Short Shifter Install (not fun for me at all)

[rsfeller]

Moral of the story? You get what you pay for...

I had a less then fun experience installing my $60 short shifter (from ebay). It is built well but there are some design issues that required modifications to the shifting housing. I think many of us have been on here researching and asking about the inexpensive units before we bought them. 90% of the comments seem to be positive so I took the plunge.

I as cussing and drinking hard the whole way through my modifications :cheers: !!! Part of my therapy to talk myself down after this experience was to put my procedure notes on my website with some poor quality phone camera images for others to learn.

Again I am sure the $200-300 shifters fits better, I now understand why the manufacture of this did what they did (to save resources and money). It may or may not be worth it for you to buy the "el cheapo". I know many of you can do the work but prefer not to dremel and blow torch your car!

read here if you must...

http://www.carboncow.net/index.php?option=...7&Itemid=85

I'll tighten up this page when I get some more time.

[rsligar]

rsfeller,

Funny but not really. I just installed my ebay shifter last night. tore the car apart 2 days ago and then realized that in order to flip the handle, I needed to get someone to press the bolt out as I couldn't get it to budge. Once I got it back, I proceeded to install. I was only able to view your first picture but based on your post, I know exactly what you went through. I took my time and it came out decent. I am able to shift through all gears now. At first I was not able to get 5/6 well so I had to tighten up the cable on the left. Now it goes through the gears. I have test driving and buttoned it all back up last night. I drove it again this evening and it just barely goes in reverse. Everything is very tight, stiff when moving from gear to gear. It's not like the handle is got tension on it like I tightened the pivot bolt too much but like it's a lot harder to go in and out of gear since the throw is shorter so it's like i have half the leverage now I guess. I'm hoping there is and adjustment I can do to loosen it up a little. I believe I need to re-adjust the left cable to account for the barely going in to reverse.

I would be interested in seeing you images if you can repost or email.

Well, at least you should feel better now knowing you aren't the only one.... At least I know how the center console comes out now.. ha ha

Ryan

02 boxster s / 6spd manual

[rsfeller]

rsfeller,

Funny but not really. I just installed my ebay shifter last night. tore the car apart 2 days ago and then realized that in order to flip the handle, I needed to get someone to press the bolt out as I couldn't get it to budge. Once I got it back, I proceeded to install. I was only able to view your first picture but based on your post, I know exactly what you went through. I took my time and it came out decent. I am able to shift through all gears now. At first I was not able to get 5/6 well so I had to tighten up the cable on the left. Now it goes through the gears. I have test driving and buttoned it all back up last night. I drove it again this evening and it just barely goes in reverse. Everything is very tight, stiff when moving from gear to gear. It's not like the handle is got tension on it like I tightened the pivot bolt too much but like it's a lot harder to go in and out of gear since the throw is shorter so it's like i have half the leverage now I guess. I'm hoping there is and adjustment I can do to loosen it up a little. I believe I need to re-adjust the left cable to account for the barely going in to reverse.

I would be interested in seeing you images if you can repost or email.

Well, at least you should feel better now knowing you aren't the only one.... At least I know how the center console comes out now.. ha ha

Ryan

02 boxster s / 6spd manual

I am curious if more have issues and just don't comment!

I did see (you) someone post about pressing out the bolt. Mine just falls out as it was just a quality stud with two nuts...so I think we got different units.

I'm leaving my apart for a week while I tweak the cables.

I never touched my pivot bolt, saw no reason nor any slop in the left/right movement. Mine is tight due to (most likely) a bad cable or linkage.

Not sure why you are having issues with my website, maybe give it some more time and patience (like the shifter project!). It's hosted on a home server but I just check it and the photos are there and opening acceptably.

Did you have to grind, cut or modify anything?

Did your ball and socket arm that came left off of the shifter go back into a plastic square slider or was it an over sized ball that fit into the white arm?

[rsligar]

rsfeller,

I looked and see your pics fine now. I think once people get through the install and finished drinking, cursing or whatever helps us get through it, we move on to the next. So I think there are others with the same issue. It's so helpful to read the feedback such as yours though. I'm looking at your picture of jpg5 where the arm contacts the slider assembly and I think that might be part of my problem as well. I need to tear it apart again and check.

I didn't grind or modify anything. I did stare at the larger ball and the small square socket that came out of the white slider for several minutes wondering what everyone else did. I figured that there was no way it was going to fit and didn't see any post about it so it must just elimiate that small square. I didn't notice if it's hitting the side though. I bet it is and that's my problem.

Does your shift pretty easy or is it much stiffer? I don't think my wife could even shift it now. I must have something wrong on the cable adjustment.

I also noticed that the shifter assembly can move forward or backwards depending on how the allen screws are adjusted front and back. This makes my marks on the cables not so accurate now as the shifter could be about 1/4" off from where the stock one set.

Ryan

[rsfeller]

I did stare at the larger ball and the small square socket that came out of the white slider for several minutes wondering what everyone else did. I figured that there was no way it was going to fit and didn't see any post about it so it must just elimiate that small square. I didn't notice if it's hitting the side though. I bet it is and that's my problem.

Does your shift pretty easy or is it much stiffer? I don't think my wife could even shift it now. I must have something wrong on the cable adjustment.

I also noticed that the shifter assembly can move forward or backwards depending on how the allen screws are adjusted front and back. This makes my marks on the cables not so accurate now as the shifter could be about 1/4" off from where the stock one set.

Ryan

Ryan,

I did stare at the ball (with out the slider on the new one) for about 30 minutes until I understood it was not an error too! I noted some of the higher priced ones do in fact have (or reuse) the square slider. Only us buying the "el cheapo" have the issue. I agree that most do the job and move on.

As you may have read I had a "stiff" left/right motion with (what I believe) my cable (or linkage). I just test drove the car 10 minutes ago and it is no better or worse. If you feel it is a bit stiffer it is due to the fact the longer lower part decreases your leverage against he resistance of the system. I believe I feel it slightly too. It is notchier for sure, but I don't think that will bother me in the long run. I did like the feel on my first ride to dinner!

I had trouble understanding the need for the allen bolts as my shifter fit perfect into the bushing, no play at all. I do now understand the need and you are correct that this front/back sliding would affect the right (what is called the shift cable) adjustment. I personally do not believe that a wrong adjustment makes the force any greater, regardless of what another poster said. But such an error would obviously change the adjustment of the linkage so you are either not going far enough or too far. I actually accidently wipped off my "white out" mark on the treads/cable and had to take a good guess on the left (blue slector cable). I had it almost correct and everything worked except the R (5 speed). I only had to move the cable head up 2 threads and life feels really good.

RULE 1 AFTER DOING THIS JOB: Drive around for two days with your central console out for adjustment needs.

RULE 2: Be ready to modify if you want to save $200 over the "big dog" shifters.

RULE 3: Bring beer...you'll need it...

PS. The wife looked at me nervously as we drove to dinner tonight with the sound of the shifting and such. I think it seemed dramatic to her with the cover off. I let her throw a few shifts when we went down the road and it didn't phase here that much. But keep in mind she is used to the drag and stiffness in our blue selector cable already.