If I could give more than one "thumbs up" icon, I would!

I think darn near EVERYone who's bought one of these just loves it. Awesome shifter. Much shorter throws, and the bushings give it a really notchy feel. (Which you either like... or you don't....)

I recommend you have a friend to help you install the shifter, as getting it to pop into the socket is a little tough. I tried mine when I was by myself and in a short-tempered mood, and ended up getting angry and bludgeoning the threads with a rock, trying to get it in there. :rolleyes: If you have a second person to help push, it pops in pretty easily. This is a trait of ANY of the shifters... Kartboy, OEM, whatever. It's a necessary "evil."

Not to mention that the shifter looks very cool, much cooler than the stock one, and Tom & Mark ship it complete with a box of candies. :D

-S2-

Pops right in with a 5 lb. rubber mallet! No Impreza is complete without a Kartboy.

If one has a 5-lb. mallet, that is. :D

If one has a 5-lb. mallet, that is.
remember that MALLET not MULLETT.

i was starting to think no one liked my shifter.. i didnt get any reviews.
but you love me... you really love me. :lol:
tom@kartboy.com

The Kartboy shifter and bushings is very well made. One of the highest quality aftermarket parts I have installed. Shift is short solid and no additional modifications are needed. I rate this product a 10. Can't go wrong with one of these. http://i-club.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif

I installed with an axle puller. screw it on to the stock shifter and pop, it is out and his went in that easy too.

Tom is a great vendor too. Part came in no time in the mail.

He needs to expand his product line to include more high quality goodies. :D

Tom: When I get my Impreza ill take one off your hands. Theres literally 10 short shifter kits on the market for soobs and yours always comes up in discussion.:cool:

I really like my new Kartboy shifter in terms of throw distance and feel (I haven't installed the bushings yet), but I have a slight concern... I get a high pitched "whining" sound when I shift into 2nd gear. I believe it to be the syncro mesh(?) Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a solution?

Overall, great product!! I just hope I didn't break it ;)

Ashton

I like the feel of the Kart boy more than the Syms I tried.

BTW, how much shorter are the throws than stock for the WRX?

The WRX shifter felt pretty similar to me compared to the old RS, so my guess would be that the feel is greatly improved, and the throw decreases quite a bit.

-S2-

I agree- Kartboy service and product both are great. I ordred, Tom said "here ya go", priority mailed it to me, and was installed a couple of days later. Best mod to date. (Till the scoobysport comes in!):D :D

-jamz

I have to say that I love the new shifter and bushings. For some reason, I had a crazy time trying to get mine popped in, but it finally went. I think that the bushings make a big difference too, as I ran through the gears a few times with the shifter ad the stock bushings. So go ahead and save yourself some money in the long run and buy the shifter + bushings at the same time.

but you love me... you really love me.

We did, but if you keep quoting Sally Fields, we MAY change our minds! :lol:

2 thumbs up!!!!

I like it, just like everyone else. I have to say however that the first drive I took in the car I didn't like it. It felt as though it took too much effort to move between gears and third gear was definitely not natural anymore. However, the second time I drove the car (the following day) I really liked it. Possibly it just took a little time for the lubrication to work into the bushings. More likely it just took my brain a while to adapt. Either way, shifting now once again feels natural. Can you say "snick"? If you had a Kartboy you could. You could say, "snick....snick....snick..."

Is there a downside? Well, to be honest yes, there are two small cons to the Kartboy shifter. One is entirely curable by the installer and the other may not bother you but would take a design revision to address.

First, NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) is raised as was mentioned above when someone said that they could hear second gear more. This is the one for which there is a simple solution. I took a mountain bike tire tube and cut a length of it. I slid this over the shifter before I put the boot on and allowed it crumple up until I couldn't slide any more rubber on. Then I took the top end of the tube and folded it back over itself (think of how you fold socks). That will hold it on while you do the same to the bottom end so that it doesn't interfere with the linkage. Now reassemble as you normally would and viola, NVH problem solved.

The other con is the shifter's revised position, which is slightly farther away from the driver since the overall length of the shifter is shortened. This can only be addressed by a design revision by the manufacturer. The factory short throw shifter retains the stock shifter position and effort but at the sacrifice of throw length. To move the shifter position closer to the driver and retain the current throw would most likely increase manufacturing cost and in turn retail price. I wouldn’t want to pay more than I did… even if it meant an ergonomic improvement. I did say it was a small con, didn’t I?

All in all this is a nice product. It won't make you go faster, turn better or stop quicker but it feels so right that I would say that it is probably the way the car should have come from the factory. Oh, and you get a sticker for your toolbox.

Cost rating = 8/10
Product rating = 8/10

did you install it with the bend coming towards you? I just wondered because I just about didn't and the way i put it in seems backwards... just a shot in the dark.

Yep.

I installed my shifter about two weeks ago, and I love it! Me and a freind installed in in like 20 mins, very easy to install. We took her for a test drive and we didnt want to leave the car! It was so snick-snicky good! Feels like a Miata. Nice short throws, higher effort (slightly) and a good, solid feel. It was fun for a few days, but now I'm used to it, so I dont even notice it anymore, it just feels like it came that way stock. I think after a while when it gets broken in, it moves more freely, and the effort is not there. I personally like to put more muscle into my shifts. But I still love this thing! I cant wait to install my bushings already!!

Tom....I'm still waiting........do you still wanna trade for that hydraulic pump?????:lol:

I just got my shifter and instlled it...not too difficult. I do have one problem though. When the shifter is in 1st, 3rd, or 5th, it is so close to the dash that I can't fit my fingers between the knob and the dash. I just need to learn to grab the shifter around the knob instead of on top of it. Not a big deal, just unexpected. A different knob might help too.

First time driving with it I accidentally went from 2nd to 5th :( I forgot to account for the shortness side-to-side. I got it quickly though. :)

Micah

flip that bitch 180! you installed it backwards. we have install instructions on the website
thanks
tom@kartboy.com

Now don't I feel dumb :rolleyes:

I had the WRX instructions that do not show the direction to put it in and I could've sworn it went in the way I have it. The 98-01 RS instructions show it clearly. I'll switch it at lunch and let you know how much better it is :)

Thanks Tom.

To fully enjoy Kartboy shifter benefits I'd recommend a combo - K-shifter/K-bushings/STi engine/transmission mounts/MOMO Race Air knob(or any other heavy ball-shaped knob that sits low)/Redline 75W90NS tranny oil.

I flipped the bitch over and stuck it in the right way (I am talking about the shifter ;) ) and it is infinitely better. I'll try to install the bushings tomorrow.

os2 - I'll do the engine/tranny mounts/redline some day and plan to get a ball-type shifter soon.

Thanks again Tom
Micah

Hey Tom,
My name is Bryant and I am purchasing a Kartboy Shifter and bushings from you. Since my mom doesn't like me adding any more modifications to the car, I cannot have the product shipped to my house. Instead, I gave my friend Andrew, who is a proud owner of a kartboy shifter, the money to put on his paypal account. He will order the shifter/bushings for me and have it sent to his house. Damn, that was one long run-on sentence. Oh well. Can't wait to get my shifter and bushings. I heard that the Kartboy product is the most talked about among subaru owners.

p.s. : Tom, din't you say you would install the thing for me when I move down to Irvine for College? I hope so! Thanks.

Sincerely,

bryant aka sky (i changed my username to ucimpreza83)

Tom,

Did we start putting on the "Parental Advisory" stickers yet?

