Shifter shaking!

RyanWest · 10-02-2014, 10:19 AM

Ever since I installed my B&M shifter guys ive noticed the entire shifter shakes bad. It seems to be getting worse.

I am feeling a slight shake in the steering wheel with normal driving. So I'm thinking I need a alignment or wheels balanced....

Any suggestions? Shifter bushings?

aszyd · 10-02-2014, 10:34 AM

IMO, even the stock shifter shakes "bad." I believe the common recommendation is a weighted shift knob. I have a full TWM setup and it still shakes, albeit less noticeably than before.

Steering wheel shake is probably a wheel balance issue.

RyanWest · 10-02-2014, 10:46 AM

My car sits in the garage most of the time. Driving it yesterday I noticed it shaking a lot more. Wonder if upgrading diff bushings and what not might help :/

SouthArk370Z · 10-02-2014, 11:02 AM

The shake in the steering wheel may be brake rotor glazing. Make a few 60-5 mph "panic" brakes. Don't come to a complete stop until the pads/rotors have had time to cool a bit. That may clear up the problem. If not, then aszyd is probably right about tires needing to be balanced. It could also be an alignment problem, bad tire, or warped rotor.

Akurei · 10-02-2014, 12:07 PM

If you jack the front of your car up (tires off the ground), you can grab the side of the wheel and try to wiggle the wheel toward you and away from you pulling and pushing on the sides of the wheel (The directions you can turn the steering wheel). If theres play and you hear something clattering, could be tie rods or bushings, its good to have someonne look while you shake.

If you grab the tire from the top and bottom then shake/wiggle it by camber movement, pushing and pulling and if theres play and noise, it can indicate balljoints or bushings as well.

If your wheels feel solid and is not shaking, then make sure your tires aren't cupped or and balls/tumors, rotors aren't warped, rims aren't dent. If you feel only shaking when pressing the brake pedal, that is your rotors, if you feel shaking at all times while rolling, that is tires or rims or both. A wheel balance will also let you know if your rims have been damaged as they won't be able to be balanced back into spec.

Hope this helps

Akurei · 10-02-2014, 12:35 PM

Oh yeah, as far as the shifter, dunno. If it happened after you installed the shifter then maybe you need to tighten it a bit more or it isn't the right fit. Make sure the bushings are good if there are bushings and whatever else may be in there (I haven't looked)

BuckeyeZ · 10-02-2014, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanWest

My car sits in the garage most of the time.

Depending on your tires and the floor temperature, your tires will flat spot. It is the nature of 'summer compound tires'. If they sit for a short amount of time, the flat spot will disappear after a little driving and the tires warm up. Long-term parking will cause permanent tire damage (flat spots).

Shotta · 10-02-2014, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanWest

My car sits in the garage most of the time. Driving it yesterday I noticed it shaking a lot more. Wonder if upgrading diff bushings and what not might help :/

Get out there and drive that thing. I drive my sports cars as much as I can and could not care less about resale or trade in value(not saying that's your reason for not driving it). I work from home but still put on about 25,000 KM's per year.

Shotta · 10-02-2014, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeZ

Depending on your tires and the floor temperature, your tires will flat spot. It is the nature of 'summer compound tires'. If they sit for a short amount of time, the flat spot will disappear after a little driving and the tires warm up. Long-term parking will cause permanent tire damage (flat spots).

I think it would have to be a very extended time to cause an issue. Mine sits all winter so approx 4 months in an unheated garage and the flat spots are brutal when I first start driving but are gone within 10 minutes.

Maybe with other tire brands it would be an issue but I haven't come across that yet in 20+ years.

RyanWest · 10-02-2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeZ

Depending on your tires and the floor temperature, your tires will flat spot. It is the nature of 'summer compound tires'. If they sit for a short amount of time, the flat spot will disappear after a little driving and the tires warm up. Long-term parking will cause permanent tire damage (flat spots).

This is what i'm thinking it is. Rotors are brand new.

Car does sit for a long period of time until I feel like letting her get a tan.

Maybe I should leave it on jacks??

RyanWest · 10-02-2014, 02:58 PM

Checked the back wheels. No shake or movement. Two front lug nuts were a tad bit loose...

