Short Throw shifters
 

A thread in the parts section got me thinking about my shifter. I've always thought I could use a better shifter. Seemed like shifts weren't fast enough.

Do any of you have a short throw shifter installed?

How can you tell if an installed shifter is a short throw?

Do you like it?

What brand are you using?

Where can I get a good deal on one if it's worth having?

I got to try out a C's during the Miata weekend. It was a little shorter, a little more direct in feel, but not worth spending money on IMO.

OK, by the first response I'm assuming this was a stupid question. I did perform a search first and found nothing satisfactory.

Thanks kotomile, that's all I needed to know

I'm using an ebay one and it works fine. Just make sure to get a new bushing for the bottom ball on the shifter, or take yours off your OEM shifter.

I'd also sway you towards steel ones.

I have no complaints about my 30buckish ebay one though.

What I want to see is that mazdaspeed metal bushing that was mentioned in another thread, that seems like a good gain in feel for not much money.

I dont have that bushing atm, its sloppy as hell. I thought about gettin a 30 dollar ebay shifter and trying it out. I also need a new boot, so ill probly replace everything.

EDIT: BS post was deleted, NVM.

I did not know of such a thing...hmmm.

I had a KG ss in my 96 and my 99. I liked the overly mechanical feel of the short shifter. Don't think my shifts were in faster though. I'll eventually get another one for my 6spd.

I have one of the $30 eBay ones with a new Mazda bushing in it. No way are they worth it. I'll probably end up putting my stock one back in. Yes the throw was shorter, but the increased effort negates any benefit of previously mentioned shorter throw. Although now that I'm turbo'd on a stock '93 transmission, I'm going easy on my shifts, so I'm not trying to shift fast, which isn't good for a transmission; turbo'd, raced, or neither. I will say this though, it certainly brightened up the cabin with it's chrome shaft.

On another note, I just added "turbo'd" to Firefox's dictionary.

I bought one of those fidanza short shifters last year.

Waste of 60$, your 1-2 shift might be hella quick, but the 2-3 shift is non-existent. It'll go into the 3rd gear position, but something doesn't work properly in the process because its not actually in the gear. My slow cruise 2-3 shift often includes a short grind as the shifter is slipping into the gear, even with the clutch fully depressed.

Anyone searching for this wondering about buying a short throw shifter, really, don't waste your money on it. Buy a heavy shift knob instead..

Juan,I'm going to have to disagree with what you said about short throw shifters.

You and a few others purchased the $30-$60 shifters from Ebay or the rebadged Ebay Fidanza shifters.Those cheap shifters are in no way near the quality of the C's,Mazdaspeed,KG,Mazdatrix or other well designed quality shifters.You get what you pay for.

I have the Steeda SSK and it's so pricise and smooth,I have never experienced the 2-3 shift problem,grinding or slipping into gear you experienced.

Next time I take out my shifter I'll take a picture of it.

http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/mazda...62/page-2.html


I've had mine for close to a decade.

If you haven't yet replaced the bushings, DO IT NOW! You won't think you need a short shifter if the factory one is working well. Get the factory parts, not the ebay knockoffs, and be surprised at how much nicer it is.

A Voodoo knob and good gear oil makes a world of difference. The stock shifter is like a toggle switch anyways. I can shift through the whole range of the shifter with my elbow stationary on the armrest.

Is this short enough for you? ;)

i had a mazdaspeed one that moved the fulcrum and junk.

i sold it. meh.

I like mine from East Coast Miata
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Thats all fine and dandy, but I never mentioned mine came from ebay. It didn't. Got it off a club member who ordered it from moss motors IIRC, was well over 150$ for him, I gave 60 for it. Waste of 60$.

Also had a Pro5.0 shifter on my T5 trans in the truck and experienced the same kind of shit. Put the stock mustang shifter back in and could shift faster than most people with short shifters. I learned to powershift when that truck had a full sized pickup shifter that changed area codes when you changed gears anyway.

Just saying, spend 30$ on a good heavy shift knob and don't waste your time or money on a short shifter. They're not worth it in my experience with several different cars. You might like yours and thats all good and well.