Buzzing/vibrating gear stick
 

I'm really unlucky or something. My 2014 GT86 had the dreaded buzzing/vibrating gear stick at high RPM. I had the whole gear stick changed twice under warranty, but they refused to analyse the root cause.

Now my 2017 is developing the same fault. It will only get worse.

What I think is causing it is that the gear level itself shakes around. If I put the car in first and accelerate slowly I can physically see the gear stick moving back and forward (previous GT86 it stirred around in a circle) which increases in frequency with RPM. At 4-7k it's a vibrating blur. This must be shaking the thing to pieces until it loosens up and starts to rattle and buzz.

The question is, other than take it to a dealer and have them replace the gear stick without addressing the actual root cause what else can I do?

How many of you guys suffer or have suffered from this issue? I can see quite a few in the UK with it. Some have mentioned uprating the bushes fixes it, but when the dealership did my bushes as an attempted fix it only partially worked and the 3rd gear stick in the car was starting to rattle when I sold it back to them.

Mine rattles but I think that's cause I changed my reverse lockout. Can't recall if it rattled before that. Don't think it did

I thought this was common with the twins and one of those mere annoyances. after I put on about 10 K miles, my 16's stick started rattling once in a while only in 2nd gear and only above 5 K RPMs. 20 K miles later and I've noticed that during most of my drives i usually don't get the rattles not to mention it is hard to pinpoint what circumstances/factors are most likely causing it. i've read plenty of other threads where the rattle continued despite replacing the stick/trans.. since this has never caused any actual issues, i've chalked this up to be as much of a "hindrance" as our crickets.

I don't think mine has ever made a sound. If it did I never noticed. Now I will be listening for it and it will bug the crap outta me if it does. Thanks a lot guys, you ruined Christmas!

Same here. My shifter lever doesn't move/vibrate, or at least I'm preoccupied watching the road and don't notice it, and it doesn't make any sounds, at least that I can hear.

And, NO, I'm NOT going to start looking or listening for it ....... ;)


humfrz

Probably wouldn't hear it anyway... :scared0016:

You would definitely hear it, you dont have to pay attention to hear it.

I test drove a used one that suffered from this, it was super annoying.

Huh ....??




humfrz

After I switched my shift knob, I started hearing the rattles especially during 5k RPMs. Sucks but I got used to it lol.

The problem lies in that now I will probably hear it even if it isn't there.

hey as long as the gear engagement feels good and nothing breaks while wot then I'm happy :thumbup:

Thankfully I've got no rattling. Just strange smells on my hands and clothes after driving.

I think most manual transmission gear knobs will vibrate at some sort of RPM. I count myself lucky that I have not noticed or it's not nearly as intrusive as it is for those in this thread. Perhaps a weighted knob could help, but determining the root cause would be ideal. FYI I have a 2013 with just over 50k miles.

Especially on a RWD where the shifter is directly attached to the tranny. FWD and most AWD shifters are connected by cables and rods that isolate a lot of the vibration from the shifter so people that are not used to them notice it more.

I noticed that behavior on my RX-7 but the FR-S does not vibrate in the least.

Mine is a 2015 with 14000 miles and it does it exactly like the OP stated. Not too concerned - car is still under full warranty so I'll probably schedule to get it looked at soon.

Pleased to report that although mine vibrates (I expect that part) there is zero noise. Christmas is not ruined.

Same. I thought it was normal for it to vibrate anyway? Once the engine is started and the car is idling there's a slight movement/vibration and then it stays even in gear, but it's never violent or noisy.

Mine didn't make a rattling noise until I swapped out the shift knob for a lightweight delrin one.

Easy fix: crank up the radio volume.

Yes my stick vibrates too. There's no noise and it's only noticeable when I rest my hand on the stick. It is worth mentioning my friend who drives a Cayman said it was the weirdest thing about my car when he drove it, as his stick has zero vibration.

