Short Shifter - Advice needed.

[mg]

I put them on my 2004 with the short shift and taken them off again. Took away a bit of "feel" I thought.

Can you explain what you mean?  I would have thought the rubber bushings would isolate the 'feel' more than a solid brass ones?

[Ernie Ball]

Are all TRD short shifters worldwide the same or are there separate ones for RHD and LHD cars?

[kanujunkie]

I put them on my 2004 with the short shift and taken them off again. Took away a bit of "feel" I thought.

Can you explain what you mean?  I would have thought the rubber bushings would isolate the 'feel' more than a solid brass ones?

Mike, this is a matter of personal opinion. The rubber bushes allow a small bit of give when entering a gear, you dont have to get the position exactly right and i beleive Roger's trying to say that this is his personal preference on setup, the brass bushes can create a very harsh feel in gear changes, especially when cold and this creates a feeling that the gears are more mechanically placed rather than felt for the position. Not an easy thing to explain this and if you do this mod then you may find it hard to drive at first, even a few mm out of place and you wont be able to enter a gear, but with time and practice the gears move more precisely and i've personally found that feeling return. On a cold morning though it's still a bastard to enter 1st gear

[roger]

Thanks Stu, that is exactly it.

Should add for others, these are the engine end of the gear cable bushes, NOT the ones that come with the short shift kits which are used to raise the gear lever cage off the floor to compensate for the different stick.

[roger]

So, having read this post can anybody tell me if a short shifter is worth having or not?

Are there different sorts, ie really really shorter than stock or just a fraction shorter than stock? If so which is best?

I think its great David. Puts you more at one with the car. As you can see though, they would not be to everybodies taste, and also Stu and I have different ideas about the cable bush mod.

AFAIAA all are the same. TRD  is a whole cage ready fitted, B&M is all the bits excluding the cage, E-bay (or wherever) is usually just the stick and cage bushes. I chose the latter, more on the basis of cost and not being sure if I would like it. However since they don't come with the washer thingy (though Phil now has a supply), and plastic ball covering thingys. The latter are a b*****d to get off, and you HAVE to re-use them. They are not available from MrT, so you can't afford to mess them up!

[roger]

Are all TRD short shifters worldwide the same or are there separate ones for RHD and LHD cars?

I reckon they are the same. Mine came from USA and no questions about the the car. TRD and B&M also don't offer different versions.

[markiii]

correct they are all teh same.

if anyone wants teh speedsource bsuhings I beleive Liz has an unused set for sale.

[kanujunkie]

Thanks Stu, that is exactly it.

glad about that, bloody hard to describe this one

As you can see though, they would not be to everybodies taste, and also Stu and I have different ideas about the cable bush mod.

and a few other bits, this is getting wierd Roger, but at the same time goes to prove how different mods and what you want from them can be, you and me must be the ying and yang of ROC Rog

[philster_d]

It makes the changes feel more like throwing a switch than changing gears.

Subsequently makes the whole car feel sportier, reminiscent of my Tubby (sorry to keep bringing her up)

Philster.

[roger]

and a few other bits, this is getting wierd Roger, but at the same time goes to prove how different mods and what you want from them can be,

Must be a sign of my old age   s:cry: :cry: s:cry:  

you and me must be the ying and yang of ROC Rog

Do you mean Ting-Tong, or is it Tong-Ting   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[kanujunkie]

 s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[Anonymous]

I've been looking on the internet and can find many basic short shifter kits, some quoting 20% less travel and some quoting upto 60% less travel (described as Racing Short Shifter).

Which would be the better?

[roger]

I've been looking on the internet and can find many basic short shifter kits, some quoting 20% less travel and some quoting upto 60% less travel (described as Racing Short Shifter).

Which would be the better?

I am sure the one's we have all got have to be the 60% variety, though I do admit the %s change quite regularly.

[kanujunkie]

for speed of gear change, the 60% one but thats hardly any movement  s:? :? s:?  that could be an arse to drive with  s:? :? s:?

[roger]

for speed of gear change, the 60% one but thats hardly any movement  s:? :? s:?  that could be an arse to drive with  s:? :? s:?

I'm sure ours can't be as low as 20 % though   s:?: :?: s:?:  I'll have to look at the box tonight.

By the way Dave, I bought mine through E-bay for $63 shipped and insured from the States through Marc Shih at  e mailto:addicted2Racing@hotmail.com">addicted2Racing@hotmail.com e .

He is a dealer, so not a one off. Just in case you are interested.

<edit> by the way that included a chrome gear-knob - which I didn't use! </edit>

[kanujunkie]

seem to remember the 25-30% mark  s:? :? s:?  on che's one

[roger]

seem to remember the 25-30% mark  s:? :? s:?  on che's one

Just did an e-bay search (including Celica), and it seems there is 20%, 33%, 40-50%, upto 60% - when IMO all the sticks look the same!

Maybe we will have to do a definitive test!

[mg]

If it helps, I seem to remember that the B&M has a 40% reduction.  All you are really describing is a longer or shorter arc as you get closer/farther to the fulcrum point.

In some ways the TRD kit seems the best of both worlds as it is a whole replacement cage that moves the pivot (fulcrum) point to allow the same length of stick with a shorter throw.  All the other kits I've seen use the existing cage with a shorter stick; hence the increased force required to move the stick.