Mark

ordered the shifter and bushings, dont have the car yet, but in about 2 weeks, just wondering are the bushings easy to replace? easy to find underneth?
Thanks

http://www.scoobymods.com/mods/impreza/cusco.php

Bushing install

Well, I wasnt sure if I would like the feel of the kartboy shifter, so I got in touch with Mark @ kartboy, (a very nice and down to earth guy)
and picked one up. ;)

Let me say, I LOVE IT. I havent even got the bushings in yet, but the lever feels great. A much more precise and refined feel.

The throw is decreased the perfect amount, enough to speed up my shifts, but NOT so much that it requires too much effort.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who even considers picking one up.

happy shifting.....

Ordered my Kartboy a few weeks ago, still have it in the box, My baby (WRX) finally comes in 2 weeks!! I will then install the kartboy as soon as i get the car home. My First mod too.

Peaty thanks for the great pictures and info, Im sure others appreciate it as much as i do!! Im sure it wont be to hard to get the bushings in, i just wanted to know what i was going to have to look for.


Thanks Guys
Thanks Kartboy!!!

:cool:

I recently installed the Kartboy short shifter (WRX version) in my car and it has the same interference issue that I had with the Cobb short shifter on my 2.5RS.

It seems more people know of the Cobb interference issue than the Kartboy. I believe the reason for this is that the bearing used on the Cobb shifter tends to generate more noise. When people investigate the noise issue on the Cobb shifter, they uncover the interference problem. A lot of people with the Kartboy probably install it and re-assemble everything before ever shifting it. Thus the problem goes unseen. Since there isn't the same noise issue with the Kartboy, as there tends to be with the Cobb shifter, the typical Kartboy owner probably doesn't go looking for anything. Hence the interference issue likely goes unnoticed.

I believe in another post, someone mentions that this interference issue only occurs on 3% of the cars due to tolerance stack up. Well, I can assure you, no one other than the engineers back at Subaru have the necessary tolerance information needed to perform such a tolerance study. I'm quite confident that if more people started checking for this interference, it would be found on more than 3 out of every 100 cars with the Kartboy shifter.

Similar to the picture in Peaty's post in the following thread, http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86275 , I too had to do some filing.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1471652&a=13522108&p=52714999

The Kartboy shifter and bushings were the second mods I did to my WRX (frist being an all aluminum MOMO Race shift knob). It was easy to install (this is the first time ever for me 'installing something alone'), works great and priced well.

:D

Tom, I'd ask you to make up bumper stickers with that pic on there, but I doubt anyone would know what it really is.

Some perverted minds might see it from a distance and start to make accusations, and all. :D

I just put the Kartboy short shifter in my 97 Outback and LOVE IT!!! the bushings will go in maybe tomorrow or over the weekend, but i'm lovin' the feel already! Easy install, CRAZYFAST delivery - there are big companies that could take a lesson in customer service from these guys! My only problem was that I'll probably have *too* much fun driving now and get in trouble! Oh well!!

i'll throw in my 2 cents here too!

i love my Kartboy! i lost count of how many compliments i've gotten on the shifter feel. it's just so damn slick, and so nice and short! the bushings really give it a silky feel. i brought my car in for service and the service manager says to me "wow, that's the first wrx i've ever driven, and man the shifter is awesome!" i had to tell him that they don't come from the factory that way, but i'll take that as a compliment :)

as i saw on one post, "no subaru is complete without a kartboy"

right on! and that's especially true w/ the wrx...

best 125 i ever spent = kartboy shifter and bushings...

Just had mine installed by none other than Mike himself ! It feels great ! Got the shifter and the bushings and it's like driving a different car. Slick and precise, don't even notice the extra effort. Mike's a great guy too, figured I'd save some $$ on shipping and pick it up myself when I found out he was local and he said to bring the WRX on over and he'd do it for me. Can't get better cusotmer service than that !

actually its MARK
but i wont tell him :lol:
tom@kartboy

Just had mine installed by none other than Mike himself ! It feels great ! Got the shifter and the bushings and it's like driving a different car. Slick and precise, don't even notice the extra effort. Mike's a great guy too, figured I'd save some $$ on shipping and pick it up myself when I found out he was local and he said to bring the WRX on over and he'd do it for me. Can't get better cusotmer service than that !

local? your profile says clarkston mich, is kartboy im michigan?

BzY

Mark used to live in Mi but he has seen the light and moved back to Sunny San Diego. :)

I lasted one whole winter. that was enough for me :)

tom@kartboy.com

after having both of these on there a year...i really dont recall what it felt like originally

out of curiousity, how tight should I go for to tightening the bolt at the bushing?

Not very tight!
I don't recall the exact torque spec but it isn't much, just a few inch-pounds. Use a small 1/4 inch drive ratchet or open-end and take it easy. Use a drop of Loctite on the threads, and make it snug but no more.
Several people have snapped the stud from over-torquing, don't be one of them.

done and done.... to me its a lot more effort to shift then the stock shifter cause its a bit tight unless I am doing something wrong.

I wasn't personally aware of a tightening amount on those, but yeah I wouldn't say you have to tighten very much.

On all of the shifter parts that move, I put a healthy dosage of white lithium grease, per suggestion by the Deadrick boys. Once everything's nicely lubed, the shifter feels nicer anyway, all installed.

-S2-

The book says about 8 foot pounds. thats not loose and not tight. and remember kidshttp://www.geetrish.com/pics3/jiffy_lube.jpg

Tom@kartboy.com

Installed my KB Bushing last night, I used marine grade grease, that blue sticky stuff. I figured it would last for awhile under there. Not as notchy and stiff as I thought it would be, nice upgrade over the stock mush feel.

Tom,

Great pic. :D :D

You'll be sad... well, maybe.... to learn that yesterday I had to put the OEM shift knob back in, and retire the Knuckleball to my trunk bag of goodies.

I don't know, it's very cool but something about the feel of it was bugging me. Don't worry the shifter's still in there!!

-Chris

It feels much better than stock, its visually lower allthought thats not really what a short shifter is supposed to do. the throws are somewhat shorter. They feel more mechanical which i definately like, and more notchy. Which makes me more confident of finding a gear when quickly heal toe downshifting (not that i was having a problem finding it before) this just feels more sporty.

Just installed my shifter a yesterday and am liking it more and more each drive. WHen I was just sitting and not driving I didn't notice much of a difference in throw length... when I'm driving it's noticeable. I was expecting a little shorter though... I'm not sure why. I think I was comparing to a Miata. That's a short throw! :eek: I notice only marginally higher effort also... all in all the car has been improved with no unimprovements! A worthwhile upgrade :). Now to get those bushings... :D

Much Props to a Fellow Diego Boy Tom and the Whole KArt boy Crew, I live up in Oceanside about 40mins up the Coast. Love the Shifter and Brushing and The shifter ball, Got the Whole combo best way to go. Thanks for the Yellow Shirt, MAtches the color of my car. Keep up the good work.

Installed a GC8 Kartboy shifter in my STi linkage over the weekend, and I am very pleased. Install was a breeze. No noticeable difference in shifting difficulty. I already had the Kartboy bushings installed.

Now I've got to do something about that shift boot that's sagging what seems to be 6" into my console.

All I have to say is WOW! I read all the great reviews here, and purchased the shifter and bushings online. Order was placed Tuesday night, and I got the package on Friday! Now that's quck service! Almost as quick as the shifts! (sorry for the pun...i'm done now). But seriously, I have to say great product and service that you guys have going here.

I have the KB Bushings installed in the car with my factory lever cut down & rewelded about an inch lower. I like the setup a lot, and the bushings definately made shifting the car a lot more enjoyable.

I'm still not satisfied though, so I think I'm going to get the lever too. I hear wayyyyy too much good stuff about it to not buy it :-)

-S

thread has to offer up to Kartboy!!!

Feels much better (with the shifter and bushings) than the stock setup could ever be!

