Disregard if your an auto :P

[dasoupdude]

and soup, that gear indicator also works when you're in manual shift mode, (thats real fun) but the auto does need a shift kit, as the shifts are a little sloppy for my taste. since i've driven cars with kits in them.

i know. beleive it or not the first Z i test drove was a metallic gray(?) 35th anniversary one just like yours, 5a/t. as I drove more and more the orange square with the D just kept chillin in my face, it just really bothered me. So i just put it in shifttronic mode or watevskis and tried that. Now it said a gorgeous number 5, taht put me at ease a bit, till i slammed the shifter towards the +. The number just kept at 5.

[ol3LAZEo]

yeah, that 5 sux, i've tried to find 6 a couple of times myself.....lolz.

hey, happy holidays dude. i go back on the boat in the morning, so keep it between the ditches.

[mtnhighus]

^^^ oops didn't realize i was signed in on my sons account...lolz

[C-Kwik]

dont mean to thread jack, but with all the talk about what gear and e-brake or not, just wondering if ya'll have checked to see if your e-brake is even holding. the reason i ask is, i was slumming on another site and listened to a bunch of z owners complain that their e-brake didn't even hold the car on a slight incline. wheather this is due to improper maintenance or not, i don't know.

This is definitely an issue for many. I had this problam on my G35 when I had it. The solution was simple though. Since the parking brake does not share the friction surfaces with the primary braking system, it doesn't get the advantage of the higher friction coefficients associated with a properly bedded system. I'd bet that if you took the rotor off, you'ld find the drum's friction surface is likely still pretty fresh. Just drive up and down the street a few times with the parking brake slightly engaged (be sure to disengage it before stopping and do not try to apply full force). Allow it to cool before using the parking brake. Once there is a transfer layer of pad material on the drum surface, it should hold better. Mine definitely did.

[Sentientbydesign]

and soup, that gear indicator also works when you're in manual shift mode, (thats real fun) but the auto does need a shift kit, as the shifts are a little sloppy for my taste. since i've driven cars with kits in them.

Somebody needs to buy one of my grounding kits for the auto so they can realize that a valve body upgrade isn't necessary for an N/A auto Z

[rmezz13]

waowwwwwww look at that P. lol, i wish the 6mt came with that and indiciated what gear you were in.

Is there someone who doesn't know what gear they are in? Don't know about you, but i always know....

P.S. kind of a silly poll

[dasoupdude]

Is there someone who doesn't know what gear they are in? Don't know about you, but i always know....

P.S. kind of a silly poll

itwassarcasm

Where the hell have you been?!! I was starting to have high hopes of becoming the next 350z mawd!!

P.S. kind of a silly poll

why yes, the size of my pole is quite silly.

[rmezz13]

ive been busy.... trying to take over the world

[Sardonic]

As a new owner of a Z and mostly a complete newb when it comes to their potential, can someone please explain to me the difference between "open" rear end vs the limited slip? Also, if someone would be so kind, what years have drum rears and what years have disc rears (brakes).Thanks and just for s&g's....neutral & e-brake.

[R350Zz33]

no 350z have drum brakes with an open diff like on the base model if u lose traction or what ever only one wheel will spin not really all that good for snow with the lsd it locks the rear axles together so you get better traction and both wheels spin even if one is on ice. ever see a burnout and only one wheel spins thats an open diff when they both spin they have a posi or lsd.

[bmike818]

The Z has what you call an integral drum parking brake, this is soley used for the emergency/parking brakes. If you are talking about Z33s all 350Z models come with vented disc brakes all around, the only difference is some models get the Brembos.

[famousyellowz]

When tracking, always park with E-brake OFF and transmission in gear (preferably 1st or reverse). These gears hold the vehicle better due to gear ratio. Other gears on hills could actually turn the engine (that's why you bump start in other than 1st - who's the idiot now?). E-brake after tracking will warp rotors. Same can be said for non track driving as well depending on your driving habits.

When starting a manual transmission, alway place into neutral prior to starting. This can be performed faster than you can put on your seat belt.

Complaints and calling techs an idiot when leaving a transmission in gear are proof that you either have very little experience with them or you think you know more than you actually do. But then again, starting this thread is all the proof one would need.

Good thing you don't own a bike. You' be on your *** faster than a hooker.

Have a good day!

[rmezz13]

When tracking, always park with E-brake OFF and transmission in gear (preferably 1st or reverse). These gears hold the vehicle better due to gear ratio. Other gears on hills could actually turn the engine (that's why you bump start in other than 1st - who's the idiot now?). E-brake after tracking will warp rotors. Same can be said for non track driving as well depending on your driving habits.

When starting a manual transmission, alway place into neutral prior to starting. This can be performed faster than you can put on your seat belt.

Complaints and calling techs an idiot when leaving a transmission in gear are proof that you either have very little experience with them or you think you know more than you actually do. But then again, starting this thread is all the proof one would need.

Good thing you don't own a bike. You' be on your *** faster than a hooker.

Have a good day!

Did i miss something??? Who are you talking to, and why all the hostility?

[Watermelonwarrior]

Ok, seriously. Where's neutral? And why do you all leave your transmission in gear? We have independent rear drum parking brakes for a reason. There's no need to leave it in gear. I get sooooo MAD when my father-in-law or one of the dealer techs leaves my transmission in gear and parks it. I usually will get in, step on the clutch, turn it on, then let the clutch out and do any adjustments or let the car warm up. Can't do the last part when the idiot before me left it in gear.

