How To: Slightly Better Shifting on 5MT

[MyNameIsThien]

I noticed there seemed to be some slop in the shifter, and occasionally a high rpm shift got a 1-2 grind, even though the clutch is all the way in (I made sure it it). I did a little investigation as to where the slop was coming from. I had my patient wife shift from 1-2 then back, and then shift through all gears to see what was happening, while I watched under the hood.

As it turns out, where the cable housing attaches to the trans. case, there is some extra slop. When the cable moves in and out, the cable housing shifts in and out a little too. There is a metal plate that is held down with two 10mm bolts, which keeps the cable in place. Under the plate is a fairly soft rubber ring that holds the cable. In fact I think it's too soft (for aggresive driving that is)

I made a quick and dirty "washer" .03" thick, to put in place under the plate. I had to slot it to be able to drop it over the rubber part (think "U-shaped" piece). My thinking was that it would compress the rubber to make things stiffer. Well, so far it works! Shifting is crisper.

I started with a .03 washer and it seemed to work. Then, I tried tried a lot thicker washer, but .06" looked to be the thickest, while still being able to get the plate to sit flat when bolted down.



This is where it is. Still not easy to get at even with an SRI. The bottom bolt is a tight fit but with a little work comes off using a small 1/4" drive ratchet and 10mm socket.


Washer before smoothing out (you get the idea) I didn't find anything off-the-shelf so i made it.


Slip it on over the narrow part of the rubber, then slide back into position completely, so that it's flush with the surface shown. The inner dia. should fit over the piece of rubber sticking out. Bolt down the original plate back down over it. That's it. The nice thing is it's completely reversible if you decide to remove it. No modifications necessary.

I really wished Honda would have made the rubber piece out of urethane or at least a harder compound of rubber.

Information was transfered from Gen7Accord.com.

[timot_one]

I still have this washer thingy sitting on my kitchen table.  It's been sitting there for like 3 years and I have never installed it.  Maybe one day when it's warm.

[Heckler]

How to convert Hecklers slow slushbox to shift slightly better; 5AT - 6MT swap

[timot_one]

Talk to Mike Sedacca about that.  When I was at Cham's place on Tuesday, he had 2 TSX trannys there.  I'm sure he would sell you one when he gets back to Boston.

[fabulous010]

how about the corsport aluminum shifter cable bushings? would these make shifting smoother?
http://www.corsportusa.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_81&products_id=1120

[rjp6262]

how about the corsport aluminum shifter cable bushings? would these make shifting smoother?
http://www.corsportusa.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_81&products_id=1120

it makes the shifts feel more precise. smoother yes, and more sporty feeling at the same time.

can someone snap some better pictures of exactly where and how this is supposed to work?

[fabulous010]

there's a DIY for it on v6p net
http://www.v6performance.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77629&highlight=corsport+install

i think i will get this next...but i really want a SSK too!

[fabulous010]

there are more posts on it too. just too give you a better idea
http://www.v6performance.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77602

i also found this
http://www.corforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,4539.0.html

[sgrab]

I was under the hood and decided to try this. I didn't really get good results. When I shifted into third gear at high rpm my clutch would grind. So I took it off and all is well. Maybe the washer I used was to thick, idk. But I already have the corsport bushings which did a good job of cleaning up the slop.

[timot_one]

I never did this mod or found it necessary, and I have more tranny upgrades than most guys on this forum.  It's really not good to shift at high rpms regardless of whether you have this or not.

[hondaguy214]

+1 to Tim.

[SilverAccords06n12]

5 year old thread revival!  How long did you keep the washer in, and do you still think it was a good idea in hindsight?  Every few months I get the embarrassing 1st->2nd grind when I try to shift quickly.  I know Tim is correct about not winding out my engine, but, I dunno, I'm an idiot.

[timot_one]

Upgrade your clutch master cylinder. That would be more beneficial than the washer. Compared to 5 years ago, I have even more upgrades to my transmission and shift assembly. All I can suggest is that you shift slower. You're not trying to win races, so it makes no sense showing off and looking foolish when it doesn't work out.

[CrackerTeg]

Funny. My washers are still installed. Granted, I've made a few more additions in the shift assembly besides just that so I doubt it's making much of a difference now.

[SilverAccords06n12]

Alright, thanks guys.  I guess since I'm almost 30 I need to stop driving like a teenager.