No MT Subie should be without it! In fact its soooo good, all you AT Subies should convert to MT just because of this item!!


GREAT JOB KARTBOY!!!

Just got mine, very sweet, heard thereis problem with it loosening up after a while, but screwed the **** outta it so no problems as of yet.

SC WRX

The boot will snap up on the stock lacation and not fall down , did it with mine

I don't think SC WRX is talking about the fastener ring under the shift knob, I think his concern is all the slack down at the bottom.
Most shift boots are like that, you're looking for kind of a taut look, right SC?

Maybe try to pull some more material down through the fastener ring up at the top. You'll see that the boot is folded down inside there to hold it in place; if you can manage to pull a bit more through, that'll tighten it up.

If that's what you're talking about. :D Otherwise, a different-shaped aftermarket boot may be your only option. Wheelskins, perhaps?

You are correct, Siper2. I have the Paulie adapter, so my boot clicks right up to my Momo knob. But its a combination of the STi shifter trim, the short shifter, and the Paulie adapter that is making that thing sag low. I'm going to have one custom sewn. I've drawn out a pattern and I've got some black leather, so it's just a matter of going to a tailor that will stitch it up for me.

Has anyone put the Kartboy shifter/bushings on an '04 WRX? I'm assuming it will work? :confused:

I havent seen anything about the shifter being changed, just ask if the STI Subaru shor tthrow will fit ,if so the kartboy will

i have the STi shifter... should i trade it for the KARTBOY?? i feel like the STi sits to high thus making the throw feel slightly unbalanced. How do the 2 compare??? -MaTT

price? think I heard the STi is a bit shorted, since it replaces the whole setup, i think you can put the kartboy on the STi shifter base. Though I heard not see.

Wow, is anybody still reading? I feel like I ought to say something bad just to switch things up a bit... but the shifter is just too damn good!
Oh, and I don't think it's "snick snick" like a Miata, more "chunk chunk". But then, that has a bit to do with the transmission and the AWD. Shifts like my Hurst in my '69 Camaro now!

Originally posted by Scooby02
ordered the shifter and bushings, dont have the car yet, but in about 2 weeks, just wondering are the bushings easy to replace? easy to find underneth?
Thanks

Easy to find, but in no way shap or form are they easy to replace. It is really difficult to get the stock bushings out. I had to cut both ends off the rubber bushings and push it through with one of the legs of a wrench leg.

2 thumbs up for the Kartboy Shifter :banana:

I have no idea why I waited so long to put in a short shifter... the difference is simply amazing. I installed just the shifter, not the bushings. They're on my shopping list, though.

Everything just clicks right into place now. I don't feel like I'm rowing away anymore. Yay!!

Thanks to Kartboy for having a well designed, affordable, simple to install, and incredibly effective product.

-Brian


As far as the post prior to this one, about the bushings- mine came right out. It shouldn't be such a struggle.:confused:

Originally posted by scoobystas


Easy to find, but in no way shap or form are they easy to replace. It is really difficult to get the stock bushings out. I had to cut both ends off the rubber bushings and push it through with one of the legs of a wrench leg.

Do it while its still warm, take the nut off and push the bushing out with the bolt you took the bolt off of. Just takes a little ass

Installed my shifter the other day....very nice indeed. I had a 99 Miata and this is pretty close to the Miata setup...albeit a bit more notchy.

I just have one small issue. Has anyone noticed a bit of drivetrain noise in second gear? This happens when I'm in, or trying to get into, 2nd gear while pulling the stick as far to the left as possible. It makes a swirling noise that's similar to when you drive a car in reverse. Anway, just wondering if anyone else has the same "problem". Maybe I did something wrong?

usdm>jdm in this category :lol:

this shifter is mint i love mine i ordered it from oakos.com and got a package with shifter,bushings,and shiftknob for 150.00 cant beat that. it took like 10 min for the shifter and about 15 for the bushings after you get the stupid ass rubber piece out of there. :banana:

I just installed my KB SS, and KB bushings on my 04 WRX. I got them direct from Kartboy.com, and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about the company and the product. I have never done any thing to my car by myself, and this was my first mod. It was sooo easy took like 30 min for everything. The shifts feel great, it just cleans up the stock shifts perfectly. I would highly recommend this product to anyone. Just thought I would add my 2 cents to this thread full of great reviews.

Hey I have a 93 Impreza L and was wondering if Kartboy makes bushings or the short shifter for me?

Benny

What about the FIREBALLS, people! That is the best part about ordering from Kartboy. Who cares how good the shifter/bushings/knob are. WE WANT MORE FIREBALLS.

Well I just got done installing the shifter bushings. Wow, they made a huge difference in my WRX. Shifting is so much nicer now. I was really skeptical that a bushing would make a difference. I was wrong. I just wish I had swapped them out when I first got the car.

This was the 1st KartBoy aftermarket parts I've installed - quality is top-notch!
and so is their performance
shifts are more positive, the feeling is much better than stock and shorter
I installed the shifter + bushing
Got them from Oakos (http://www.oakos.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=355&Product_Code=KB-020COMBO&Category_Code=3000)
$175 shipped for the combo
I followed the instructions from Scoobymods
I love it !

stock bushing come out easy ! just follow instructions from Scoobymods - just push them out using the bolt !

Just installed mine to, I love it so much, I still have to get used to it being that close, for some reason i still think i need to pull a bit further but its already in gear. only problem i had was installing the knob, i tried adding all my force, and a rubber hammer to remove it, but no luck. I had to roll my car down the hill to NTB which i borrowed "their biggest hammer" and put a couple towels around it and gave it a good hit, to get it into place.

Thanks again, awesome product.

Great mod. :D

Did my Kartboy short shifter and bushings last weekend. Awesome...solid gear changes, less side to side wobble, shorter throws and a slightly lower knob. Along with the Group N engine and tranny mounts, shifting is a whole new experience. Installation is a piece of cake as well.

another thumbs up for Kartboy bushings/short shifter/shift knob.

Great product and shifting is a whole new experience. If you haven't already done this mod, please do yourself a favor and get it already.

Been using kartboy SS for 05 wrx for about 4 month the shift is very smooth.. just last week i put in the kartboy shifter bushing.. definately a good investment.
The shift is much firmer with a more precise shift feel.
best bang for the buck

Thumb up for KB.

Just put in the kartboy short shifter that I picked up used. It's a great piece, you know it will last the life of the car. Much shorter shifts, and it just feels great. No bushings yet, im hoping to get them soon. Also picked up a used set of kartboy rear solid endlinks also sturdy construction, not sure about how much they help because I put it on with the cusco swaybars at the same time but also recommend them.

Is there a big difference between the factory short shifter and the kartboy shifter? I have the kartboy bushings ready to install this weekend but I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to pick up the kartboy shifter since I have the factory short shifter already...

The factory SS sits at stock height, while the Kartboy is a bit lower. You can replace the lever in your SS with a Kartboy for the lower height and perhaps some additional throw reduction, however because the factory SS uses an earlier style linkage, you must get the one made for the GC Imprezas (up to 01) and not the GD (02-up).

GO AND INSTALL THE KARTBOY SS AND BUSHINGS NOW!

This is my bang for the buck mod...I have a hard time believing anything will outdo the $120 it takes for the bushings and short shifter.

People can rant and rave about a lot of things but the Kartboy products are the real deal.

I was not very impressed with shifting experience in my car, it was livable but not great. Adding the short shifter and bushings makes stock seem unlivable hard to shift and vague in comparison. The truck-like big throw has been replaced by a sporty short shifting snick snick. The biggest change is how much easier it is too shift. If you lined everything up perfectly with the stock setup, the increased leverage did take slightly less force. However usually there was some binding that must have been taking place because now the shifter finds right where it needs to be.