Hotrodz · 10-02-2014, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aszyd

IMO, even the stock shifter shakes "bad." I believe the common recommendation is a weighted shift knob. I have a full TWM setup and it still shakes, albeit less noticeably than before.

Steering wheel shake is probably a wheel balance issue.

I have the same short shifter, but with a TK heavy shift knob and I don't notice any shaking at all or at least no more than normal.

Minsu · 10-02-2014, 08:01 PM

its normal

BuckeyeZ · 10-02-2014, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shotta

I think it would have to be a very extended time to cause an issue. Mine sits all winter so approx 4 months in an unheated garage and the flat spots are brutal when I first start driving but are gone within 10 minutes.

Maybe with other tire brands it would be an issue but I haven't come across that yet in 20+ years.

I think if you have already heat cycled your tires it may be less likely. I know for a fact that new tires will flat spot in about 3 months if they are left to sit.

You may be correct in that it may be brand specific.

10-02-2014, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 33	Shifter shaking! Ever since I installed my B&M shifter guys ive noticed the entire shifter shakes bad. It seems to be getting worse. I am feeling a slight shake in the steering wheel with normal driving. So I'm thinking I need a alignment or wheels balanced.... Any suggestions? Shifter bushings? Last edited by RyanWest; 10-02-2014 at 10:27 AM.

10-02-2014, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
aszyd Track Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 877 Drives: Magma Red 370z T+S Rep Power: 21	IMO, even the stock shifter shakes "bad." I believe the common recommendation is a weighted shift knob. I have a full TWM setup and it still shakes, albeit less noticeably than before. Steering wheel shake is probably a wheel balance issue. Shotta likes this. __________________ Competition Clutch\|Fast Intentions\|Maxbore\|NST\|Setrab\|Stillen\|Tomei\|Uprev\| Z1 Avant Garde\|SPC\|Stance\|Whiteline Aerojacket\|Seibon\|Tanabe\|TRS\|TWM

10-02-2014, 11:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	The shake in the steering wheel may be brake rotor glazing. Make a few 60-5 mph "panic" brakes. Don't come to a complete stop until the pads/rotors have had time to cool a bit. That may clear up the problem. If not, then aszyd is probably right about tires needing to be balanced. It could also be an alignment problem, bad tire, or warped rotor. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

10-02-2014, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Akurei Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: California Posts: 319 Drives: 14 370z Rep Power: 11	If you jack the front of your car up (tires off the ground), you can grab the side of the wheel and try to wiggle the wheel toward you and away from you pulling and pushing on the sides of the wheel (The directions you can turn the steering wheel). If theres play and you hear something clattering, could be tie rods or bushings, its good to have someonne look while you shake. If you grab the tire from the top and bottom then shake/wiggle it by camber movement, pushing and pulling and if theres play and noise, it can indicate balljoints or bushings as well. If your wheels feel solid and is not shaking, then make sure your tires aren't cupped or and balls/tumors, rotors aren't warped, rims aren't dent. If you feel only shaking when pressing the brake pedal, that is your rotors, if you feel shaking at all times while rolling, that is tires or rims or both. A wheel balance will also let you know if your rims have been damaged as they won't be able to be balanced back into spec. Hope this helps SouthArk370Z and aszyd like this. Last edited by Akurei; 10-02-2014 at 12:12 PM.

10-02-2014, 08:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
Minsu A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,401 Drives: 2013 MidBlue 370Z 6M Rep Power: 24	its normal __________________ I figured, Get High, Take the Test High, Get HIGH Scoes

10-02-2014, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 33	My car sits in the garage most of the time. Driving it yesterday I noticed it shaking a lot more. Wonder if upgrading diff bushings and what not might help :/

10-02-2014, 12:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Akurei Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: California Posts: 319 Drives: 14 370z Rep Power: 11	Oh yeah, as far as the shifter, dunno. If it happened after you installed the shifter then maybe you need to tighten it a bit more or it isn't the right fit. Make sure the bushings are good if there are bushings and whatever else may be in there (I haven't looked)

10-02-2014, 02:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
RyanWest Track Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tamp, Fl Posts: 714 Drives: 2009 Nissan Rep Power: 33	Checked the back wheels. No shake or movement. Two front lug nuts were a tad bit loose...

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