Hey guys, so this may be a dumb question but id like to make sure i dont need to buy a new shifter. With my 02 Z engine on or off, and the shifter in neutral (M6) if i jiggle the shifter left and right if feels more stiff to the right. Now what im wondering that might be an issue is that when i put the shifter all the way to the left (towards my knee) it springs right back into center position, but when i put it all the way to the right (towards the passenger side) it will stick and not come back to center on its own, i have to tap it for it to spring back. Is this normal or in anyway an issue? Thanks for any and all input.

 

 

Oem or after market shifter?
The oem shifters don't have any internal centering springs. They have a rubber "bearing" of sorts. The shifter is mostly stamped steel.
Some of the after market shifters have centering springs. If yours does, it's possible that they can be changed.
I'm no transmission expert by any stretch, but what you're describing could be a symptom within the transmission rather than the shifter.
C5/Z06 shifters don't feel the same when the engine/transmission isn't operating. These are internal rail transmissions, not the old external linkage of years past.
If you have no issues with hard shifting/grinding/noises/popping out of gear, etc with the car in motion, you may not have any problems at all...

 

Thanks for the input so far hotwheels. The shifter is the oem one still, i dont have any issues grinding, noises, popping out, or with hard shifts, sometimes doesnt want to go into 1st when down shifting or if im sitting at a light in neutral then go to put in 1st i sometimes have to pull back out, repress the clutch n then it goes right in. maybe this is a tranny prob?

 

I'll say this... I had some SIMILIAR issues with my C5 Z06 and it's OEM shifter...

I could not get it to go into 1st ( at first it was intermittent, then not at all ) and trouble with reverse.

As it turned out, there's a big torx-head bolt that backed out on the linkage next to the shifter, and once I tightened it, the car shifted much better.

A few on here in the C5 tech area helped out walking me thru it and the thread should be around there still as it was just about 1 month or so ago...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-1st-gear.html

Not to say that IS your problem, but start small and inexpensive.

Good luck

 

my car does that sometimes also, has a new tranny in it though.....

Ill have to take a look at that bolt.

where abouts next to the shifter is it located?

 

It should want to center itself from either left or right, running or shut off.

Do a shifter alignment procedure - it's in the FSM but if you search the forum u should find it.



Also when's the last time the clutch & tranny fluid was serviced?

 

The TORX head bolts are a good place to start looking. The rubber bushings beneath the TORX head bolts are another possible problem as they can deteriorate. The metal Z06 bushings can be substituted, but you might experience some noise/vibration.
As I said, the oem shifter has only a rubber "bushing". Precision shouldn't be expected. The centering of the shifter is done within the transmission.
Someone not long ago reported they disassembled their oem shifter and packed the insides with grease. That might work for you.
Do you have any shops near by that specialize in Corvette work? Do you have any friends knowledgeable enough to check your car?
Sometimes the four 1/4-20 fasteners that secure the shifter assembly can become loose and cause issues. If you decide to DIY check the Torx bolts and bushings yourself, check those four fasteners as well. Check to confirm they're still torqued correctly. That's when you can do the alignment procedure.
Check the simple DIY things first before you have anyone open up your transmission or even replace your oem shifter.
Depending on your year of C5, there were some weak points. The shifting forks were made of aluminum. The later forks were improved. But, you're not having any shifting problems.

 

You might find these helpful...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...djustment.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1559896983-post15.html

 

Thanks guys! ill have to check in to all of this when i get home tonight. I change my clutch fluid pretty regularly and i actually just did it last night. ill keep you posted. Thanks again guys!