I really can't believe it wasnt this way from the factory.

Anyway this is a 100% two thumbs up mod for all you sitting on the fence.

Also the install is really quite easy, just a one tip...after you read the scoobymods links from the kartboy site:

The most difficult part for people is pushing the shifter back in, for me I used a 2X6" cut to about 8" long (actual size doesn't matter). Just take the block of wood and drill a whole 1/4" deep slightly bigger than the theaded end you are bashing in. This keeps the block solidly over the shifter. Then I took some with some pretty serious mass...in my case a 15+ pound rock. I held the board and just came down on it.

Now I am sure the right plastic hammer may work but there is a fair amount of flex so without someone there to press down and keep it all tight, something with more momentum works great. I tried some hammers and all but nothing really popped it in. Something heavy works much better than a sharp impact, it just slid in so easy even by myself.

Also if you end up with any new noise in the cabin, loosen the torque on the bolt holding the shifter. In addition to absorb the vibe I took a mountain bike tire (someone else suggested this...) and cut a section out. Before putting on the boot push it on and keep pushing to accordian a bunch around the shaft before the threads. After this no more noise

Well, all I can say is...do it!! An awesome mod no impreza owner should be without.

just got done installing KB shifter. tomorrow will be the bushings. what a differance between throws. my dad keeps takin my car he cant get enough of it

Thanks guys
i should have the rear shifter bushing ready in the next few days. its the one that goes on the other end of the shifter stay. heres the proto picture
the real one is black

http://allwheelengineering.com/proto/DSC_3253.jpg
MSRP shoudl be right about 35.00 with new hardware. install should take about a half hour with normal tools

Tom

Just had my SS + bushings installed. I basically have to agree with everyone else that it makes a significant difference. Shifts feel less sloppy and definitely more firm and precise. The knob's level is at a lower height and is great both ergonomically and aesthetically. Definitely a must have accessory.

The only thing is that installation in an '05 is slightly different in that you don't have to pop up the entire center console, just the silver-colored piece immediately surrounding the shifter. Also, my metal ring did require some dremmeling. I had mine installed in a shop but it should be no problem for even amateur installers.

tom, just installed his kb shifter and the rear one as well on my forester today. he is the best when it comes to customer service. i had his shifter on my wrx before and it was amazing. big thumbs up. :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: ten bananas out of ten.. thanks again,tom. bo.

GO AND INSTALL THE KARTBOY SS AND BUSHINGS NOW!

In addition to absorb the vibe I took a mountain bike tire (someone else suggested this...) and cut a section out. Before putting on the boot push it on and keep pushing to accordian a bunch around the shaft before the threads. After this no more noise



I take it you mean the inner tube and not the tire itself?

I installed the Kartboy Rear shifter bushing and short shifter last night at aerosim. I already had the front bushings as well as a factory short throw aka GC8 shifter lnkage. I must say... Kudos to KB cause that shifter feels awsome. Everyone go and get one NOW!!! No play in the shift knob, nice and steady while driving. I also give 10 bananas out of 10. :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

damn,we got a copycat in the house. :banana:

ONE QUESTION: why the hell didn't subaru do this in the first place? IMO, this is how the car should have come when it rolled off the showroom...instead of a possible dealer-installed option.

Subarus are like Legos. See, you've got the basic parts that work for everything, but need to work for the lowest common denominator. You might be building a lego house or a lego spaceship. For the house a normal red brick would be just fine, but that red brick might look out of place on the spaceship. Structurally it will work, and satisfy 95% of the folks out there, but you are part of that 5% that just isn't satisfied. You want your lego house bricks and your lego spaceship parts separate and for intended purpose.

now, as for why subaru does this - cost. It's much cheaper to buy 10,000 of the same bushing than it is to buy 2,000 soft, 3,000 medium, and 5,000 hard. Sure you could argue that the tooling would be the same, and you are right, but different materials have different costs, and there are set up costs for each run. One setup cost, and one cheaper material saves them the money in the long run.

...very well said...

Tom,

Is that "rear" bushing the same one that you had North Ursalia test-fit in 2001? If so I remember his hands bleeding, trying to install the sucker. Took like three hours and a vice. :D

I'm guessing not, but I'm having a hard time picturing where that bushing goes, that you pictured...

=S2=

Agreed is that for a WRX?

The new KB rear bushing will fit BOTH the 5MT (WRX, RS, Forester, Legacy) and 6MT (STi).

ok still having trouble placing where it goes....

this link might help

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5056

tom

Aight, ty. Though that does look like a real PITA to put in.

its really not that bad. 30- 45 min tops.
hardest part for me is to get the car up in the air

Tom

So these available now? And got a step by step coming if so?

So these available now? And got a step by step coming if so?


yes and yes :)check out the install section while your there. its for a forester but its pretty much the same thing

Wish they made one that angled closer to the driver for stubby armed guys like me.

Install section? on NASIOC or Scooby mods? a bit confused....

Wish they made one that angled closer to the driver for stubby armed guys like me.

our shifters are 15' vs 10 from the factory subaru.

tom@kartboy

PS the install pages are on our website
www.kartboy.com
look on the LHS :)

Tom,

Thanks for the link. I checked it:
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3833

...and now (sort of) understand where it goes. I mean I do, but only having looked at the shifter linkage like twice, I can't picture it. You know? :)

Hard to tell what kind of advantage this bushing offers, though. What's the scoop? Of course I trust you and will likely end up with one anyway, but I have to ask. :D

=Chris

Guess I'll jump on the pile...the combo is as advertised. Very nice..best 150 i've spent on my car thus far, thanks Tom! :D

Tom My 05 wrx came with the factory short throw in it. Is there anything different I need to do in the install. Any issues with the factory short shift set up and using yours?

If you have the STi shifter, then you need to buy the 97-01 shifter model, I believe. Check the webpage but I'm pretty sure that's accurate: www.kartboy.com

So much good has already been said about this combo that this may get lost in the noise, but FWIW:

For a simple (figuratively speaking) geometry change, the change in shift feel is profound. I know the whole point of these things is for faster shifting, but for some reason I never quite grasped the significance of that -- until now. Some other notables:


Definitely takes more effort to shift, but that's to be expected. A nice side-effect of this is that you tend to "snap" (or "snick", I guess) from one gear to the other due to the greater applied force (Newton's F=ma in action!), which masks most of the rubbery feeling you get with the stock shifter.

Getting the shift lever in is absurdly difficult. Use the right tools! Do not do what I did, trying futilely to hammer it in with a 12oz plastic hammer. Others have recommended a 2lb rubber mallet; I used a 3lb deadblow -- drove it right in.

I get buzzing between the shift linkage and plate in 1st, 3rd and 5th, as seems to plague other people. Doesn't interfere with shifting, but annoying. I'll have to shift the plate around and see if that'll help. Otherwise, Dremel time! :D

NVH increase with the bushings is noticeable, but not at all unreasonable. Definitely worth the general "tighter" feel of the shift mechanism. Does the addition of the rear bushing offer similar gains?


And more sober thoughts here:

Having had some time to drive with this, my initial rabid excitement has worn off, and some of the quirks have started to annoy me. The contact between the shift linkage and plate assembly can be cured with a dremel. However, the fact that the revised geometry of the KB SS causes the shift linkage to squeeze the rubber boot, so much so that engine vibrations still manage to buzz through (my opinion) excessively is starting to annoy me. I feel that Tom has the right idea -- the shifter feels great -- but the fact that the component isn't cleanly integrated in an engineering sense bothers me. I am sufficiently enamoured with these here "short shifters" that I'll probably be looking into an alternative, maybe the STi version (at twice :mad: the price).

