Hey guys, I just bought an 04 350z. It's silver in color and I love every inch of it! I've noticed being in there while driving or sitting at a stop light that the shifter vibrates alot! DOes everyone elses do this? Also, the first few days I had it, I never used to downshift and I would just put it in "N" and use the brakes. WHen it was time to go again, I wasn't able to put it in "1st" Now that I downshift it works, except sometimes I have to push a little hard. Is this normal, or is it something I should get checked out...

 

After coming from a 3-series, this is one of the first things I noticed. Its perfectly normal. After a while you get used to it and think of it as part of the sports car experience.

 

Your definately going to feel the vibrations through the shifter. I love that feeling personally.

 

Take the battery out!

 

Girls love vibrators....ooops I meant the vibration.

My girl friends love how the CNC shift **** slightly vibrates on idle....they think it's 'cute'

 

the vibration is meant to please your women so when your in the shop buying your utec management/exhaust or whatever she will be too occupied to complain.......

so yes all our shifters vibrate.... and its perfectly normal...... and cool......

 

My friend taught me stick on his 98 camaro 6mt and I remember at stop lights the shifter would vibrate like crazy. Its normal.

 

Thx everyone, I was a bit worried, now the only thing I'm worried about is losing my girlfriend to my shift ****!

 

Vibrating is normal.

If 1st gear doesn't get in, blip the gas without touching the clutch pedal and try again.
or
Going into second and then into 1st often help too.

 

Yup mine vibrates too! I just figured out like these guys said, its normal.

 

It is dependant on how carmakers isolate the shifter, less vibration leads to rubbery feel of the shifter, doesnt feel as connected. Its all about how you dampen the vibrations in the shifter fork. Also will depend on the how the engine is damped on the chassis, flywheel design etc.

 

I agree, much easier to get into 1st if you go into 2nd beforehand. I have the same problem with 1st if I don't.

 

the shifter vibrates to let you know the engine is in idle.

 

best not to downshift when slowing unless you match revs. The force required to push it in gear that you mentioned is the synchros working very hard and you'll wear them out prematurely if you keep that up.

 

Downshifting to slow down is tarded IMHO. Downshift is only acceptable if it's to pass say an M3 or STi

 

What do you mean, I was told to downshift by hundreds of people. Less wear on brakes. WHat I do is, lets say i'm going like 60mph and the light is red. I downshift into 5th and slowly let out the clutch till it catches without force. This entire time i'm slowly easing the brakes and eventually go through all gears. I never shift into 1st though. 2nd to N then stop...

 

what would you rather replace. Brake pads, or your synchros? I always brake. no downshifting for me

 

So when you guys are flying at 80 and slowing down froma race or just driving fast you just pop it in "N" and use the brakes to slow down??

 

If you were slowing down from a race to a normal speed, you'd leave it in gear, brake to the desired speed and continue along your merry way. When stoppong, leave it in the current gear while braking until you near a stop, then push the clutch in.

This is a very old topic of discussion here and well discussed; do a search on "downshifting" and see what you can find. Basically, it's much more preferable to put the wear on your brakes (that's what they're made for, after all) than the tranny and engine. I had to relearn the way I did things when I can over to a Z as well. I always used to downdhift in my Honda for the same reasons; dear old Dad taught me that it was better to save your brakes by using the engine to slow you down. BUT, in a high performance sports car, parts are designed to perform, and not made to last forever, so best to put the wear on the cheapest and easiest parts to replace (brakes).

 

Just hit the brakes, leave the car in gear and slow down.

Go to neutral, if you’re stopping, before the engine stalls.
or
Rev match to any gear you need to be to power out.


Synchros don’t wear much when you use your technique. Slipping the clutch does.