Shift knob ideal weight?
 

Okay, I didn't know quite where to put this. Mods, move if necessary.

I am making my own shift knobs. More of a hobby thing than any attempt to create something awesome. I've looked at Voodoo in all it's flavors, and all the ricer types over on CR.net. I've make a couple of prototypes, but they end up just feeling wrong. Wooden, aluminum, and even plastic. Almost all have been in the 2" round variety. Lately I've been thinking that it needs more weight.

So, steel it is. Heavy sucker, over 1lb at 2" diameter (same size as Voodoo Magnum), before drilling. I fear it may be a bit much. But, before I go hogging out all the center material, only to find out it's too light, I figured to get some input.

What do you like (heavier/lighter) and why? What type of driving? Different knob for the track vs. street? Anyone with a Voodoo that wished it were heavier?

I like a smaller knob, that is as heavy as possible.
I love my skunk2 knob, its smaller than stock but quite a bit heavier.

Attachment 196056

I got that little 2" extension because I always punch whatever is plugged into my cigarette lighter when I shift into 5th.

I have a similar knob as above, but Blox. I like it. Had a skunk2 on my last car, loved it also.

Why do weighted knobs feel so much better?

Its gotta be inertia

You guys don't burn your hands on them metal knobs?
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote

I have the 6 spd version in my Si, the skunk knob is small but much heavier than stock. You just have to keep a glove or reservoir sock in the car for when it has been sitting in the sun.

Maybe I should get one for the miata w/ an extension....

--Korea

I like the skinny cylindrical shifter...is a metal one going to feel that much better?

heavy metal shift knobs > *

try the TWM big type-r, it's 600grams

Yeah, my initial post was in response to a thread on CR.net about them. Some guys buying $100+ knobs! Hard to tell the knob from the knob. I made a comment about it just being a hunk of metal, and you'd think I had insulted an entire population from the response. What kind of idiot pays $100 for one single pound of steel?

I made mine out of a $7 trailer ball. But it was free, because the guy bought the wrong size, so gave it to me. Not stainless, but it wasn't more expensive than a barrel of oil.


Edit: It's gonna cost me something (time), and I may have to buy a tap. Oh, and whatever bribe I need to have the plating guy flash it in pure nickel so it doesn't rust. I may have to shell out for an entire chinese lunch!

make me a type-r style shift knob, heavy metal, and 6 speed shift pattern and I'll pay you

Heavy ones absorb driveline vibration and the weight helps going gear to gear thanks to momentum. I need to get one one of these days. I like the Blox one, but damn $40. I had one of those ebay metal ones that looked like burnt titanium...the weight was decent and the shape was great....I need to get one in 6spd flavor.

I'd be worried that too heavy would be bad for the shifter bushings...

For the record, right now I have some Voodoo or Sola ball...I hate the feeling of the ball-style.

Me, too. I'm going to cut the extension off to get it down in the 12-14oz. range. Surprisingly (at least to me) was that I actually like the ball shape better than the stock knob. However, I don't much care for the hard, smooth surface. I'd like to try to cover it in leather.

That's the reason why I went back to a stocker from the one I had on my car

I picked up a used Voodoo Black Crinkle-Texture Magnum shift knob for $25 off m.net...it's great. Love the size, weight, feel, and look. It gets hot-ish in direct sunlight, but it's not unbearable...certainly not bad enough that I've ever bothered getting a knob sock.

I also have a Black delrin knob that someone on m.net made...it's okay, but the shape is more cylindrical. I shift with a cupped hand so I like the ball shape better, with the cylinder, it felt odd if my hand didn't land on it just the right way.

You know, I've never videotaped my shifts, nor am I a professional driver, but it always seemed to me that the delay in shifting was really the movement of your hand from the wheel to the shifter, than the actual shift motion itself. I mean, unless we're talking about a VW minibus shifter, what's the difference between an 8" throw and a 6" throw?

So...I've thought that maybe all these "short-throw shifters" and whatnot are going the wrong direction. Move the shift knob closer to the wheel, so the hand falls directly to it, even if it adds an inch or two to the shift throw.