Buzzing/static noise through gear stick

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:20 pm

I have installed a MiataRoadster Short Shifter which I absolutely love, however it has introduced a fair bit of a buzz through the stick.
It sounds like static radio and changes tone/pitch depending on the revs and even if you have your hand on the stick or not (ie push forward just a little when in gear and it changes tone)

I researched around and it is supposedly due to the SS being a more solid bit gearstick and acts as an amplifier for the gearbox noises. Is this correct?
It is rather loud so would like to try to quiet it down a little before the missus starts asking why the new expensive part thing is making weird noises lol

Is there anything that can be done to tone it down a bit? Different gear knobs? Different bushing on the base of the stick? etc etc

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:25 pm

Strange, I don't get this sound with my recently installed MR SSK.....
Mine is the short straight one and have had both the factory knob and an after-market solid aluminium one.

Given the SSK transmits more noise than the factory unit, maybe it's coming from somewhere else, or from inside the gearbox itself?

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 6:44 pm

Some gearknobs broadcast sound like a loudspeaker. Try changing to a softer one.

pezchops · Postby **pezchops** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:11 pm

a couple of things as i have just been through similar.

my aluminium knob has a nylon insert with a brass insert above that(for weight i suppose)...the brass insert was loose and made strange rattles.the way sound transmits i was sure it was in the turrent somewhere.
i drilled a hole through the ally into the brass and tapped m6 for a grub screw...all sweet now.
if you take the knob off and tap it with your finger it should be solid with no rattle.

the other thing is if you left out the bottom wave washer the whole assemble will be lower than designed and its possible for the bottom of the 18mm ball to rest against the bottom of the turrent.
could be other reasons for the gear lever to sit lower than it should.
mine had at sometime with a previous owner as i can see wear marks...that would transmit heaps of noise if the bottom of the ball is against the bottom of the turrent.
i would take it all apart again to double check the assemble..washers and nylon cups all in place in the right order.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:13 pm

Yup, dismantle and re-install.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:03 pm

Hmm, what is the Wave Washer?
Is that the washer that you need to bend a bit to get past the pivot pins to get out.
I don't think that was reinstalled, I remember looking at the instructions and thought it didn't say anything regarding installing as part of the ssk.
Will have to check when I get home but I'm sure if it's the washer I'm thinking of its in the bag with the factory stick and parts.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 3:02 pm

Roadrunner wrote:Hmm, what is the Wave Washer?
Is that the washer that you need to bend a bit to get past the pivot pins to get out.
I don't think that was reinstalled, I remember looking at the instructions and thought it didn't say anything regarding installing as part of the ssk.
Will have to check when I get home but I'm sure if it's the washer I'm thinking of its in the bag with the factory stick and parts.

The one you remove is effectively destroyed in the process of removing it (bends too far).... You should have had a new one supplied in the kit to replace it, I certainly had one in mine and it was mentioned in the instructions. :wink:

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:18 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:
Roadrunner wrote:Hmm, what is the Wave Washer?
Is that the washer that you need to bend a bit to get past the pivot pins to get out.
I don't think that was reinstalled, I remember looking at the instructions and thought it didn't say anything regarding installing as part of the ssk.
Will have to check when I get home but I'm sure if it's the washer I'm thinking of its in the bag with the factory stick and parts.

The one you remove is effectively destroyed in the process of removing it (bends too far).... You should have had a new one supplied in the kit to replace it, I certainly had one in mine and it was mentioned in the instructions.

I think that's it. I remember removing one but not installing one.
I don't however remember and leftover new parts.
Will check it out when I get home!

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:39 am

Yeah, Davekmoore packed his with some other washers to fix the noise:
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=63248&hilit=noise&start=15

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:02 pm

Ok, checked the contents and I have the original wave washer and an empty pack for a new wave washer.
Pulled the stick and bits out again and definitely have the new wave washer installed, then the riser on top of that.
I noticed I can push down a little on the riser and it springs back up a few mm, but I assume that is the idea of the wave washer (being wavy and all) and once the riser plate and then the stick is in and bolted down it squishes this together. Or could it be the wave washer buzzing?
I was kinda hoping I had forgotten to put the wave washer in, as now I have no idea whats causing the static noise.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:10 pm

I should also add one thing I noticed different to the instructions,
the very last part says to "Coat the shift selector bushing and using your finger stick the cupped end of
the bushing on the tip of your finger the grease will hold it in place. Then place the bushing into the shift
selector lever, push it all the way into place. Pull your finger out being careful to not pull the bushing
back up and out."

Now I couldn't get the bushing past the pins due to the lip on the top of the bushing. I tried all different angles but just couldnt get it past, so I pulled everything out, dropped the bushing in and then put everything back in again. (It kinda didn't make sense to me why that bushing wasn't dropped in as the first step??)
Is it possible the bushing is now too low in the turret or in the wrong spot or something??

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:21 pm

This is what I mean. The trumpeted lip on the bushing doesn't allow enough room to go past the pins on the riser.

I had to take the riser back out to drop the bushing in first

pezchops · Postby **pezchops** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:02 pm

did you try driving without the gear knob and see if you still get the noise.
just to eliminate that.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:37 pm

Yeah exactly the same without a gear knob

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:42 am

So I'm thinking that I'm over thinking the noise too much.
I pulled it all down and reassembled, really packed heaps more grease on the pivots and the bush etc and the noise is just faint now. A friend has just installed one in hers so will go for a drive to compare but she said you can kinda hear the gears turning a different speeds etc, so I'd say I'm freaking out over nothing.
Most importantly, everything has been put in properly and the stick movement is amazing compared to stock so I can over look the noise.
I'm also amazed at the road noise that comes through the rubber boot when the centre console is removed! Can hear the turbo spooling!