This is my own info, having rebuilt my own M12 T56 I can tell you that the only thing keeping a load off the fork pads is that detent holding the shift rod in the right position. There is another small internal "detent", I call it the shift pattern detent since it has a shift pattern plate, but the spring is fairly weak and I doubt it alone can keep the transmission's shift rod properly positioned against any reasonable load.

I'm not saying that the fork pads will wear through if you remove the detent, I'm just saying that the fork pads will have accelerated wear due to any small force constantly applied to the shifter while cruising (like resting your hand on the shift ****). My car, to my knowledge, had never had the detent messed with prior to me rebuilding the transmission, and all of the plastic fork pads showed more wear than I was comfortable with, and that's on a transmission with mostly easy street miles.

I replaced my fork pads with bronze ones while I had it appart.

It is only my opinion that removing the detent will cause accelerated fork pad wear, but I challenge anyone to prove me wrong with facts or data.

The detent will also keep the tranny in gear when there is no load on the transmission (ie. when letting off the gas to coast, or stepping on the gas from coasting). I had my detent backed out for a while and the tranny never popped out of gear, so I don't see that being much of an issue, but it could happen I guess.

My detent is now back in and will stay that way.

 

Anyone know if my DTE strut brace is in the way of doing this mod? If so is it just a matter of taking one rod down to access?

I have a B&M shifter and find it to be as many do a bit notchy. I'm thinking that if i can get this thing to shift a bit smoother I'll be able to row the gears much faster and easier. Anyone do this mod with a aftermarket shifter like the B&M?

 

Not having a clue about trannys you guys are all talking over my head. Can this mod be used on a stock shifter to take away the horrible shifting characteristics? If so what size washer should I use?

 

No problem to do. It's on the passenger side. 24MM socket up high by the shifter rods. It works on any shifter. Did it with a Hurst.


Not having a clue about trannys you guys are all talking over my head. Can this mod be used on a stock shifter to take away the horrible shifting characteristics? If so what size washer should I use?

Yes. 20mm oil pan bolt washers.

 

This is exactly what I did and I likes it with my Hurst.

 

Accomplished yesterday. Now to get around to actually DOING the mod.

Interesting information. Playing the devils advocate here, I have a retort. The C5 is the ONLY car I can find which has this shifter detent ball and retainer bolt. I've been all over 4th Gen F-Body's and never seen it, crawled around my buddies 05 GTO and not seen it, and AFAIK the Terminators don't have it either. So I am presuming that the Vette has it due to the remote location of the shifter in relation to the transmission. That being the case, wouldn't it be there to provide a more positive feel given the linkage between the shifter and tranny, and with it removed would be more like an F-Body with the shifter on the tranny tail shaft?

I'll test my theory once I do this mod given I have a 4th Gen F-Body in the garage next to the vette.

Just my thoughts, no factual data or anything to support.

 

Interesting... I was not aware of that. As I mention above, there is a small detent inside the transmission I call the "shift pattern" detent (since it has the shift pattern shape). This is basically a small ball on a spring that moves around a series of grooves and holes, but it's so small and weak I doubt it can keep the shift rod centered against any reasonable load.

With the heavier detent only being on the C5, could it be that this is strictly to keep the car in gear during dynamic braking loads when there is no direct load on the transmission? Maybe the ABS pulses are enough to pull the tranny out of gear with the clutch pedal pushed in? This would be a factor over the F-Body for two reasons, one being the extra weight of the shift linkage, and two being the higher braking forces the 'Vette can generate.

I know one thing is for sure, that with the external detent removed the shifter feedback turns vague... no real indication that the car is even in gear when you move the lever. This is why I say that, without the external detent, pretty much ANY load on the shifter will cause wear on the fork pads. I just thought I'd put it out there since I cruise with my hand on the shifter all the time, and with the detent removed I could actually feel the load I was putting on the tranny.

Just thought I'd throw it out there for those who were interested.

 

I don't advocate removing the detent spring only reducing the pressure by using the washer modification.

I did this the other weekend on my brothers FRC in combination with a C6 Z06 shifter modification. This combination works well. There is postive engagement and locking of the shifter into each gear.

By keeping your hand on the shift **** you cause excessive wear of the shift forks and gears.

 

I havent installed my ripper yet, but as long as i am not pulling my muscle's everytime i go to change gears. I think I will stick with the notchiness and leave the tranny alone.Cheers

 

I did the washer mod and drove the car this way for about 2 weeks. I did not like it and removed the washer. The washer makes the shifter feel sloppy. I like being able to feel where the gears are.

 

Is that with a stock shifter? If so, I can understand that it would feel sloppy. Like Higgs Boson, I did the mod on my '03 Z with a Hurst shifter and C5R Delrin ****, which is shorter than the stock ****. I used 2 washers, and it works well. Still a very distinct shift gate into
5th, but less effort and notchiness.

 

I don't see why people like this mod? It makes the shifting sloppy and takes the "feel" out of it. It makes the car feel like its has a worn out trans with 250,000 miles on it.

 

...not so, unless you use a washer 1/8" or thicker. I used one copper washer which I worked with 320 grit down to approx. 3/32".

 

I used a 1/8" thk washer on my hurst and it felt very sloppy. It was not the mod for me.

 

It's gotta be there for a reason! Thanks for saving me from tearing my tranny up uneccessarily!!!!

 

It's purely subjective "feel". Some people say the OEM setup feels too notchy, like it's a tractor gearbox, and they want something that feels more like a Honda gearbox -- easy to shift. Other people think that Honda gearbox feel is no feel at all, or like you, it feels like an old and worn out gearbox. I tried with varying thicknesses and I like a reduced notchiness, but agree that the 1/8" washer makes it feel sloppy. But again, it's all just personal opinion.

 

At this very moment, I have my car jacked up sitting on stands in preperation to do this mod. I signed in to CF to find out exactly where the detent was located and came across this gem. I think I'll hold off to do a bit more research on the effects.

Thanks for the info

 

I did this "anti venom" washer mod after I installed my C6 z06 shifter. Shift effort is significantly reduced and I haven't had an issue with vague shifting as some complain about. It definitely feels more like a honda and less less a truck....but for my daily driver, I didn't want to have to yank the lever as hard and this did the job well.

So far no complaints. I already have 135k on the trans and motor and probably 4,000mi with this mod, so if anything fails in the tranny, I can't really blame it on this specific mod.

 

A suggestion: If you have the car already on the stands, do the mod!! befoer you take the car back down, try the shifter. If you don't like it, remove a washer. If you still don't like it, remove them all and go back to stock. If you don't try it, how will you ever know what it feels like?

 

Don't have the cheap plastic fork pads, as I had my tranny upgraded by RPM.

Also you are not suppose to hold onto your shifter with any car as that will grind down your forks. If you this, it doesn't matter whether you did the mod or not you're going to grind down your forks.