STi short shifter install - ClubWRX Forum - Subaru Impreza WRX and STi Community and Forums

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:00 PM

New car, so I figured I better document this time around

The STi short shifter is the entire shift assembly, has a shorter throw and firmer bushings. Me likes.

First we'll start by pulling the e brake back a bit and then carefully lift up the console in front of the armerest storage area, that surrounds the e brake. This piece just pulls off, just do it gently.

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:03 PM

Disconect the wire harness to the mirro adj and slide the entire pice over the e brake.

Next unscrew the shift knob and remove it. Now gently pull up the plastic console surround ing it. Again just pulls off, but be gentle.

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:07 PM

Next we'll remove the base piece. It's held by four phillip screws- two in front of the shifter, one between the shifter and ebrake and two in the armrest compartment.

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:14 PM

With the five screws removed it just lifts off

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:26 PM

shifter base plate needs removed w/ 4 10mm bolts

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 06:32 PM

Next you'll need your car up on jack stands (or heaven forbid a lift!).

Now is a good time to pull out your shifter assembly, so you know what the thing looks like, so you can recogonize it underneath

In the pic you can see the fore pieces, the upper piece is a U joint affair, the lower a round bushing piece and at the rear you can see a small bracket.

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 08:35 PM

You'll next remove the round portion of the assembly (front portion) w/ the rubber bushing- it's held on w/ a 12mm nut, remove the nut and then slide the bushing off. The other piece (U joint piece) is held on w/ a 12mm bolt and a nut on top. It's kind of close quaters, but you can get to it. Remove the nut and bolt.

Not the best pic, but you can see the rubber bushing round portion pulled off to the side (nut is already off)- above it sits the U joint piece

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 08:39 PM

Then there is a bracket at the rear of the shift assembly that is held in w/ two bolts (12mm)- (the pic doesn't show the bolts, but are where the arrows are pointing), remove these two bolts and the assembly is free. It'll take some jiggling, but remove the entire assembly from the top.

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 08:44 PM

Slide the new assembly in (from the top) and bolt up the rear bracket, then the upper front piece and then the lower piece (round w/ bushing). No torque specs- can't get a torque wrench in there anyways- I went "firm".

Then repace the metal bracket and the trim pieces in reverse order, carefully "snapping" them in and voila- you'll now have shorter, crisper shifts!

Big Sky

ShotgunTC88 · 07-17-2004, 09:10 PM

Now all ya gotta do is pop in a Kartboy bushing....

Since ya did the install yourself you saved around $100!

Shotgun

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-17-2004, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShotgunTC88
Now all ya gotta do is pop in a Kartboy bushing....

Since ya did the install yourself you saved around $100!

Shotgun

The STi ones are substantially stiffer than the oem ones, not urethane stif, but much stiffer.

I put my last one in (02) as well. I was actually hoping to get it as a option, but wasn't on it (no boost gauge either

-that goes on tomorrow).

Big Sky

ShotgunTC88 · 07-18-2004, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Sky WRX
The STi ones are substantially stiffer than the oem ones, not urethane stif, but much stiffer.

I put my last one in (02) as well. I was actually hoping to get it as a option, but wasn't on it (no boost gauge either -that goes on tomorrow).

Big Sky

I put my STI shifter in also,

And added the Kartboy later, After driving it awhile.

I noticed a bit better gate movement, But not a big diff, It "seems" to add a tad more precision/tightness to the shifts.

Dont fret on the boostgage, I HATE that MPA sht on mine..

Shotgun

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-18-2004, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShotgunTC88
I put my STI shifter in also,

And added the Kartboy later, After driving it awhile.

I noticed a bit better gate movement, But not a big diff, It "seems" to add a tad more precision/tightness to the shifts.

Dont fret on the boostgage, I HATE that MPA sht on mine..

Shotgun

I'm just using the oem pod- got a nice 45mm Omori w/ matching green back lit and red needle, also in psi

Midwestrider · 07-18-2004, 09:46 PM

Big Sky,

Not to go OT on this post but is your 45mm Omori boost gauge the Electronic or Mech unit?