Any thoughts, anyone? Am I just being too harsh?

- Fromage

It's only "absurdly difficult" if, as you stated (and myself, in the initial post), you have the improper tools. A 32oz. rubber mallet is the best tool. One, maybe two solid whacks, and in it pops.

The shifter effort is, yes, greater somewhat than stock because of the geometry/physics, but if you've properly greased everything up (pivot/ball joint, all other moving areas), then it's a very smooth shift action. I have the extended armrest in my RS, and all it takes is two fingertips to slide the shifter back and forth. With the stock one, that kind of works, but the hand sits higher up and it's more like rowing a dinghy. :D

=S2=

I thought that the Kart Boy short shifter went in quite a bit easier than the factory one. Anytime I hade the factory item in and out I would end up having to use a deadblow hammer to get it back in it's hole. The Kart Boy on the other hand went in with just me pushing on it.

I don't know why that would be other than maybe that I am stronger now than I was the last time I had the factory shifter in and out, 3 weeks ago.

I like mine. I have all the bushings as well as the SS. The KB replaced a short shifter I made for my car using an OEM unit, so this isn't a huge difference, but it is a little shorter. I am going to have to reinstall the un-modified shifter I have for comparison purposes.

So, loosening the 4 bolts holding the 5MT plate assembly down and shifting it up and to the left wasn't enough (in my case, anyway) to alleviate the binding I was getting between the linkage and the plate, after installing the KB SS.

I wasn't all too keen on flipping it 180° as others have done, since I noticed that would involve slicing off some of the rubber studs for a clean fit. I also wasn't too keen on bending things that weren't meant to be bent and so on and so forth. So, I did the arguably more aggressive thing and ground down the plate to create the clearance I wanted. Clearly, do what you're comfortable with.

Anywho -- I took some pics of the plate post grinding, in case anyone is curious to see how much is enough (I was). The way I guaged it was to keep trying to slide an old credit card into the space between the linkage and the plate in 1st and 3rd gear. I used a Dremel, with a carbide grinding bit to do the roughing, then a grinding bit to smooth, finally followed by a sanding disc to clean up.

Here's what it looked like in the end:

From the bottom:
http://static.flickr.com/28/48409865_c922e7e451_o.jpg

From the top:
http://static.flickr.com/27/48409866_c24a9335df_o.jpg

Hope this is helpful to someone, somewhere.

So I'm curious -- does the KB rear bushing change the geometry of the setup to eliminate any chance of this binding occuring? It would be nice if it did, and would certainly motivate package sales...

- Fromage

I thought that the Kart Boy short shifter went in quite a bit easier than the factory one. Anytime I hade the factory item in and out I would end up having to use a deadblow hammer to get it back in it's hole. The Kart Boy on the other hand went in with just me pushing on it.

Yeah, that wasn't the case for me at all... I tried like heck to push it in by hand, and it would always look like it was just about ready to pop in, but it never quite would. Very frustrating. Maybe the fact that you popped the factory one in and out so many times has loosened it up?

I'm also quite skinny; I kept thinking if my brother was around, it would have been dead easy (him: 200lb and 6'1"; me: 150lb and 6'1" :lol: ).

I like mine. I have all the bushings as well as the SS. The KB replaced a short shifter I made for my car using an OEM unit, so this isn't a huge difference, but it is a little shorter. I am going to have to reinstall the un-modified shifter I have for comparison purposes.

Is there any significant increase in NVH with all the bushings installed?

- Fromage

Never had to do anything with that plate.... I don't know, I don't think mine bumps it...

:confused:

Never had to do anything with that plate.... I don't know, I don't think mine bumps it...

:confused:
Ah -- but (at least according to your profile) you have an 00RS/01OB -- I have an 05WRX. Perhaps enough changed from one generation to another to make my issue more likely? In any case, it's fairly clear from the forums that some people have the problem and some don't. I did, and this was my solution.

BTW -- the GC is still my favorite looking Impreza. You can tell Subaru themselves liked it too, since they didn't feel the need to tweak the bodywork every few years...

- Fromage

i love mine +1 for a great shifter, tho i havent gotten my bushings in yet...im sure ill like the notchy feel :devil:

I have had my Kartboy shifter in my '02 WRX since the spring, but I just installed the bushings today. Glad I did both. I love the throws in the shifting now, and some (not all) of the slop in the shifting is gone. I have always had a problem finding reverse, and with the bushings in, popping into reverse is a breeze.

Installation of the bushings was a 20 minute job for me once I got the vehicle high enough off the ground. I am not a mechanic, so I don't have a good set of jack stands. So I went to a buddy's house who had a set of ramps. The best way I found to work on this is to raise just the driver's side of the vehicle off the ground.

Getting the old bushing out was a trick. And one of the instructions gives a good tip to use the pin to push against the stock bushing to negotiate it out. I strongly suggest you use this advice.

Another trick is getting the new one on. The first half goes on easy, but the second one (driver's side) felt like it wasn't going to go. Tip for you, it does not just slip on, it needs some elbow grease and it slides on slowly, but it will go easily if you apply enough pressure. I was able to do it with one hand, but I was deceived into thinking it will just easily slide on like the passenger side half of the bushing.

Now that I think of it, I also had trouble with the shifter install trying to pound the ball into the socket. Man, I almost gave up on it, even with a heavy mallet. One thing that I did to protect the threads, was I took a piece of wood and used duct tape to secure a very big sponge to the end of it. I placed the device, wood side up and sponge side down onto the shifter, and then banged the hell out of the wood with the mallet. I must have beat that thing 100 times. But the upside is, it went in, and the threads were untouched.

Anyway, I share everyone's opinion regarding the shifter and the bushings. It's an easy mod and makes the car more enjoyable to drive. Thanks for the tips. Now I have to decide what my next project will be, maybe a cold-air intake.

Kartboy short shifter and bushings!!! and wow! They are sweet! If anyone is debating if they should get one, stop wondering and get one! You will not be disappointed. The guys are kartboy knew what they were doing when they made this product!

Coolio
glad you got all the parts installed :)

Happy Shifting
Tom

Hey guys I am purchasing the Kartboy SS in a day or so, but was wondering if I should buy both the front AND the rear bushigns for their shifter. Has anyone here replaced both the front AND THE REAR shifter bushings ? If yes, then what did you guys think of the outcome ? How did you like the results ? Any feedback at all would be great.

Thanks.

From what I've read, the rear bushings are a great upgrade as well. Haven't done it yet, but if you have the means, I don't see any sense in NOT getting those, while you're at it. :)

=S2=

Ah -- but (at least according to your profile) you have an 00RS/01OB -- I have an 05WRX. Perhaps enough changed from one generation to another to make my issue more likely? In any case, it's fairly clear from the forums that some people have the problem and some don't. I did, and this was my solution.

BTW -- the GC is still my favorite looking Impreza. You can tell Subaru themselves liked it too, since they didn't feel the need to tweak the bodywork every few years...

- Fromage


They did, though. Mostly changes to the bumper, but the headlights did change in '97 I think it was, to the design that lasted up through '01. No, the changes were never really super drastic like the '02 - current changes, but...... the car DID change some.

Yep, I have an '00. :) The OB is an automatic, so that doesn't count!! Heh.

=S2=

From what I've read, the rear bushings are a great upgrade as well. Haven't done it yet, but if you have the means, I don't see any sense in NOT getting those, while you're at it. :)

=S2=


True. I am still debating this, but I figure I might as well replace them all since I will be down there anyway . . Any other input will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Just installed the front shifter bushings in my wrx. The overall feel as stated is more sound, and just better feeling.

