I recently purchased a ~28k mile 2002 SS to add to the collection. The car has a stock (SLP) 6 speed Hurst shifter with an aftermarket (Hurst) shift **** with a line lock button switch for the front brakes. The shifter has started to rattle and vibrate pretty excessively under acceleration. I can keep it from rattling for the most part if I hold onto the shifter while driving. It otherwise shifts fine into every gear, but the rattling has become very annoying. I thought initially that this might be coming from the line lock switch on the ****, but it doesn't seem to be - it's somewhere within the shifter assembly itself.

I haven't pulled the console apart yet or gone underneath to investigate, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if there is a quick fix or adjustment for this condition?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Bigblox

 

You'll need to pull the console and inner boot. 1st check the 2 bolts that fasten the stick to the shifter. They can loosen and it'll be very difficult to tighten the bottom bolt with the console in place. Also make sure the shifter itself is tight when it mounts on the trans case. Don't over tighten the bolts or they can snap off (don't ask how I know). You may also want to inspect the rear trans mount underneath the car. One other item to check is the nylon isolator cup that covers the end of the shifter lever where it connects to the internal shift linkage. You'll need to pull the shifter to check that so check the other stuff first. HTH
Tim

 

I see that this is a relatively old post, but maybe this helps anyway. I have an '02 Z28 with the same shifter. Mine has the vibration under acceleration, also. I have done some investigating and found it to be the rubber bushing that, ironically, is meant to prevent road-noise through the shift arm. (facepalm) You can check this by trying to turn the entire arm in either direction. Mine was a bit reluctant to turn. But then, with an audible "pop", spun completely. That's what led me to look at the actual arm. The bushing is nothing more than a piece of high-density rubber that acts as a buffer for vibration. There is no actual connection between the two pieces (the arm and linkage) other than this piece of rubber. When it breaks, the arm basically floats and allows vibration. I've also noticed that even with the broken bushing, if you remove the shift **** the vibration is diminished dramatically. This also supports the idea that the bushing is shot. I may try to just drill and bolt the two together, bypassing the need for a bushing.

 

Hi guys,
I am having the same problem. Hurst manual...1995 camaro z28. Is it the shifter or the actual transmission? Really annoying and worsens under heavy acceleration...I took the shifter apart and tightened everything up...still the rattle/ vibration. Any thoughts greatly appreciated...any pics on this bushing you are talking about? And is the noise gone now? We might need to post a video of the noise and this might help with the diagnosis. Thanks.

 

Probably not the same shifter. The shifter being discussed in multiple posts above is the "factory" Hurst shifter that was used on the SS models. It was a slightly cheaper copy of the aftermarket Hurst shifter base, and used the stock stick (same one used on all T56's), which has a rubber bushing around the base of the stick.

You probably have an aftermarket Hurst shifter, where the Hurst stick does not have the rubber bushing, and bolts directly to the lever that points up out of the base of the shifter. In that case it's either a loose stick, a loose shifter base or possibly the result of an extra firm transmission mount, like the Energy Suspension polyurethane mount.

If you actually have the "factory" Hurst, which I don't even think was available in 95, you will see the bushing at the base of the stick, where it goes over the lever sticking up from the base.

 

Hi Fred,
You are right. It is an aftermarket hurst shifter. I installed it in 2006. It is a callaway-hurst short throw shifter. I think they combined for this...or it could just be the callaway shift **** and the rest hurst...
When I installed it there was no vibration. It started rattling in 2002. There is no bushing as you suggested...it connects metal to metal...shifter stick to base. Also I have the stock transmission mount. Maybe this is worn out causing the noise?? It however sounds like the metal shifter to metal base vibrating.
What type of rubber washer or bushing can I use to help dampen or eliminate the rattle? Something that won't wear out right away...
Thanks for all your help!

 

Did you check the bolts that hold the stick on the base? After I replace my Hurst shifter with a Pro 5.0 the bolts used to come loose all the time. I ended up getting longer bolts so I could add a jam nut.

 

You COULD have a loose transmission mount.

SteveC