This goes back to what I said before about shifters that are directly connected to the tranny as opposed to ones that are connected by cables. There is a lot of distance between a Cayman tranny and the shifter. If you are getting vibration through all the cables and linkages you have a huge issue.




FRS/86/BRZ
http://kaizenfactor.files.wordpress....ansmission.gif


Cayman


http://www.sharkwerks.com/images/pro...ter_cables.jpg


http://www.tarett.com/images/shifter1.jpg

I was (trying to) watch it on the way home last night. There is normal low amplitude vibration in neutral or in gear, but in 1st when the revs get up to about 3k the stick starts nodding back and forward with an amplitude of 1/2 inch. As the revs rise the frequency increases. By 5k the stick is a blur and the plastic on the gear stick starts to buzz.

It is much less noticeable in other gears, but I have heard the buzz in 2nd and 3rd.

So I wonder what can cause this. If I can figure it out myself then maybe I can get a non-dealer mechanic to adjust something.

EDIT.... the other solution is to fit a heavier knob on top and live with it. I do worry that it will shake itself unservicable eventually though and if I have fitted an aftermarket weighted knob they would claim that was the fault and refuse to replace the shaft/linkage.

That's harmonic vibration. Like getting two different notes out of one guitar string.
Changing the weight on the end will move the harmonic up or down the scale.

Bowling ball?

Anybody else struck by the irony of a subject of the Queen in the land of MG, Triumph, Jaguar and Rover complaining about something rattling in a vehicle?

The reverse lockout ring is connected to the pawl via a short little cable. It rattles in there. Fuck it.

Nah AWD does it too, the shifter in our 06 Outback vibrates terribly. It's load or rpm related and super annoying.

I have a heavy white "cue ball" knob on the end of my shifter. Love the way it feels. The shifter buzzes above 5000 rpm in 2nd and 3rd, but no prob for me. I have 40,000 miles on my 2015 and it adds "charm". Plus at 66 yrs old, my hearing isn't too good, so I can hear that a lo0t better than the cheesy little shift warning bell I programmed for 6800 rpm.

Doug

How does that solve anything?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xLUEMj6cwA"]Life of Brian - Blessed are the cheesemakers - YouTube[/ame]

Although if one were so inclined, one could also shove something down in between the cable and the inside of the shift lever.

You have a shift warning bell ...... ??

Maybe I do too ....... I'll ask my wife (who is younger) to listen for it ....... :D


humfrz

I reckon it's time for me to sign off for the night ....... you folks aren't making any sense to me ........:sigh:


ZZZZZZ


humfrz

2017 here starting to hear the same thing. my 2013 was horrible anything above 4k would rattle.

I am on my second 2017, first 86 had 5400 miles. My new 860 is at 800 miles, so I have not gone past 4500 RPM's yet. I did notice on my first 86, that it did have a buz through the gear knob. It stoped when I installed my TRD knob.
Ron

If your shifter isn't rattling, you just haven't driven the car long enough.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

:bs:

No, that means that you just know how to shift a MT properly and not treating the stick like it's reaching down into a box of hot, greasy gears and knocking them around till one is kicked into place ........:rolleyes:

:slap: ....... that's just for good measure!

:D


humfrz

I have yet to see/hear a twin not rattle. Stock they rattle, throw on some bushings and it multiplies. Add an air freshener around it like i did and it turns into a maraca.

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I've got a rattle/ringing, but it's due to the TRD USA Short Shifter assembly bolt. Still working out the kinks in it; I go under to tighten it up every couple of weeks. Might just need to lather the thing in Blue Loctite

Well, my stock 2013 FR-S shifter does NOT rattle.

Just don't get over the torque dip and it doesn't rattle.

Besides, some of you folks are going the wrong way with shifters ...... make them longer ..... NOT shorter. We didn't have that problem back in the day ..... :iono:


humfrz

My friend Bubba, could fix that right up fer ya ....... :D


humfrz

Don't get over the torque dip? Come on. You can't be serious.

They all rattle. Yours likely needs a good Italian tune up.