The install wouldn't of been bad if the stock bushing wasn't such a pain to get out. It took my over 1/2 hour just to get the stock bushing out. After much struggling with it the install of the KB bushings was a snap.

Just a warning to others, PLEASE PLEASE wear some type of gloves while working around the shifter area. There are MANY sharp parts under there and I am paying the price right now. I sliced the top-side of my finger during the install almost bad enough to get stitches, along with 3 other little cuts.

Finally got around to putting in my front shifter bushings today, thanks to shipjumper. The difference really is night and day. It is effortless to find gears now. The shifts are firm and precise. Thanks Kartboy for a great product.

jsut thought i'd add my .02, bought the short shifter, bushings and knuckleball knob, excellent product..positive shifts (a little more effort) and it looks cool, what more could you ask for :) best mod for the buck IMO

Bought my shifter and bushing combos. I first installed the shifter. Giant pain in the ass to get it into the socket. Some people haven't had problems, I had problems with it.

There wasn't any sort of rubbing with the shifter trim, so I was happy about that. It was definitely shorter, perhaps not as short as I expected it.

A week later I installed the front and rear bushing. The rear bushing was sort of a pain to reach, but installed without any problems. A lot easier to install them both at the same time.

Overall, I love it. I feel that it gets into gear easier, but you have to use more force to put it in, if that makes sense. It takes out the vagueness of the stock bushings. No sort of buzzing, cabin noise, or vibrations.

I recently visited Tom's shop and picked up a host of bushings, a shifter, and also snagged another T-shirt. But I guess when you get a T-shirt there is no fireballs for you ;) :P

But the SS shifter is a breeze to install, being my 3rd or 4th shifter I've bought from Tom over the years. Stick it in the hole, put a piece of wood on top of it, and give it a good wack with a mallet or hammer.

The shifting has a shorter throw, and the height of the shifter is about 1"-1.5" lower. I'm not a fan of the lowered height personally on my Forester, but there are fixes to it (different knobs or rear shifter bushing). :)

The front shifter bushings are also a breeze to install. un-do the nut, slide off the plate. slide off the arm with stock bushing still installed. Utilize the existing bolt and pull the rod against the bolt, pushing the bushing out of the arm. Pretty simple to do. The new bushings are in two pieces, and even easier to install.

With the shifter and front bushings installed, shifting feel is greatly improved. a little more notchy, and more of a direct positive input to each gear action on the shifter.


Now the real winner so far has been the rear shifter bushing. Not only does it raise the height of the shifter back to near stock levels. Shifting is like those 4spd arcade games with a metal gate shifter. Really direct, and positive shifting action with no play. But man was that thing hard to install. My tip would be to thread both in by hand, before tightning down. I tried to tighten one end, and swing the other into place, but the bolt would not line up. After some 20 minutes of trying, various hand cramps, and cutting the **** out of my finger on a heat shield :furious:, and having to pause for a bit.. I realized that I'm a tool, and needed to slow down, and hand tighten before actually tightening. :)


Next up, I have to install the tranny crossmember bushings, and the rear subframe bushings

First mod to my 06 wrx Kartboy shifter combo.

Tom definately gets a 10 in my book. shifter works great its like night and day difference. Oh and the price is not bad either.

If you have been thinking about a short shifter this is definately the one to look at.

+Infinity for tom@kartboy. His products are fantastic and his customer service is the best.

Installed Kartboy shifter over the weekend, what a difference. It is sooooo much better in shifting. This is how stock should be. It took me almost two hours of pounding the shifter with a 5 lb. sledge hammer. :mad: All of a sudden "pop" it went in. :huh: I didn't have to hit it hard to make it go into the hole. But it is the BEST. :banana:

jsut thought i'd add my .02, bought the short shifter, bushings and knuckleball knob, excellent product..positive shifts (a little more effort) and it looks cool, what more could you ask for :) best mod for the buck IMO

I just got my combo and plan on installing them this weekend. I did a search on some how-tos in Scoobymods but it seems to be only for the 02-04 WRX center console. Before I start taking things apart, how did you get yours off? Did you have to remove the ebrake knob?

maybe its becasue i just put it in tonight or i didnt put the bushings in along with it. the throws don't feel all too much shorter. just seems like there is more effort to shift for the same amount of distance. or maybe im just expecting too much of a change and its not as big as i think. ill give it a week and get back to you guys but so far no diff.

maybe its becasue i just put it in tonight or i didnt put the bushings in along with it. the throws don't feel all too much shorter. just seems like there is more effort to shift for the same amount of distance. or maybe im just expecting too much of a change and its not as big as i think. ill give it a week and get back to you guys but so far no diff.

Dude, put the front and rear bushings in. Use it for a while then for fun put the stock shifter back in. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. I get alot of compliments when i let the select few drive my car. "Man your shifter is so precise" I love it when i can hear it click into gear.

yea i know. i am putting them in tomorrow morning.

When I received my KB SS today it was like :banana: ! So I went to the self help shop on Fort Meade to install it :disco: . I must say the SS went in easy! The bushings however was a goat f**k :furious: . The rear was a pain, the front wasn't happning, and then I started to run out of time :huh: . So I stop to think :confused: . Then (where's the light bulb smile when you need one) why don't I disconnect the shift lever.

BAM! Everything fell into place :) . So for those of us not so mechaniclly inclined, heed my words... When you take the lever off, CHANGE THE BUSHINGS! You'll be glad you did. and then you will do the dance of joy :disco: .

All in all! The kartBoy short shifter and bushings are the ***** :banana: .

So, now I have the subaru and kartboy short shifters, and the throw is AMAZING! :banana:

I can't wait to start shifting fast tomorrow! :devil:

post this in car parts review :)

All I need to say is WOW!

HEY TOM! START SELLING STOCK! I WANT IN THE IPO! :banana:


And yes, my non-mechanic, have no business under my car except to change oil ass did it all by myself! :banana:

Installed my KB Bushing last night, I used marine grade grease, that blue sticky stuff. I figured it would last for awhile under there. Not as notchy and stiff as I thought it would be, nice upgrade over the stock mush feel.

I just installed the front and rear bushings and to be honest, I thought it would tighten the shifter up more than it did. It is definitely more solid going front to back, but side to side it doesn't feel any different.

I just installed the front and rear bushings and to be honest, I thought it would tighten the shifter up more than it did. It is definitely more solid going front to back, but side to side it doesn't feel any different.

Hello
the for/aft movement is reduced with our bushings. the left/right "slop" can be reduced with the linkage bushings from Turninconcepts.com

Tom

Hello
the for/aft movement is reduced with our bushings. the left/right "slop" can be reduced with the linkage bushings from Turninconcepts.com

Tom

Ok, thanks for the info!

I received my short shift kit today from Kartboy.com.

The quality of parts seems top notch!

I ordered package # KB-032-2002

Does anyone know what the long aluminum part in the back is for?
I’ve looked through this thread and the instructions and I don’t see anything about it. I haven’t installed or dug into a Subaru shift assy so I cant draw a visual for it.
Also, some instructions would have been nice, the website just links to a post on Subymods, with no link for the rear bushing. And it wasn’t very clear what you all got with the package, there is a $150 and $175 and it doesn’t really say, I emailed and never got a response, I just went ahead and spent the $25extra hoping for the best.

I’m going to do the install this weekend, any insight on the aluminum part would be helpful, thanks.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1724/kbfn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nevermind. I Just got an email from Tom. I guess I got lucky this week :D :D :D

""Hello
sorry our email filter has been going crazy lately.
the extra goodies was a free aluminum battery tie down. :) ""

Edit:
Installed, I'm digging it. I feel like a tard for not knowing what it was right away.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3936/kbbatttm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nevermind. I Just got an email from Tom. I guess I got lucky this week :D :D :D

""Hello
sorry our email filter has been going crazy lately.
the extra goodies was a free aluminum battery tie down. :) ""

Edit:
Installed, I'm digging it. I feel like a tard for not knowing what it was right away.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3936/kbbatttm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Damn, all I got was a fireball candy!!

