powerlabs
10-05-2009, 06:03 PM
Let me begin by saying us Corvette guys actually have it very good when it comes to shifters... Honda/Acura shifters are not direct linkages to the transmission and, although very smooth, are also extremely vague and make it difficult to know if/when you are in gear.
Subaru shifters (all of them. I've driven 5) will absolutely not go into 1st gear from a roll, and are extremely vague. The throw on an STI is not too bad, but you have to add shifter bushings, rear shifter stay bushings, polyurethane shifter linkage bushings, transmission crossmember bushings, hardened transmission mount... Then it gets really nice and tight, but vibrates and rattles like crazy at high revs.
In contrast, my C5 Z06 Shifter felt much tighter, and went into 1st gear at any speed. The throw length wasn't bad.
My complaints were the following:
1- Won't always go into reverse,
2- Gear placement not as precise as I would like,
3- That square shifter knob looks stupid,
3- THE DAMN THING FEELS LIKE IT IS FULL OF GRAVEL! Just reminded me of Jeremy Clarkson mentioning how a Corvette shifter feels like it belongs to a piece of farm equipment.
After some research I decided the Hurst shifter was the one to go with. I couldn't find a knob I liked, so I got the hurst knob to go with it.
I got both items from Ebay; they arrived the next day!
The install was pretty straight forward... About a dozen bolts and everything just pops right out. The instructions that come with it are simple enough. I did not have any grease to use, so I lubed the ball with motor oil instead. Worked fine. I also set the stop screws, although it is not necessary because the transmission does have stops built in.
http://www.powerlabs.org/images/hurst.jpg
The results:
1- The round knob is not my favorite, but it definitely looks better.
2- The shifts are really short now. REALLY short.
3- It doesn't buzz or rattle like some people experienced. Very happy with that.
3- No problems going into reverse any more.
4- A lot of effort is required to shift now. This is THE hardest (as in how much force is required to get a gear into its gate) shifter I've ever used. I would estimate it takes somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds of force to go from 3rd to 4rth. Not a big fan of that.
5- No more gravel feeling ;P It is perfectly notchy and the gear engagement is SUPER precise!
Overall I'm happy but wish the shifter effort wasn't so high :thumbsup:
http://www.powerlabs.org/images/hurst1.jpg
Subaru shifters (all of them. I've driven 5) will absolutely not go into 1st gear from a roll, and are extremely vague. The throw on an STI is not too bad, but you have to add shifter bushings, rear shifter stay bushings, polyurethane shifter linkage bushings, transmission crossmember bushings, hardened transmission mount... Then it gets really nice and tight, but vibrates and rattles like crazy at high revs.
In contrast, my C5 Z06 Shifter felt much tighter, and went into 1st gear at any speed. The throw length wasn't bad.
My complaints were the following:
1- Won't always go into reverse,
2- Gear placement not as precise as I would like,
3- That square shifter knob looks stupid,
3- THE DAMN THING FEELS LIKE IT IS FULL OF GRAVEL! Just reminded me of Jeremy Clarkson mentioning how a Corvette shifter feels like it belongs to a piece of farm equipment.
After some research I decided the Hurst shifter was the one to go with. I couldn't find a knob I liked, so I got the hurst knob to go with it.
I got both items from Ebay; they arrived the next day!
The install was pretty straight forward... About a dozen bolts and everything just pops right out. The instructions that come with it are simple enough. I did not have any grease to use, so I lubed the ball with motor oil instead. Worked fine. I also set the stop screws, although it is not necessary because the transmission does have stops built in.
http://www.powerlabs.org/images/hurst.jpg
The results:
1- The round knob is not my favorite, but it definitely looks better.
2- The shifts are really short now. REALLY short.
3- It doesn't buzz or rattle like some people experienced. Very happy with that.
3- No problems going into reverse any more.
4- A lot of effort is required to shift now. This is THE hardest (as in how much force is required to get a gear into its gate) shifter I've ever used. I would estimate it takes somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds of force to go from 3rd to 4rth. Not a big fan of that.
5- No more gravel feeling ;P It is perfectly notchy and the gear engagement is SUPER precise!
Overall I'm happy but wish the shifter effort wasn't so high :thumbsup:
http://www.powerlabs.org/images/hurst1.jpg