Installed ebay short shifter - Updated

[anothernord]

So I decided to take and chance with a B&M look-alike short shifter from ebay. I had read about other ebay shifters not fitting, and indeed, this one would not settle into place until I shaved down <1mm around the circumference with a bench grinder. Then It popped easily in with one mallet strike.

The throws are incredibly short, about 3.5-4 inches total, and the knob now sits about 2 inches shorter than stock. It feels much more solid, but also requires more effort to shift.

The install was interesting. The hardest part was popping out the stock shifter. I had to remove the steel plate around the shifter to allow the bolt to be removed. Then I rotated the stock shifter around and started pulling. I didn't really want to get under the car while it was out on the street, so I just pulled harder and it popped out.

Update!! Here is the comparison between the stock shifter and short shifter.

STOCK:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/02/0213091620-1.jpg

SHORT SHIFTER:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/02/0213091834-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/02/0213092207-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/02/0213091624-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/02/0213091734-1.jpg

[T_F_E]

very nice, how much did it cost you?

[elemenohpee]

I'm jealous of your non-1996 outback and your updated shift linkage. I'm going to swap out my linkage for a wrx one this weekend, so I can finally put a short shifter in and hopefully tighten up the slop too. And judging by how hard it was just to get the roll pin started in the new linkage joint, it's going to be a real pita.

[anothernord]

The shifter was $34 shipped. It came with a bunch of different bearings and stuff so it will fit different applications.

Edit: oh yeah, I sliced my hand open on the metal bezel around the shifter. So you could factor that blood into the cost. :razz:

[BlackBK]

Looking at this right now and I am now going to but it since you had good luck with it.


Just Bought It $34 Shipped..

[anothernord]

Be sure to put some new grease on both the ball and socket and the bearings, the latter to stop vibration from producing an annoying rattle.

Also, after a couple of weeks with the new shifter, I have gotten used to the extra force required. Now shifting is really nice.

[BlackBK]

cant wait

[rclsubaru]

That shifter looks JUST like my $130 B&M... F-me for wasting 100 extra bucks then :roll:

[BlackBK]

ya this shifter is no shorter than the one I have on there now....I dont know if the shifter that came on the car was from a different model or what.

I am going to cut the shifter down and re thread it .....

[anothernord]

ya this shifter is no shorter than the one I have on there now....I dont know if the shifter that came on the car was from a different model or what.

I am going to cut the shifter down and re thread it .....

You must not have a stock shifter; the stock one on my 97' was a good 2 inches shorter than the short shifter.

[BlackBK]

Ya i have no idea, the shifter that came with the car is still pretty high.... Now I am goiong to cut the new one down real low like I want it!

[impreza_GC8]

Did it come with bushings or did you reuse your OEM?

[anothernord]

It doesn't include the bushings. Mine were in decent condition and they didn't warrant replacement.

Another thing I should add:, it does come with a bunch of bearings; a short and long one, my 97 used the short, but since it is metal on metal roller bearings, and not a 100% tight fit, it was rattling at about 2800 rpm, so I cleaned up the OEM bearing and tightly wrapped clear packing tape until it was the same diameter as the one included in the kit. It feels the same but doesn't rattle anymore.

[BlackBK]

Check this out ....

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/03/0314091502a-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/03/0314091502-2.jpg



I cut it about 2 inches and then re threaded it......

[anothernord]

Now that's a short shifter!

[1-3-2-4]

Can't wait to get a short shifter but gotta replace the bushings who knew a friken rubber part could cost $40 to fix a sloppy shifter

[1-3-2-4]

Bad iPhone! Caused a double post

[scoobyLTD]

So I decided to take and chance with a B&M look-alike short shifter from ebay.Is this one similar to the one you used?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHIFTER-SHORT-THROW-96-03-SUBARU-IMPREZA-LEGACY-OUTBACK_W0QQitemZ120393659978QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120393659978&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
I was considering giving this a shot for my BE.

[anothernord]

So I decided to take and chance with a B&M look-alike short shifter from ebay.Is this one similar to the one you used?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHIFTER-SHORT-THROW-96-03-SUBARU-IMPREZA-LEGACY-OUTBACK_W0QQitemZ120393659978QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120393659978&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
I was considering giving this a shot for my BE.

Yep, that is the exact same thing, just different color and a little more expensive. Although you get a shift boot too. Just as a warning, it will not go in without grinding around the circumference a bit, but that was on my BG, so may fit your BE.

