Today in the mail I finally got my short throw shifter from Mazdatrix along with my full exhaust and some other things.

Before, my shifter was in terrible shape. It was so loose, you could put it in a contest with a pornstars ****** and probably win. Not to mention the rattling noise it would make from time to time.

It took me quite awhile to install it, even with instructions. I went slow and took my time to make sure I did everything right. I recommend using the instructions on Mazdatrix's site too, because they are more detailed with pictures.

I threw some Amsoil synthetic oil in there, then put the shifter in and I was ready to go.

And the difference? Wow. This shifter with all the new bushings it came with is so tight, it is probably tighter than the first girl you ever hooked up with was.

The new shifter is so good, it's like a shifter off of a brand new car. Well... it should but compared to the old one... damn. Of course if your shifter was as bad as mine the difference will be pretty drastic. No more wobble wobble. Driving is much more enjoyable now. It just feels so much better.

The shifter actually retains the stock look in size, as it is about the same size. But the throw is so much shorter. You can really feel a difference when your going through those gears.

Anyway, I just thought I'd would share my thoughts on this shifter. For those of you debating whether or not Mazdatrix's shifter is worth the $200... it is.

JFR

 

cool. thanks for the short review

 

cool i've heard nothing but good things about those except for a rattling issue with some cars... but i'll hopefully get one of those too soon

 

I'm going to hold out for aaron cakes... any news on that yet?

 

Aaron was going to make a short shifter but I guess it was a no go.

 

i have that shifter and the throw was a big difference

 

Thanks for the info. I've been thinking too about taking the plunge. $200 is a great deal. My only concern is that even on the Mazdatrix website they state that there is a known issue that kit affecting SOME FCs. I believe the number was approximately 1 out of 3. I don't know what their return policy would be if your FC happened to be in that 33 percentile . Hopefully they would allow a return....

Here's the Mazdatrix link to that page:
http://www.mazdatrix.com/shiftrat.htm

Keith
90 Vert

 

This will definately be my first mod..... i have read a lot of good things around here about that kit, and yes, mine feels like that out of work **** star it is so loose.

 

i know what i made is a "shortened shifter" not a "short shifter" but it works beautifully and i can't imagine having any less throw, i simply removed my stock s4 shifter, it's 2 pieces with rubber joining them, i removed the top half with a vice and wrench, cleaned all the rubber off the lower piece with a belt sander. then i took my shift **** and modded it to fit the lower half (i use a teflon shift **** so that was simple) then i took 2 nuts both just under 1/2 inch and epoxied them together and then to the shifter, i then used a couple drops of super glue to attach the **** so it wouldn't come off but i can easily brake the super glues hold if i need to fix something . i'll try to take some pics later and do a write up, i'm in the middle of replacing my water pump today so i'm kinda busy

 

Wow, I never even saw that before I bought mine. Well, mine doesn't rattle so I suppose that I'm... lucky? haha

 

don't speak too soon. apparently the rattles can develop under longer use. however if you swap in a different tranny, you run the same risk. so...

 

is there any more effort needed to put it into gear?

thats the thing about short throw shifters.... the throw is shorter... but the effort to put it in gear is higher

 

would having / not having the return spings matter much?

 

Yeah I think there was some traffic on that thread about 2 years ago.

 

I heard that it's not going to happen.

I haven't really noticed much of a difference. I'm sure there is a little more effort required, but not enough to consider it harder to shift.

 

A harder shift would have to do with synchros wouldn't it?

 

I wanted to get a new shifter but after I saw all these prices.... I didn't see the advantage... Considering my U-joints are squeaking like a loose... well... **** star.

 

No, it relates to the change of leverage.

Stock shifter= long throw at **** for short movement at lower pivot arm which equates to less effort.
Aftermarket shifter= raised pivot point, less movement at **** for more travel at lower pivot but more effort required.

Just visualize a seesaw with a moveable pivot point.

Any shortthrow kit will benefit from a heavily weighted ****.
My favorite is a Nismo unit but I'm sure there are others.

 

Don't know. Last time I talked to him(a few months ago), he was going through the final testing of the short throw--something about him not liking the look of it, but that it's functional.