Did it fit in the OEM boost pod ok?
Any pics of that install?

**Big Sky WRX** · 07-19-2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Midwestrider
Big Sky,

Not to go OT on this post but is your 45mm Omori boost gauge the Electronic or Mech unit?

Did it fit in the OEM boost pod ok?
Any pics of that install?

It's a mech-evidently they don't make an electornic w/ the red needle/green back lit. It's a very tight fit- the oem gauge is a little smaller. I'll snap a pic tonight.

Big Sky

07-17-2004, 06:00 PM	#1
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	STi short shifter install New car, so I figured I better document this time around The STi short shifter is the entire shift assembly, has a shorter throw and firmer bushings. Me likes. First we'll start by pulling the e brake back a bit and then carefully lift up the console in front of the armerest storage area, that surrounds the e brake. This piece just pulls off, just do it gently. Attached Images

07-17-2004, 06:03 PM	#2
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	Disconect the wire harness to the mirro adj and slide the entire pice over the e brake. Next unscrew the shift knob and remove it. Now gently pull up the plastic console surround ing it. Again just pulls off, but be gentle. Attached Images

07-17-2004, 06:07 PM	#3
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	Next we'll remove the base piece. It's held by four phillip screws- two in front of the shifter, one between the shifter and ebrake and two in the armrest compartment. Last edited by Big Sky WRX; 07-17-2004 at 08:31 PM.

07-17-2004, 06:14 PM	#4
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	With the five screws removed it just lifts off Attached Images Last edited by Big Sky WRX; 07-18-2004 at 09:46 AM.

07-17-2004, 06:26 PM	#5
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	shifter base plate needs removed w/ 4 10mm bolts Attached Images

07-17-2004, 06:32 PM	#6
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	Next you'll need your car up on jack stands (or heaven forbid a lift!). Now is a good time to pull out your shifter assembly, so you know what the thing looks like, so you can recogonize it underneath In the pic you can see the fore pieces, the upper piece is a U joint affair, the lower a round bushing piece and at the rear you can see a small bracket. Attached Images Last edited by Big Sky WRX; 07-17-2004 at 08:46 PM.

07-17-2004, 08:35 PM	#7
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	You'll next remove the round portion of the assembly (front portion) w/ the rubber bushing- it's held on w/ a 12mm nut, remove the nut and then slide the bushing off. The other piece (U joint piece) is held on w/ a 12mm bolt and a nut on top. It's kind of close quaters, but you can get to it. Remove the nut and bolt. Not the best pic, but you can see the rubber bushing round portion pulled off to the side (nut is already off)- above it sits the U joint piece Attached Images Last edited by Big Sky WRX; 07-17-2004 at 08:48 PM.

07-17-2004, 08:39 PM	#8
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	Then there is a bracket at the rear of the shift assembly that is held in w/ two bolts (12mm)- (the pic doesn't show the bolts, but are where the arrows are pointing), remove these two bolts and the assembly is free. It'll take some jiggling, but remove the entire assembly from the top. Attached Images Last edited by Big Sky WRX; 07-18-2004 at 09:47 AM.

07-17-2004, 08:44 PM	#9
Big Sky WRX Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Plains of Eastern Montana Posts: 11,782	Slide the new assembly in (from the top) and bolt up the rear bracket, then the upper front piece and then the lower piece (round w/ bushing). No torque specs- can't get a torque wrench in there anyways- I went "firm". Then repace the metal bracket and the trim pieces in reverse order, carefully "snapping" them in and voila- you'll now have shorter, crisper shifts! Big Sky

07-17-2004, 09:10 PM	#10
ShotgunTC88 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ky Posts: 2,568	Now all ya gotta do is pop in a Kartboy bushing.... Since ya did the install yourself you saved around $100! Shotgun __________________ "Speed Kills......But so do Strokes,...Sign your donar card"

07-18-2004, 09:46 PM	#14
Midwestrider Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: OH Posts: 54	Big Sky, Not to go OT on this post but is your 45mm Omori boost gauge the Electronic or Mech unit? Did it fit in the OEM boost pod ok? Any pics of that install? __________________ "Boost, it's the #2 replacement for displacement"

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