I got one of those too, I just ate it before I took the photo :banana:

Sweet shifter! I just installed the shifter and bushings. It took myself, my buddy and a hammer to get the thing in though, but it was worth it. Whoever posted the idea of flipping the metal plate 180 degrees, is smart. I did this and it works flawless. I will add that when you do this you have to trim down the plastic spikes on the gasket on the right and left side to get it to fit perfect. The top and bottom spikes line up great and you just have to bend the metal taps at the top up about thirty degrees after you flip the plate. Everythings fits perfect and no vibration or increased cabin noise was created from this mod. I put the bushings in the following day and I'm getting used to the feel. It's a little stiff, but I'm getting used to it.

I don't know if it's because my car only has 13000 miles on it, but the stock bushings combined with the KB short shifter felt really solid and smooth and almost as stiff as the KB bushings. Anyways I'm stoked with the product and would also buy stock in KartBoy? How about it Tom. Ha Ha Ha

I think I might prefer the feeling of the stock bushings, I feel like I could throw shifts quicker and it was more smooth. Again it might be that I don't have many miles on the car and that the stock bushings are stiffer now and will get squishy over time.

Does tightening or loosening up the bolt on the bushings increase or decrease the stiffness and feel of the shifter? I did not install it too tight and followed the directions. Also will the feel of this great combo loosen up after a while? Thanks guys

I did my install last Saturday.
Great mod, I wish I would have done this sooner. I’m very happy with my purchase.
The bushings were a breeze, the rear bushing is easier if you disconn the linkage from the shifter up top. The round front bushings were beyond easy to install. As far as the shifter itself, that was a little bit of a bitch, trick is to bolt the linkage to it with the shifter being backwards, that will give you some leverage and then put some ass into it (shift knob on at this point), I got it to pop in w/out a hammer..
Roughly 2 unhurried hours for the total install. A lift with a socket elbow and some extensions to get the rear bushing bolts out helps, it’s a tight fit by the driveshaft.

No Suby is complete without a Kartboy SS!

I did my install last Saturday.
Great mod, I wish I would have done this sooner. I’m very happy with my purchase.
The bushings were a breeze, the rear bushing is easier if you disconn the linkage from the shifter up top. The round front bushings were beyond easy to install. As far as the shifter itself, that was a little bit of a bitch, trick is to bolt the linkage to it with the shifter being backwards, that will give you some leverage and then put some ass into it (shift knob on at this point), I got it to pop in w/out a hammer..
Roughly 2 unhurried hours for the total install. A lift with a socket elbow and some extensions to get the rear bushing bolts out helps, it’s a tight fit by the driveshaft.

No Suby is complete without a Kartboy SS!

Wow, 2 hours? I bolted the shifter in, but I didn't turn it around. I just pulled really hard on it and gave it a wack with a mallet and it popped right in.

The bushings were really easy... way easier than I thought. My roomate's dad has a lift and that really made it easier.

Just turned 65k on my '02, and finally upgraded to the Kartboy short shifter lever, courtesy of Dave @ Oakos. The car came with the STI short shifter already installed, and I've been running the Kartboy front and rear bushings with it for a while now. With this upgrade I added the shorter lever - the '97-01 version appropriate for my STI shifter - and the narrow version of the TIC pivot bushings - again appropriate for the STI shifter. Still waiting for TIC to make the linkage bushings for the '02-'05 models (HINT).

In any case, the products work together as advertised and the shifting is better than ever. The already short throws of the STI shifter have been further reduced - I believe that Tom says it's a 20% reduction from the STI 5-speed version - and that feels just about perfect. The shift knob falls readily to hand - the lever is a little shorter than stock, I guess - and I'm pretty damn happy about the upgrade. Should have done it earlier but I was waiting for TIC to finish the last bushing (ANOTHER HINT).

Once again, this is what the car should have had installed at the factory. Maybe if you and TIC supply free super shifter kits to SOA's senior management they'll get the idea.

oh wait, they all drive automatic Outbacks and Tribecas...

p.s. I also got the battery tie down - now that's a nice piece of metalwork, even Cusco would be proud of it. but mine did not come with the Kartboy "plugs" like the one shown in the photo above. No big deal, but I thought the whole point was to do a little Kartboy promotion in the process? I did get enough Kartboy stickers to cover the entire rear window of my wagon - and let's face it that's a much more direct approach to marketing

i'm sure tom will hook you up on the lil inserts for the tie down. send him an email.

p.s. I also got the battery tie down - now that's a nice piece of metalwork, even Cusco would be proud of it. but mine did not come with the Kartboy "plugs" like the one shown in the photo above. No big deal, but I thought the whole point was to do a little Kartboy promotion in the process? I did get enough Kartboy stickers to cover the entire rear window of my wagon - and let's face it that's a much more direct approach to marketing

Send me an email. i have lots of the inserts at the shop.

Tom

I installed my KB SS with the TiC pivot bushing today. Man, what a difference. I like to do mods in stages, so that I can see the differences and benefits of them. I will be doing the rest of the bushings at a later date.

It took me two whacks with a hammer to seat the shifter. The socket has four notches in it and I put the ball against the forward one and 'plop', it went into the socket.

I was just talking about this thread, and I think it needs a BUMP !!

:)

I ordered the shifter/bushings/knob combo on wednesday or so and I had it by Friday! I just installed it last night by myself and it was a bitch to get it back in (of course I wasn't using a 5lb. rubber mallet). I found it much easier to use a hairdryer to heat up the ball and then it popped right in. Overall its suuuuper notchy, something I'm not sure if I like but I'll get used to it. Throws are way shorter and it looks pretty sharp! I'm still using stock bushings but hopefully I'll be able to swap those out soon. Now all thats left is that sticker....

double check the center bolt. it should only be 8-10 pounds. if its too tight it will feel really stiff.

throw those bushings on ASAP!!!

tom

Ah, that might be it..I don't have a torque wrench so I just tightened it till it felt ok and not too tight. I would get the bushings on but I need somewhere to do it!

I installed my short shifter and bushings last night. The short shifter and front bushings were pretty easy, but the rear bushing was a pain. But having said that with everything in and working, the kit feels great!

I installed my short shifter and bushings last night. The short shifter and front bushings were pretty easy, but the rear bushing was a pain. But having said that with everything in and working, the kit feels great!

It would have been easier if we did the rear bushing BEFORE we put the shifter lever bolt in!

I installed my KB SS with the TiC pivot bushing today. Man, what a difference. I like to do mods in stages, so that I can see the differences and benefits of them. I will be doing the rest of the bushings at a later date.....

lol this is exactly what i was gonna post, except i have a legacy gt. shifts solid and soooooo much shorter.

KB knob + lever +TiC pivot bushings ftw!

i'll get the front/rear bushings with the KB endlinks when i start suspension mods later this year

:D

I installed the KB short shifter and drove around for a day, then installed the front & rear bushings and drove around for a day so I had a good baseline.

The shifter does what it's supposed to very well - improve shift feel and shorten the distance between detents.

The bushings make a much bigger difference, IMHO - they make the shifting feel much more precise, but they do take away any "give" at the ends of travel so they kind of make the shift feel harsh.

Also, they tend to transmit a LOT of vibrations up into the shift handle. I didn't really notice a noise difference, or at least not a big one - I think 2nd gear might be a bit noisier - but I noticed the vibes. It's like a motorcycle handlebar - it is almost painful to hold the shifter at certain rpms, but honestly you shouldn't be holding the shifter most of the time anyway.