Actually, I went and got my wheels aligned and the idiot tech left it in 1st while on a decline with a concrete curb in front of it. I let out the clutch after car was on and ran into the curb because of the dip $hit.

When tracking, always park with E-brake OFF and transmission in gear (preferably 1st or reverse). These gears hold the vehicle better due to gear ratio. Other gears on hills could actually turn the engine (that's why you bump start in other than 1st - who's the idiot now?). E-brake after tracking will warp rotors. Same can be said for non track driving as well depending on your driving habits.

When starting a manual transmission, alway place into neutral prior to starting. This can be performed faster than you can put on your seat belt.

Complaints and calling techs an idiot when leaving a transmission in gear are proof that you either have very little experience with them or you think you know more than you actually do. But then again, starting this thread is all the proof one would need.

Good thing you don't own a bike. You' be on your *** faster than a hooker.

Have a good day!

Did i miss something??? Who are you talking to, and why all the hostility?

[dasoupdude]

Who are you talking to, and why all the hostility?

leaving a transmission in gear are proof that you either have very little experience with them or you think you know more than you actually do. But then again, starting this thread is all the proof one would need.

i think that was directed to me. a feel to have a calling out to one, on the intarweb.

[Anthonysflying]

When tracking , always park with E-brake OFF and transmission in gear (preferably 1st or reverse). These gears hold the vehicle better due to gear ratio. Other gears on hills could actually turn the engine (that's why you bump start in other than 1st - who's the idiot now?). E-brake after tracking will warp rotors. Same can be said for non track driving as well depending on your driving habits.

When starting a manual transmission, alway place into neutral prior to starting. This can be performed faster than you can put on your seat belt.

Complaints and calling techs an idiot when leaving a transmission in gear are proof that you either have very little experience with them or you think you know more than you actually do. But then again, starting this thread is all the proof one would need.

Good thing you don't own a bike. You' be on your *** faster than a hooker.

Have a good day!

So what you're saying is that i should be grateful that a tech does leave my car in gear because (s)he just tore up a few laps?

And i don't know about you but I've never gotten on a bike with a parking brake. Neutral is only good when you are on it, or certain that it will not roll while warming up.

The whole brake cooking issue was covered on the first page

[rmezz13]

i'm thinking SBD should know his car better and see its not in gear before letting out the clutch, and i also think famousyellow is on crack. 90% of the Techs i have ever talked to, met, or know thinks 100% of their info is correct and the only way, and also think they know it all about everyones car - and not limited to, for some reason, thinking every car is the same!!!! Thats how i feel about the techs of todays society. Especially "full service" oil change/tire shop techs!!!!!! Mechanics on the other hand 50/50 these days. best off doing it your self, and if you have to, rent the tools to do it.

nuff sed.... *end rant*

[Mr. Z33]

1st almost all the time...unless it is being worked on in the garage

[Sentientbydesign]

I full intend on installing a remote start on both my G and the wife's 5mt Celica. If anybody leaves it in gear, the remote start won't work and is just another reason why not to leave it in gear.

Paranoia seems to rule too many people's lives. I won't be one of them.

famousyellowz,

Go learn about your car before spewing misinformation on the forums. I assume you've never done a rear brake job on a G/Z (and no, I'm not a mechanic/tech..etc). Pull off the wheel and you see a standard rotor/caliper combo, then right behind it is an open drum brake (parking/Emergency brake). No warpage will occur when the parking brake is engaged because the parking brake is A) Cold B) Not contacting the rotor surface

If you guys want to leave your car in gear, so be it. Just don't leave mine in gear. I have a LOT of stuff I do each day and I don't need some paranoia/preference difference causing me to spend more time on unnecessary actions.

[_b.jaye_]

I have a LOT of stuff I do each day and I don't need some paranoia/preference difference causing me to spend more time on unnecessary actions.

might i suggest loosening your agenda lol.

i always leave mine in first on level ground and in 1st & pull the ebrake on an incline reguardless of direction... like someone stated, its the compression/drive train friction that holds the car, so reverse shouldnt make any real difference

not tryin to sway you sentient... the thought of glancing at the shifter putting you behind schedule just cracked me right up lol. to each his own

[Sentientbydesign]

Nope on the agenda. Starting 1 or two businesses, working a full time job, taking care of everybody's techical problems (off the boards) and preparing for our first child doesn't have room for "loosening"

2 last thoughts. Reverse has a gear ratio that's about the same as 2nd gear (usually sits between 1st and 2nd) so torque multiplication loss is not really applicable.

Also, if it came down to it, I don't think that my insurance company would repair any of my drivetrain parts because I was being "safe" and leaving the car in gear. They will cover the car plowing down the road and taking out stray kittens though

[dasoupdude]

They will cover the car plowing down the road and taking out stray kittens though

Bad for streets, good for Jesda

[kuhan]

always in neutral and use hand brake. Only shift to 1st gear when parking on incline or decline.

[Chris28]

I always leave mine in neutral. I did a 5sp swap so I don't have to put the clutch in to start the car haha. I still clutch at startup anyways, but just in case someone else has to drive my car I don't want them starting it in gear.