My friend cut his stock shifter on his 4th gen 2 inches from the top. I drove it and it felt like i was making quicker shifts with less effort. Is this a smart thing to do or should i shell out the money to get a short shift kit? thanks in advance.

 

There's no harm in shortening the shifter, but the only explanation for an easier shift is psychological. By shortening the driver-side of the shifter, you've reduced your leverage and the shifter now requires more force (albeit over a shorter distance).

 

He's right more force due to less leverage. Anyways I did this too just because it looks cool. Now my shifter doesn't look like it is out of a truck.

 

Is this true with the kits also? Or did you just mean when cutting it like he was talking about?

SuDZ

 

The way the shifter works is this (I learned this from replacing mine): the shifter lever has a ball near the bottom that acts as a fulcrum, and below it the lever is attached to the linkage, which connects to the transmission.

Movement above the ball (by the driver) is transferred to the linkage, and the ball is the pivot point of the shifter; move the shifter forward into third and the lever, under the car, moves backward and pulls the transmission into third gear. It's like a see-saw standing straight up and down, and the pivot point is near the bottom.

Change any measurement -- the location of the fulcrum or the overall length of the lever -- and you change the forces and distances involved in moving the linkage to shift the gears. Aftermarket short throw shifters combine a shorter lever with a ball closer to the center of the shaft. If the resistance in the transmission and the amount of grease on the fulcrum remain the same, an aftermarket short shifter should always require more force over a shorter distance to accomplish the same work as a stock shifter. Boy, that was long-winded, sorry.

 

THANK YOU. people that give detailed responses without being mean make me feel all tingly inside. hahah

 

How tough was it to replace yours? What was involved?

SuDZ