Sticky Shifter 6 Speed
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 801
Likes: 31
Sticky Shifter 6 Speed
I drove my brother's C5 base model last night. It is a 6 speed manual with 131,xxx miles on it. First thing I noticed is the shifter doesn't not seem anywhere near as smooth as my C4Z. I noticed also that the shifter will stick in its position if you push it to the left or right while in Neutral. It doesn't naturally go back to the center of neutral. Is this typical in the C5 or just higher mileage C5's? Any thoughts on what to look at?
I posted this in the general section, but they told me to move it over here.
I posted this in the general section, but they told me to move it over here.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I will FIRST ask what year C5 you drove????? The reason; Early C5s had weak shifter centering springs. My 98 Coupe centering springs SUCKED and I experienced exactly what you are experiencing!
However,,, With that said; My 02 ZO6 and other late model C5 that I have driven, DO NOT have the same issues.
You would THINK that those CENTERING SPRINGS would be located inside the shifter BUT,, you would be wrong. The shifter does NOT have any gates or centering springs. If you remove the top part of the shifter, the shift handle will FLOP AROUND like a limp dish rag.
The actual shifter handle return spring is located inside the transmission and so are the actual SHIFT GATES. The spring is located on a plate in on the cover
The SHIFT GATES are located here:
Here is a STOCK C5 lower housing and top shift plate/handle:
Here is a picture of a STOCK C5 shifter (left) and Aftermarket Shifter (right). The aftermarket has additional centering springs in the shifter body and return back to the center 3rd/4th/N gate nicely!
You can take the TOP off of the shifter and lubricate that yoke and sometimes free up the shift rod and make it return nicer.
Bill
However,,, With that said; My 02 ZO6 and other late model C5 that I have driven, DO NOT have the same issues.
You would THINK that those CENTERING SPRINGS would be located inside the shifter BUT,, you would be wrong. The shifter does NOT have any gates or centering springs. If you remove the top part of the shifter, the shift handle will FLOP AROUND like a limp dish rag.
The actual shifter handle return spring is located inside the transmission and so are the actual SHIFT GATES. The spring is located on a plate in on the cover
The SHIFT GATES are located here:
Here is a STOCK C5 lower housing and top shift plate/handle:
Here is a picture of a STOCK C5 shifter (left) and Aftermarket Shifter (right). The aftermarket has additional centering springs in the shifter body and return back to the center 3rd/4th/N gate nicely!
You can take the TOP off of the shifter and lubricate that yoke and sometimes free up the shift rod and make it return nicer.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 544
From: Appleton WI
I agree with Bill Curly's statements above as can be evidenced in my response to your post in the General section.
As always, nice job with the pictures Bill.
As always, nice job with the pictures Bill.
Last edited by 3sACROWD; Dec 28, 2016 at 07:02 AM.
