Kartboy shifter installed

[GT Wagon]

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3719/kartboy3dq.jpg

Recall when I was asking questions about this particular Legacy with a loose shifter. I figured it was bushings and this was confirmed by several on this board. There was a wicked amount of play in the shifter, you'd swear it was in neutral when in gear. I had two instances were I nearly put the car in 2nd doing the 3rd to 4th shift coming onto the highway.

Since it was all coming apart I decided this was a great time to pick up a Kartboy short shifter kit with bushings. Had a buddy install it all yesterday, took him about 2 hours and some work with a torch to remove a rusted bolt. Being a transmission mechanic this is probably as quick as you'll get it done.

Once installed it was immediately apparent, what a difference ! All the play is gone and the shifts are quick & tight. Took me the day to get used to it, you really don't have to move your hand much at all. I'm dying to see how this works at the track. I would definately recommend this upgrade if you're going to replace worn parts.

[MitchGT]

Nice mod. I've had mine in for about a year and love it. I still have the bushings sitting around waiting to be installed. I have to get to that sometime...

[gil_ong81]

this has got to be the one single mod that makes the car feel totally different.

BTW, make sure you don't over-tighten the nut for the bushing.

[BAC5.2]

I don't think you can actually overtorque that bolt.

How could you? The lower carrier bushing and the rearward bushing don't do anything other than isolate vibration and movement from chassis to shifter?

They don't actually move. When you push forward on the shifter, you are pushing the linkage backward, and the bushings cushions that. Over tightening wouldn't reduce this effect.

Though I am sure there is a torque spec for that bolt, I have never used it. Just snug it up until you feel like it's secure and let it go. I replaced my bushing 26k ago, and it never came loose.

There is an Energy Suspension part number, 1170 I believe, that should work for all Subaru's. Install requires the dropping of the exhaust though, because the bushing is one-piece and must be pressed into the linkage. I paid under $10 shipped, and at least Matt (Legacy92Ej22T) could attest to the quality of my shift setup.

[gil_ong81]

i dunno BAC. I overtightened mine when i installed it. the shifter became really stiff and difficult to move. once i re-torqued it to, like you said, snug, things were great.

[GT Wagon]

Intersting point, as stated the person doing the work does transmissions for a living so I have full confidence he's done the job 100x better than I ever would :) Two days into the install and I'm liking it more and more. It really reminds me of the shifts on a Miata which are outstanding from the factory.

[Wiscon_Mark]

GT wagon...did you read the writeup for installation? Its really not a complicated process at all, you don't even have to go into the actual transmission.

But I'm glad you didn't go and pay for installation at a shop :)

Anyways, my shifter has gotten sloppy again, so I think I'm going to do a full bushing replacement, STi Tranny Mounts, and maybe a short throw, come next summer...

The little things make a huge difference :)

[GT Wagon]

Yes, I read the instructions on Scoobymods and it looked reasonably straightforward. Since I was having both front axels replaced (torn boots) I let him do all the work :) The problem in Canada is salt corrodes anything exposed under the car, the bolt going through the bushings has so much rust it needed to be removed with a torch. Its certainly one of those mods you'll realize the potential for every time you drive the car, hard or not.

Finally, something that has a large impact but a reasonably small price tag.

[Wiscon_Mark]

I'm not seeing the part where you need to go under the car to install a short throw...

[gil_ong81]

I'm not seeing the part where you need to go under the car to install a short throw...

you need to go under the car to install the bushing.

[GT Wagon]

[quote="Wiscon_Mark":1sed23s0]I'm not seeing the part where you need to go under the car to install a short throw...

you need to go under the car to install the bushing.[/quote:1sed23s0]

Precisely. Since I did not do the install myself (just watched) I can't say how much could have been done inside the car. He pulled out the entire assembly through the shifter space. I replaced a few parts (should have been more clear)

- Shifter (karboy product)
- lower bushings (kartboy product)
- lower bushing assembly (OEM) - This was the worn out part giving huge amounts of play.
- pair of bushings (OEM)

I wish I could have documented this all and done a writeup however 90% of it took place out of sight. I brought my camera with good intentions but there wasn't much to shoot and I wanted to stay out of the way.

[Wiscon_Mark]

okay, I thought you just meant the bushings that went on the shifter to the control arm...yeah, there are other bushings that go underneath...which I should get redone.

[subieyacht]

ive got the same thing, but my biggest beef with it is that it rattles like crazy when i hit 4k rpm. Whats goin on here?