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After Jumping in a buddies C5 today I found that his shifter when in neutral stays in the center... ya pull it to the left or right then let it go it pops right back in the center....
Mine does not do that... it just stays where you put it never centers back... Is there springs in the shifter base that pull it back to center? Can I replace them?
An original shifter does not have centering springs...an after market shifter frequently does have centering springs.
Are you comparing apples to oranges?
An original shifter does not have centering springs...an after market shifter frequently does have centering springs.
Are you comparing apples to oranges?
His was a 2004 C5 Convertible.... stock as can be... Humm are you saying that all C5 shifters do not pop back to center when pushed to the left or right?
All C5 have centering springs in the tranny. AllVette's post details that very well. The early C5 trannys had POOR centering spring pressure from the 1st - 2nd gates to the 3rd-4th gate positions. The 5th-6th to 3rd-4th centering pressures were Ok.
My 98 coupe had really poor 1st - 2nd gates to the 3rd-4th gate centering pressure. Its really easy to hit the 2nd gear gate when shifting from 3rd to 4th. Your valve train will NOT like that mistake at all!!!
So, what I would recommend is to install an aftermarket shifter with additional centering springs. As abraswell stated, the KIRBAN is an EXCELLENT choice and very high quality shifter. I replaced the OEM shifter in my 98 coupe and a KIRBAN it was a NIGHT & DAY difference!!!!!!!!!! It made shifting a PLEASURE!
Its now in my 02 ZO6 and everyone who has ever driven my Z comments on how nice it shifts!