GFB Short Shift Basic Kit for STi 6 speed transmission (part 4003) User Manual
Page 4
14.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the factory steel sleeve is inserted into
the white bushings of the gearstick clamp – without this sleeve the
shifter will not operate properly. Line up the sleeve with the holes
in the linkage and pass the factory bolt right through, securing it
with the nut (figure 14).
15.
At this point you will need to decide how short you want the shift
throw to be. This is determined by the height of the clamp on the
gearstick relative to the pivot ball – the higher the clamp, the
shorter the throw (Note: the shorter you make the throw, the more
force will be required to shift, this is normal).
Note that as you slide the clamp up and down, the neutral position
of the gearstick will move slightly. When you have selected a
suitable position for the clamp, check that you can select all gears
(including reverse) smoothly, making sure the linkage does not hit
the transmission tunnel in 1
st
gear (see arrow in figure 14).
Replace the plastic shrouds in the reverse order of removal.
Notes on short shifters – worth a read…
It is a common misconception that short shifters are hard on synchros, and that premature wear is likely.
This is not true in the slightest. The only thing that can possibly cause accelerated synchro or gearbox wear
is poor shifting technique, or rushing gear changes. It is possible that having a short shifter may encourage
abusive shifting, so the limits of the synchros should always be observed.
The shifter is merely a lever that transmits movement to the gearbox. When you shorten the shift throw, it
feels like you are working the ‘box harder, because more force is required to shift. In actual fact, the force
that the gearbox requires to shift gears is exactly the same – the shifter cannot change that. However, by
reducing the throw, you also reduce the amount of leverage (or more correctly, mechanical advantage) that
you have over the gearbox, and therefore you have to apply more force to the gearstick to achieve the same
shifting force at the gearbox.
Also note that Subaru themselves have progressively shortened the shift throw of the WRX significantly
over the years, from about 70mm per gate in the early MY97 models down to 50mm for the post MY01
models, and the STi is even shorter again.
So next time someone tells you your synchros will wear out because of your shifter, you’ll be able to set the
record straight.
Subarus are commonly known for a notchy shift feel, but the good news is the shift quality of your gearbox
can be vastly improved by using good quality oil. The oil used by Subaru is often cheap and not ideal, and
replacing it with a reputable synthetic (not just an additive) will do wonders for cranky ‘boxes, particularly
when selecting 1
st
gear or when the oil is cold.
If you would like to shorten the shift throw of your GFB shifter even further, you can purchase the linkage
clamp separately that brings this kit up to the full 4002 spec, meaning the shift throw can be reduced by
another 15%. The part number for this linkage clamp is 4202, contact GFB on +61 (0)2 9534 0099 or email
for more info.