When the shifter gets installed the exhaust and trans will be removed to make room for the full 2.75" JHM exhaust and the JHM Stage IV clutch and LWFW. The USP metal slave cylinder and SS line will also be installed at this time. I try to combine items for install that go together. I’m also swapping in new seals etc in the area for preventative maintenance.
cool thanks.
Cool, pretty much what I’m planning on doing. I’ll will probably try the medium stiffness spring for the reverse spring.
Good to know you are enjoying. I’m really looking forward to trying it.
If you do the full Trio, is it possible to go back to the stock setup since you have modified the linkage?
Some other pieces of advice when installing the shifter:
- Use masking tap on the shifter/console area to avoid an accidental scratch.
- Definitely remove the ashtray. Thanks to some recommendations on here, I went this route and couldn’t imagine doing the work without it completely out of the way. To remove, all you need to do is take out two 8mm bolts and then gently pull out and up while pivoting against the console. Hard to describe, but you’ll be able to figure it out.
- Super glue the spacers JHM provides to the bottom of the shifter shafts before reassembling with the four T-25 bolts. These are painful to line up otherwise and tend to fall and will require retrieval.
- When reinstalling the shifter, if you have trouble lining up with the lower shifter linkage (eg, if the bolt is going in crooked), don’t hesitate to remove the circlip that secures the spring onto the shifter. Do it carefully so it doesn’t shoot off somewhere in your car never to be found again. After removing this clip, tension in the shifter is lost and it will droop, making it super easy to line things up perfectly. Just remember that there is no point in tightening too much as you still need to adjust.
- Definitely have a magnetic pickup tool handy.
It appears like you can’t because you need to cut the linkage rod a bit. However, not sure why you would ever need to swap the linkage back out even if you go back to a stock shifter.
Good tips, thanks.
+1 karma for TypeRx for good tips. For some reason people are always shy about sharing their tips/troubles on DIY work. I love reading as much DIY stuff as I can.
Being a trailblazer is nice, but walking a nice flat mapped out trail through the woods with a nice soft layer of even woodchips is even nicer.
Yea…especially given the possible cost of a wrong turn with these vehicles. Not always a simple or cheap fix.
I never was much of a gambler.
I have just the linkage done and it is a little more clunky/notchy. Some people might like the slop of the stock linkage more. And no I dont have the short shifter.
Why would you do the linkage without the SS???
I loved mine even though 5th and 6th are weird gotta swoop it into these gears lol but other wise is fucking awesome and I have middle spring and the lowest throw which I think is 25%
Bought the car that way. Previous owner got a new motor and basically installed everything he could while the motor and tranny were dropped. I have been considering the SS but really want to try it out first.
I see. Ya the shifter was one of my most satisfying mods as well. Really changes the feel of the car
Guys, looking to get this installed this weekend. Its been sitting around for about a month. Thankfully I looked at the install video briefly before starting. Did you all use the angle adjusting tool? Is it really necessary?
I didn’t use any angle adjusting tool, but I could see how it might help speed up the adjustment phase if you end up in trouble. I totally didn’t need it. I did try and mark the linkage rod bolt locations of the stock shifter, but lining those up with the short shifter didn’t really work. So, after install, I left the linkage bolts a little loose and pulled the shifter back into a position that felt natural. And then, I kept rowing it through the gears (especially first, reverse, second and sixth) to make sure I had a full range of motion. Within <5 minutes of adjustment it all felt really good…like I was 98% there. So, I left it alone and was happy with things.
I haven’t driven my car since late October but started it up and drove it last weekend. The shifter really good. Maybe I got the adjustment perfect after all…
Have fun and post here if you get stuck or something.
I installed the jhm shifter in a few hours on my b6 a4 when I was still pretty newb at working on cars. I bought the angle measurement tool as JHM advised, took my time, and only had to align it once. And yes, it is DEFINITELY worth it.
how much is this tool? SSP here.