[scoobyLTD]

Just bought it

[keltik]

Hmm i might have to give this a shot. I just shortened and re-threaded the shifter on my '89 GT and that worked well. But would like a more 'professional' solution in the BH. The trans has a good snickity snick between gears so should take to a shorter shift quite well :smt023

[anothernord]

I should point out that Kartboy makes a drop in shifter for this car that is much better than this shifter, as the Kartboy doesn't require and grinding or tampering to work correctly.

Also, I found the metal bearing included with this shifter rattles very annoyingly at certain rpm's, so I replaced it with the stock bearing and wrapped it with clear tape until it was the same diameter.

[BlackBK]

I have recently noticed this rattling as well.....so f-ing annoying, I am going to have to take it aprt and do the tape thing....

[4WDFun]

I was just looking at these on the ebay.
Think I will pull the trigger, considering my BMW SSK was over 300$, this doesnt sound so bad.

Where does this bearing sit(the one that rattles)?

[99gtlimited]

don't you just love that WRX shit knob? my favorite one by far...

[anothernord]

The bearings are the ones on the inner race of the hole on the actual shift lever (the hole in the blue thing). I just wrapped my old bushing (metal cylinder) with tape until it fit snugly in the hole and it doesn't rattle anymore.

[ccampbell2546]

Do you guys have any pics of the short shifter in gear, like say first or reverse or something? I did the DIY shortER shifter where you thread more onto the stock shifter and cut an inch off, and the throws are shorter but, I think I messed something up because when in first, third, and fifth gear the knob is almost touching the stereo/CD player. I know mine is not a real short shifter but, I wanted to try it and since I'm not happy with it I'll probably buy the one you guys have. The short shifters pictured look awesome.

[Garrison]

I'm going to rev this thread for an answer here, I have the exact same shifter (went in without having to grind it though. You must have just gotten a poorly cast one or something). I installed it and now the side metal bezel is obstructing the bolt through the blue part of the shifter on the passenger side and reverse is nigh impossible to find.

Also, the manual linkage update from turn-in looks to be a god send; can anyone update with more information or reviews?

[1-3-2-4]

Does the short shifter make the car harder to shift?

[Grafton]

Does the short shifter make the car harder to shift?
a short throw shifter reduces the leverage so you do have to use a little more force, i cant really tell the difference in effort, the biggest thing is not cranking down on the bolt that runs through the linkage, too tight and you really have force the shifter

[Garrison]

Anyone have a solution for reverse besides trimming away the bezel surrounding the shifter?

[Grafton]

a dollar says the lever in is backwards, sans trim in neutral it should lean towards the rear ala:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/09/f_demo002m_6d30d38-1.jpg (http://imagefra.me/)

if that's the case unbolt and spin it around, you shouldn't need to take it out of the socket

[Garrison]

My linkage bushings are shot, but I think I know what's up. The mechanics who just handed me my car back probably reinstalled it incorrectly. Thanks for the help guys.

[1-3-2-4]

my linkage bushing are shot too lol that's why my car would grind in 3rd gear at ECS it looks like a pain to get to but they said you have enough room if you put the car in 5th :-/

[anothernord]

The Kartboy rear shifter bushing is probably the best shifter-mod you can do. It REALLY tightens up the linkage.

[1-3-2-4]

That's not really the bushing it's the part that connects to the rod from the tranny to the linkage It's like a $25 part from the dealer.. one part is on the tranny and the other allows for the shifter linkage to Pivot.

[Garrison]

That's not really the bushing it's the part that connects to the rod from the tranny to the linkage It's like a $25 part from the dealer.. one part is on the tranny and the other allows for the shifter linkage to Pivot.
Agreed.

We're talking about these bushings:
http://turninconcepts.com/product_info. ... ucts_id=90 (http://turninconcepts.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_9_10_1496_1499_1509&products_id=90)

I would do those over OEM any day- just need to find the desire to put the car back up on a lift.

[1-3-2-4]

part I'm talking about is step 34 on here

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t128163 ... orial.html (http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t128163-diy-clutch-replacement-pictorial.html)

edit found a better one

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t58760- ... e-fix.html (http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t58760-shifter-wobble-fix.html)

[Garrison]

Ahhh, I have a WAY better understanding of this now.
Thanks for the awesome link.

[1-3-2-4]

OK I really need a short shifter now.. I just installed a new '11 wrx shift knob and it makes the stock shifter so much higher now, which one of these ebay shifters fit now?

[jjay03]

You guys are saying it looks like the B&M shifter? How come I dont see a shifter on their site for our car?