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Old Mar 30, 2018 | 09:48 PM
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Default Stiff shifter (UPDATE)

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.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 12:10 AM
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Moved to C5 Tech.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 01:01 AM
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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.

Steve
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 06:54 AM
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Stock shifter. Car is pretty much all stock. How do you know if the shifter alignment is good?
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by billy mild
Stock shifter. Car is pretty much all stock. How do you know if the shifter alignment is good?
. When I bought mine it wasn't so much stiff but notchy and sometimes hard to get into 1st. Put a C6 Z06 shifter in and now works much better.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 05:21 PM
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I changed all the oil fluids today. I filled the transmission with new ATF, and rear diff with new Mobil 1 fluid.

I'm going to try doing the anti venom mod tomorrow. Should I put any grease on the detent ball?

Last edited by billy mild; Mar 31, 2018 at 05:23 PM.
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Old Mar 31, 2018 | 07:51 PM
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Make sure you flush out the clutch master cylinder via the Ranger method. I had stiff shifting when I first got my Z and it made a huge difference
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Old Apr 1, 2018 | 12:38 AM
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Originally Posted by billy mild
I'm going to try doing the anti venom mod tomorrow. Should I put any grease on the detent ball?
Try 1 washer first and don't put any grease on the detent ball, it's lubricated by the trans fluid.

Steve
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Old Apr 1, 2018 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by killian96ss
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.

​​​​​
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Old Apr 1, 2018 | 05:04 PM
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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?
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Old Apr 2, 2018 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
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.
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Old Apr 11, 2018 | 09:16 PM
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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.
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