Shifter centering

[d124716]

2000 GTS about 20K miles. Shifter springs back to center (neutral) position from 5-6 (passenger side) nice and quick. However, it is not as springy coming back to neutral from 1-2 (driver side) position. Anything that anyone can recommend? Any comment on what this is and if it needs to be dealt with.
Thanks!

[dave6666]

Get a new shifter.

[Viper GTS-R]

One word - Ipsco

[steve911]

I really like My Hurst.

[d124716]

Get a new shifter.

Do they sell stock replacements or I have to go aftermarket?

[dave6666]

Well. You must be new to Vipers. Most would not even ask about the availability of a factory shifter when considering the effort to change one. Go aftermarket.

[d124716]

Well. You must be new to Vipers. Most would not even ask about the availability of a factory shifter when considering the effort to change one. Go aftermarket.

I’ve tried to look and see if there is a way to repair existing stock shifter but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find any info on the shifter being available separate from the transmission itself. Thats why I was wondering if stock shifter “exists” separate from the trans. Didnt want to star ripping things out to lear that a stock shifter is a “sealed” assembly and cannot be repaired. Only video on T56 i was able to find was some guy on youtube talking about his Ram truck where if the trans is hard to shift the only way to deal with it is to rebuild the trans. That got me really worried.

[tagoo]

The shifter is separate from the transmission. The shifter is mounted to the transmission with 4 bolts. The shifter can come out from the top (interior of car) but it is work. I replaced mine when I dropped the trans to change the clutch. If all I wanted to do is change the shifter, I would definitely do it from the interior of the car.

The stock shifter in a 2000 viper was never very good, even when brand new. Trying to rebuild your stock shifter to the way it was when brand new will still result in poor auto centering to the 3rd/4th gear plane. As has already been stated, you should get the IPSCO shifter. It will fix your poor shifter centering. There used to be other shifters that were also good, Hurst, B&M, MGW, etc. Unfortunately, none of those are made any longer, afaik. So, it doesn't do any good to talk about those except to point out that they were all MUCH better than the stock shifter ever was. The IPSCO is available and is an awesome piece of equipment. Also, I believe the guy in the link you posted is clueless. A high quality shifter will indeed make a huge difference in the auto centering.

[GTS Dean]

I was just at the track for the first time with my new IPSCO. I feel that the right side (5/6) gate springs are too stiff. I'm sure I can get over it, but it does not forgive lazy shifting. I never had trouble with the OE shifter.

[Old School]

I was just at the track for the first time with my new IPSCO. I feel that the right side (5/6) gate springs are too stiff. I'm sure I can get over it, but it does not forgive lazy shifting. I never had trouble with the OE shifter.

I've found this to be true also. It's like it was designed to keep you out of the 'over-drive' gears in performance driving and only allow they're use by a conscious decision to use them.

[Viper GTS-R]

Also the Ipsco is so nice looking it is a shame that it is not visible once installed! Should be “under glass” for viewing
It is not too difficult to install from within the car - I have done it on 2 different Vipers now.

[tagoo]

You may be right Dean. Honestly, even with 3.55 gears, I'm not making hard shifts into 5th so I can't speak to that. I had a 2002 and now a 2000 (each bought with 5k miles). At the dragstrip I had to be very careful with the 2/3 and 3/4 shift. The 2/3 would often hang up between the 1st and 3rd gates - not a huge problem but it slowed me down. The 3/4 shift could be really scary because you could do a 3/2 money shift at 110 mph if you weren't careful (I won't confirm or deny ever doing that). Granted, dragstrip shifting is super fast. Perhaps I am less skilled than some, but I really had to practice hand and elbow positioning to get the shifting right (a different placement for each shift). A couple of other viper drag racers showed me the ropes. Anyway, the IPSCO solved my problems. I can't speak to 5th though as I go through the big end of the drag strip in 4th gear.

[usmcfieldmp]

It will fix your poor shifter centering.

Not guaranteed, but very likely.

Also, I believe the guy in the link you posted is clueless. A high quality shifter will indeed make a huge difference in the auto centering.

While a high quality shifter does make a difference, the T56 has been known to sometimes have an internal problem causing trouble returning to center. I'm on a B&M shifter and have this issue.

[AZTVR]

While a high quality shifter does make a difference, the T56 has been known to sometimes have an internal problem causing trouble returning to center. I'm on a B&M shifter and have this issue.

I didn't like the centering capability of the B&M shifter that I installed; so, I replaced one of the springs inside it with a stronger one that I got from Ace Hardware, and I was satisfied with it after that.

[usmcfieldmp]

Well, mine is to the point of having zero centering ability - much like is shown in the video that he screenshot above. If I pull it out of first... it'll sit between 1-2. Same goes for 3-4 and 5-6. Otherwise the shifter is smooth and doesn't require a lot of effort.

Whenever I pull the trans out of the car, I'll likely pull the shifter out and apart, just to ensure that it isn't the issue. I'll keep that spring in mind - might still be something worth changing out.

[dave6666]

I've had the B&M in my car for about 15 years now and honestly haven't paid much attention to where it goes when I pull it out of a gear. Mainly I guess because I'm moving it by force to another gear. Next time I'm in the car I'll see what it does if I just go to neutral. I think it's also temperature sensitive i.e. it's stiffer in cold weather. Like below 100.

[dave6666]

Well I tried my B&M dry shifting while parked in the garage. Temps cold with ambient <100. When moving the shifter out of a gear in to the neutral position the shift rod pretty much stays right below or above where I moved it from. Which I'm guessing is what some are calling an issue. I've never cared. Still don't now that I know others do. But maybe it's a B&M thing?

[usmcfieldmp]

Mine does the same. It doesn't really bother me anymore, something I've just adjusted to and accepted. After sitting at a long red light, I simply push the stick forward into first and go.

[d124716]

The "temperature" is a good comment, I will check it next time I'm on the road. All though 5-6 gate return is more springy than 1-2 gate return regardless of the temperature. I'm trying to isolate a problem (if there is one) to see if it is in the shifter indeed. Does anyone know if a stock shifter has springs inside? I suspect this car has been left in first gear during storage times thus over 21 years the 1-2 gate spring in the shifter (if there is one) is "tired". Did anyone ever try to take a stock shifter apart? Does anyone has one that they can sacrifice for the sake of science and comment back to the group?

Just for fun... I've called Tremec and spoke with their support, they told me the detent ball/springs inside the trans is what helps centering the stick. However, when reviewing construction of the guide plate (where detent spring/ball rides) and front offset lever (where the side mounted detent spring ball rides) I couldn't identify anything that would help the shifter SELF CENTER.... To keep the shifter in the gear - absolutely, to keep the shifter straight while it is traveling between the gates - absolutely, but as far as I understood there is nothing in there to help the shifter center itself. Tremec guy didn't have anything else to add to my concenr... said he couldn't pull up the drawing and that was pretty much the end of that..

See detent plate and front offset lever brackets shown below. The groves is where the detent ball(s) ride under spring pressure.

[d124716]

well.... i suppose....

All.jpg

[d124716]

Snow is finally gone, car is out of the garage and a quick update for those who might be reading this one day.... NEW SHIFTER - problem solve. IPSCO is the Stuff! No more missed shifts, no more 5 to 4 OPS.... no more sloppy shifter that won't center.

Shifts are tight, precise and just feel RIGHT!

Be well!