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I just picked up a 2003 Z06 with 75000 miles on the car. I don't know if the transmission fluid or rear diff fluid has been changed. The shifter is very stiff. It is almost hard to shift gears. I took apart the console and lubed up the shifter. It is a little better but not where it should be IMO.
Is this a common problem? Anyway to cure this issue?
Last edited by billy mild; Apr 11, 2018 at 09:10 PM.
Factory or aftermarket shifter? Is it aligned properly? A fluid change would likely help, Royal Purple Synchromax and Amsoil Torque Drive are both good. If it's still too hard to shift try the anti venom mod using 1 washer.
Try 1 washer first and don't put any grease on the detent ball, it's lubricated by the trans fluid.
Steve
I changed the transmission fluid but have not driven it yet. I probably will need to drive it for the new transmission fluid to lubricate it. Then I should see a little different.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
do you have any pics of your shifter just to make sure that it is stock?... with the car off and foot off the clutch pedal does it shift the same or is it less difficult?
do you have any pics of your shifter just to make sure that it is stock?... with the car off and foot off the clutch pedal does it shift the same or is it less difficult?
It is the same effort with or without clutching when engine is off.
It is a stock shifter. It doesn't really spring back to the center like it should, and overall is just a shizzy shifter.
I purchased a low mileage C6 ZR1 shifter assembly to swap into my car. It came with ****, lever, lower box, and the shifter linkage. After installing it and aligning the shifter the effort seemed about the same. I noticed that you can see the front part of the linkage from the hole in the center console. I lifted the rubber sleeve with a pick and sprayed some lubricating oil in there. I moved the shifter through the gears. It made a little difference. So I sprayed some more and did the same thing. It seems the stiffness has been reduced.
So my next question: Can you lubricate the rear linkage u joint? I think that is causing the other part of my issue. I tried a standard 1997 C5 and it was easy to shift compared to my car. So there is an issue of some sort.