I am posting this because I have had a DC sports short shifter in my 2000 civic for about 70K miles (car has 87K on it now). I love the feel of the shifts, and the height of the shifter, it works very well for someone my size IMO.

However, since about 45K miles I have had a nasty synchro grind in 3rd gear. Although I can attribute some of the fault on hard driving and power- and down-shifting while commuting 120 miles daily on the worst freeway in northern california, I can't help but wonder if the short shifter had anything to do with this problem.

The reason I am posting this now is that I got a swap a couple of weeks ago, and want to prevent the synchro issue from reoccuring. So, if you have had any experience that is relevant to my dilemma, please post it up, as that will influence my decision on whether to keep the DC or to go back to the 18-wheeler (err... stock) short shifter lever.

 

Performance parts wear out your car faster. That goes for trannies too. There is always a price. I had the same problem and just completed a swap. My shifter stayed on. I like it too much to take it off. Have fun.

 

As I understand it, the short shifter changes the geometry/angle of the lever, and therefore does not let the synchro to get into place before the gears is changed. That, in its turn, causes the synchro to break, as it does not have a chance to function/align properly and breaks.

So, sounds like I will be going back to stock, because I just can't afford to have anyther tranny break on me, especially since I just got the swap and it's practically brand new. I love the DC, but I love a working tranny even more...

...unless someone can dissuade me with a good enough reason not to.

 

thanks for posting that topic as i had never heard of a short shifter leading to a trannies death. but now that i know i am considering wether or not im going to get one. i wonder if the really expensive ones are better for your tranny. i think skunk2 makes one thats like $160 or so, maybe that one is better on the syncros, does anyone out there know?

 

the rod is connected to the tranny via a pin and a joint. I don't see how a change in angle of the rod can do any effect on the tranny. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

No, they work the same; just maybe different length of throw.

 

i have read that the reason it messes up the tranny is because since it is shorter it is also quicker in turn it makes the tranny shift faster than it can possible.

 

i disagree, SS DO NOT kill trannies, ppl shifting the cars kill trannies. like the other guy said, performance parts wear out car parts, including the tranny, specially w/ hard driving. please dont let this crappy info continue.

 

To summarize:

The SS helps YOU kill your tranny faster, you just have to try harder with the stock longer throw.

 

Agreed, people missing shifts kills trannies, not short shifters.

 

Allright, allright, I am convinced. I have been taking it really easy since I got the new motor, so hopefully nothing goes wrong from now on. Thanks for the input everyone!