Bangin' gears

Gooterman

My car is bone stock and I'm wondering how much trouble people have successfully hitting 3rd gear (from 2nd) quickly when racing. I keep fucking up and can't get it down consistently.. Thinking a new RMM/ heavier shift knob will help a lot. Any input/flaming would be a great help. Thanks

surebOOst

hey @4G63; I see you down there

xtasy

Originally Posted by Gooterman

My car is bone stock and I'm wondering how much trouble people have successfully hitting 3rd gear (from 2nd) quickly when racing. I keep fucking up and can't get it down consistently.. Thinking a new RMM/ heavier shift knob will help a lot. Any input/flaming would be a great help. Thanks

After getting jbr ssp and tweaking the shifter a little. It fixed all my problems. Royal purple transmission fluid helped a little.,

Some people use Ford motorcraft mtf and had great results.

levon.mark

Originally Posted by Gooterman

My car is bone stock and I'm wondering how much trouble people have successfully hitting 3rd gear (from 2nd) quickly when racing. I keep fucking up and can't get it down consistently.. Thinking a new RMM/ heavier shift knob will help a lot. Any input/flaming would be a great help. Thanks

A knob won't really help (kind of a personal thing), but a RMM will a lot. I installed mine two days ago, and it sends way more power to wheel that i could feel, and allows me to get in gear faster, because of less engine movement (granted I drive a speed6 and can feel this). I recommend corksport, but if you want more of hard core type of mount go for JBR.

Another thing you should look at getting is one of these

Mazdaspeed 3 (2007 - 2013) : James Barone Racing, Custom Fabrication

^the kit would cover it all.

Don't forget to torque everything down correctly and read the directions !

However the more metal on metal parts you go with, the more vibrations and less comfort you'll get. Also expect more wear and tear on suspension parts (which your car is new so shouldn't matter). It's all up to what you want from your car.

DONATE & READ... I used to be new too!

Spec

You're having trouble like you're catching in between 1st and 3rd?
Lots of people have had this issue. I don't think there is a specific cure as its mostly the pattern of the gear box. I'd suggest a rmm for sure ( don't be a fag, get an 88 dogbone from jbr) and just get used to it before being to hard on it. There are ways to adjust it, if you do be sure to mark where the factory setting is before you move it around. Good luck.

Pu Manchu

you gotta press the clutch, then shift.

i never changed fluids, no knob, no weights, no adjustments, no problem.

Hoyoman

It will get easier over a little time

levon.mark

yea muscle memory too.. it took me a month to shift fast and smooth

texasboy21

More practice.

iggy097

Mine will, and always has grinded occasionaly from 2nd to 3rd under heavy load. Maybe 30% of the time. Happened stock, with 300 miles on it. Nothing I ever did solved it, RMM, Short shifter, nada. I just wait until 3rd now.

surebOOst

Originally Posted by levon.mark

yea muscle memory too.. it took me a month to shift fast and smooth

Lets bench race breh....Wraaaappappappapapapoooopooopooo

4G63

Originally Posted by surebOOst

hey @4G63; I see you down there

Lol ok?

Stingray69

Bangin bitches > bangin gears...........................you need driver mod!

Caveman4684

Is this your first manual gearbox? Clutch, shift, /clutch learn to drive the car.

yomyster67

i had the same problem and it drove me nuts, not my first manual car either. I went with the twm full replacement unit and that pretty much took care of it, rear mount helps too.

Playaj

Try the rmm and tranny fluid. I have ssp, shifter weight, rmm and heavy shift knob, Still shifts like shit. The bes thing is learn to drive better. Car shifts fine when I'm not being lazy and pay attention to clutch foot and shit hand coordination.

EPTSpeed3

I had that issue holding the shifter with the palm of my hand ontop. Now Im holding it with my palm on the side of the shifter and my thumb on top. Never missed 3rd again.

boostdmazda3

Originally Posted by Gooterman

My car is bone stock and I'm wondering how much trouble people have successfully hitting 3rd gear (from 2nd) quickly when racing. I keep fucking up and can't get it down consistently.. Thinking a new RMM/ heavier shift knob will help a lot. Any input/flaming would be a great help. Thanks

Its cause your brown. Practice makes perfect.

Voltron

I never had an issue. Keep practicing.

hamfisted

I have the same problem on mine. Never had issues shifting on any of the RWD cars I've owned, but the MS3 definitely has notchy 2-3 shifts that can be problematic.

I found that adding the Corksport RMM inserts improved it quite a bit over stock. I've since installed the CP-E stage 2 RMM, and immediately after installing it the shifts were smooth as butter. Since it's broken in some of the notchiness has returned, but it's still a lot better.

