Sedan- Current Daily

02-13-2011, 04:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
dwntwnall4u Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego/ Hawaii Posts: 158 Drives: 2011 370Z AT,S,T,PW Rep Power: 15	About how much travel is left now after mod? Reason I ask is that I hope it is not too close to the actual shift trip point of the paddle that could accidently change the gears. __________________ Working my *ss off for a GTM Rotrex SC to go with my 2006 URD Rotrex SC 4x4 Tacoma.

02-13-2011, 05:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Nice mod. Repped __________________

02-13-2011, 05:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Creative. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

02-13-2011, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mr&Mrs A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,207 Drives: RZ34 Rep Power: 31940	Cool, thanks.

02-13-2011, 12:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Alexshen1 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 154 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 15	ordered !

02-13-2011, 07:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 262	I don't know I like the feel of the paddles. and resistance? I flip them barely using a finger, its like a gentle stroke

02-13-2011, 08:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	Nice job OP. I know know there is nothing that 3M doesn't have a solution for

02-14-2011, 07:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
Sibze A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 16,202 Drives: In your way Rep Power: 63	Sweet. I'll have to give this a try! __________________ RIP Tony.

02-14-2011, 07:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ztoon Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: B.C. Posts: 578 Drives: '09 370a7 Rep Power: 25	Thinking outside the box! Good idea! Going to give try it. Patent?...... How bout ... "The Jmlenz Pad" __________________ Stillen G3\|CBE\|ground kit, F.I. H.F.C., C.F. fangs\|mirrors\|pillars, Hotchkis, SSR Type-F, RE-11, UpRev, BC BR coilovers 15% tint, LED black hdlts, color match handles, Dynamat, tail lt. tint, Mines C.F. frt. lip\|rear spoiler, Amuse rear,skirts, vented fenders, c.f. vented hood, gloss blk. roof

02-15-2011, 06:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
pty370z Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Panama City, Panama Posts: 654 Drives: over the speed limit Rep Power: 17	Incredible.. A $2 short-throw-shifter for the 7AT... Great job man.. I'm gonna convert my Z from MT to AT just to do this.......... RoshDawg and CDepp like this. __________________ 2010 Solid Red 370Z * *Touring-Sport-6MT Black Interior Performance:** STILLEN * BERK * UR * MISHIMOTO * K&N * Z1 * ZSPEED * UPREV * DBA Interior: GT-R Red Start/Stop Button * MSA Floor Mats * PW:JDM Exterior: INGS+1 * SEIBON * FUJIMURA * PW:JDM * UAM * KICS * VOLK