Fromtheearth

I have problems going into 4th smoothly. Feels like the shifter gets hung up when I try to put it in 4th no matter what speed im going.

dubtastic

Originally Posted by voltron

I never had an issue. Keep practicing.

I would normally agree, but this issue being described is not exclusive to the 2nd gen. The missed 2nd to 3rd gear shift has been happening since the days of the Gen1.

Has anyone compared any of the available RMM to see if any, what affect they produce on the 2nd to 3rd shift hang up?

Voltwings

its not an uncommon problem, since the pattern is adjustable (i know we've all seen the JBR "how to" youtube vid) some cars are just dialed differently from the factory. the motor mount helps because removing the slack from the system makes it slide into gear easier. Never had problems on my car, but i know a couple locals who have, some also have 4 - 5 issues, so it does seem the shifter can be aligned better with some fine tweaking.

If you havent seen the vid here it is, get the motor mount before you mess with this, or make sure you mark the stock location so you dont lose it.

MAZDASPEED 3 How to Fine Tune Your Shifter JBARONE Short Throw Shift Plate - YouTube

Spec

I've adjusted mine at least 30 times. I finally got it were I like it. I just keep complaining about it to my wife anyways so I "have" to get the full replacement shifter.

dubtastic

Originally Posted by Voltwings

its not an uncommon problem, since the pattern is adjustable (i know we've all seen the JBR "how to" youtube vid) some cars are just dialed differently from the factory. the motor mount helps because removing the slack from the system makes it slide into gear easier. Never had problems on my car, but i know a couple locals who have, some also have 4 - 5 issues, so it does seem the shifter can be aligned better with some fine tweaking.

If you havent seen the vid here it is, get the motor mount before you mess with this, or make sure you mark the stock location so you dont lose it.
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duIbdq-MQtw

Thanks Voltwings! This is definitely great information. Any experience with the full shifter replacement from TWW?

Voltwings

Originally Posted by dubtastic

Thanks Voltwings! This is definitely great information. Any experience with the full shifter replacement from TWW?

Nope, I know people love it but I run a 100% stock shifter.

dubtastic

Originally Posted by Voltwings

Nope, I know people love it but I run a 100% stock shifter.

Wow, no issues at all during spirited shifting?

Voltwings

Originally Posted by dubtastic

Wow, no issues at all during spirited shifting?

Nope, but I have all three motor mounts. The rear and passenger making the biggest difference.

dubtastic

Originally Posted by Voltwings

Nope, but I have all three motor mounts. The rear and passenger making the biggest difference.

All three JBR? How does it feel in daily traffic, with AC on? Wish we were closer so I could beg you for a test drive.

gotspeed

for having mine almost 5 years now... If it happens that I miss 3rd gear,
(mabe 10-20 times in 5 years), it is often due to driver error...
(my hand not keeping up with my clutch foot) and releasing my clutch too fast before I was completely in gear.

Its a horrible feeling, and the worst thing about it is it happens only when you are trying to go fast...
And I give myself a lot of shit when I miss it.

a rmm will help, but is not a end all be all cure, due to the travel from 2nd to 3rd gear,
its mormal to sometimes get "caught" since there is virtually no way of missing pressing/depressing a clutch compared to running a stick trough and z shaped path...
I blame my arm for the fail.

No lift shifting from 2nd to 3rd seems to "help"...
I guess its due to the engine not moving at the same time as shifting.

So Blame it on the torque, on the shifter, on the mm... at the end of the day.... its human error.

qweedqwag

Originally Posted by EPTSpeed3

I had that issue holding the shifter with the palm of my hand ontop. Now Im holding it with my palm on the side of the shifter and my thumb on top. Never missed 3rd again.

That's how I spank my meat. Fuck it's like were connected. LOL.

Mike

Voltwings

Originally Posted by dubtastic

All three JBR? How does it feel in daily traffic, with AC on? Wish we were closer so I could beg you for a test drive.

no, its a TRZ rear and JBR sides. It vibrates pretty bad if im honest, but only taking off from first really. Now the Rear view mirror does vibrate a bit, its kind of hard to tell whats behind you sometimes.

Whiteboy

I had the same issues with my car. Replaced the RMM...nothing. Did a full STS replace...nothing. Changed my fluids to Ford Motorcraft...Smooth buttery shifts every time.

Change your shitty trans fluid

dubtastic

So why is the ford motorcraft stuff so magical for our trannys? (side note...tranny hehe)

Spec

Because it's made from orphan tears and unicorn cum.

dsb_chicago

what @Spec; said. ^
!
!
!

Gooterman

Originally Posted by EPTSpeed3

I had that issue holding the shifter with the palm of my hand ontop. Now Im holding it with my palm on the side of the shifter and my thumb on top. Never missed 3rd again.

This is exactly the kind of answer I was looking for! Helped me a lot just gripping the knob this way. Thanks a ton!