All in all a great part.

A+ for good quality MADE IN USA product
A+ for reasonable price
B+ for functional excellence

repost

Also, they tend to transmit a LOT of vibrations up into the shift handle. I didn't really notice a noise difference, or at least not a big one - I think 2nd gear might be a bit noisier - but I noticed the vibes. It's like a motorcycle handlebar - it is almost painful to hold the shifter at certain rpms, but honestly you shouldn't be holding the shifter most of the time anyway.

Yes I noticed this vibration as well...WHEN I HANG ON TO THE SHIFTER WHEN I SHOULDN'T.

The only time you should have your hand on the shifter is when...YOU SHIFT.

I found that the noisy vibartion I got was a great way to remind to get my hand off the shiffter and back on the the steering wheel where it should be.

Very pleased with my bushings.

My 2 cents.

All in all a great part.

A+ for good quality MADE IN USA product
A+ for reasonable price
B+ for functional excellence

HEY! thats better than i ever did in school!!! :banana: :disco: :banana:

yeah. dont hold the knob when driving. Keep both hands at 10 and 2 :lol:

Tom

I've been eyeing this KB SS for a while now. I think it would be an awesome mod. Anyways... I'm somewhat mechanically inclined (installed aftermarket exhausts, cai's, spacers and blocks, ect...) but have never done a shift kit. Other than a torque wrench are there any other special tools required? Will I need to do any grinding, filing or dremeling?

Btw, I have an 07 wrx 5mt.

I've been eyeing this KB SS for a while now. I think it would be an awesome mod. Anyways... I'm somewhat mechanically inclined (installed aftermarket exhausts, cai's, spacers and blocks, ect...) but have never done a shift kit. Other than a torque wrench are there any other special tools required? Will I need to do any grinding, filing or dremeling?

Btw, I have an 07 wrx 5mt.

I would be stunned if you have trouble with this install.

I've been eyeing this KB SS for a while now. I think it would be an awesome mod. Anyways... I'm somewhat mechanically inclined (installed aftermarket exhausts, cai's, spacers and blocks, ect...) but have never done a shift kit. Other than a torque wrench are there any other special tools required? Will I need to do any grinding, filing or dremeling?

Btw, I have an 07 wrx 5mt.

maybe some filing, you'll definitely need a plastic hammer (i tried rubber and it didn't work) other than that it should not take more than 30minutes. i'd recommend picking up the Tic pivot bushings as well.

Installed front and rear shifter bushings on my 06 STI, I had been having trouble with my 2-3 shift ever since I got the car back from having the turbo kit put on. Well I put them in, took me 30-45 minutes, then took the car out for a ride and the shifter felt amazing. I read this whole thread and everyones amazing reviews made me get them but I had no clue they were going to make the shifter so smooth. Now I am debating buying the Kartboy short throw shifter because I can't imagine how amazingly smooth that must be.

Installed front and rear shifter bushings on my 06 STI, I had been having trouble with my 2-3 shift ever since I got the car back from having the turbo kit put on. Well I put them in, took me 30-45 minutes, then took the car out for a ride and the shifter felt amazing. I read this whole thread and everyones amazing reviews made me get them but I had no clue they were going to make the shifter so smooth. Now I am debating buying the Kartboy short throw shifter because I can't imagine how amazingly smooth that must be.

thanks for the words. glad you like the bushings. i think you will be very pleased with one of our shifters. Ask around. theres a good chance theres someone close that has one of our setups in their subaru for you to try out.

***********Attention All Potential Kartboy Buyers***************

There is an easier way then the whacking the shifter with a mallet method. When installing the shifter place the ball of the shifter firmly as you would preparing to whack it. Then, find a large, long flat head screw driver and place it through the ciricular hole that is in the shifter. Then, place the flat head part of the screw driver on the outside trim of the shifter assembly for leverage, or anywhere else that works for you. Then, gently, push down on the screw driver which will in turn force the shifter in to place and it should easily pop in. It worked perfectly for me and seems much easier than the whack with a mallet method. Hope this makes sense.

:alien: :banana: :disco:

So I installed the short shifter, front + rear bushings, TiC pivot bushings and TiC shift linkage bushings and the difference over stock is AMMMAAAZINNGGG.

Much better feel/notchiness. Requires a little more force to put it into gear but very manageable. Eliminated 99% of the slop in the shifter. I can only imagine how big the difference must be if you have an older car where the bushings are worn.

These Kartboy bushings are the sh1zn1t.

I even put the stock shifter back on to see how it felt. Very freaking nice (but I still like the short throw mo bettah :alien: ).

I just don't see how they could not make ANY shifter complete.

any cons to a short shifter? will it wear anything out faster? potential problems? thanks

***********Attention All Potential Kartboy Buyers***************

There is an easier way then the whacking the shifter with a mallet method. When installing the shifter place the ball of the shifter firmly as you would preparing to whack it. Then, find a large, long flat head screw driver and place it through the ciricular hole that is in the shifter. Then, place the flat head part of the screw driver on the outside trim of the shifter assembly for leverage, or anywhere else that works for you. Then, gently, push down on the screw driver which will in turn force the shifter in to place and it should easily pop in. It worked perfectly for me and seems much easier than the whack with a mallet method. Hope this makes sense.

That sounds good.

I used the hammer and went at it for 20 minutes and nothing. I read another post where a guy bolted the lever together (like you would after you installed it) and then put it in 4th and pulled the lever in. I did that and it took around 3 seconds.

Just installed this on my WRX. Mine hit the shifter plate under the boot, which we ended up cutting off the tabs and flipping the plate 180 degrees like I saw on scoobymods. This does mash the rubber underneath a bit as the notches don't have a place to poke through, but I don't think that will hurt anything, right?

Shifts themselves are shorter, feel more precise, but it does seem to take a bit more effort to shift. That's how it's supposed to feel, right? I like it so far. :)

Just installed this on my WRX. Mine hit the shifter plate under the boot, which we ended up cutting off the tabs and flipping the plate 180 degrees like I saw on scoobymods. This does mash the rubber underneath a bit as the notches don't have a place to poke through, but I don't think that will hurt anything, right?

Shifts themselves are shorter, feel more precise, but it does seem to take a bit more effort to shift. That's how it's supposed to feel, right? I like it so far. :)

you should be fine. you might want to check the center bolt. it should only be tightened to 8-11 pounds. and throw a little grease on the pivot points. it should be buttery smooth.

Tom

you should be fine. you might want to check the center bolt. it should only be tightened to 8-11 pounds. and throw a little grease on the pivot points. it should be buttery smooth.

TomWe reused the grease off the original shifter and greased it up pretty decently but I guess a bit more can't hurt. I'll check the center bolt too, my friend tightened that one down. I don't have a torque wrench so I'll have to guesstimate.

Thumbs up for your product, regardless :)

yeah give the center bolt a check. thats my guess.


OT

Thanks to everyone for the support over the years. it really means a lot to me

Tom

While you're here, any tips for the bushing installs? I have the normal shifter bushings and the rear ones, just need to find time to jack up the car. Probably not for a week or two :(

www.scoobymods.com has a great write-up on the bushing installs. I used it over two years ago and remember it going very smoothly.

Adjusted the center bolt this morning a bit on the way to work and it it feels very nice now! The 2-3 and 4-5 shifts are particularly nice compared to stock. I ordered a Prodrive knob with it (I wanted a black knob) and it looks and feels awesome. :devil:

Loved mine on my past cars, definitely will upgrade any future car with it

Can't say enough about the SS and bushings. It's greatly appreciated when i get out of my friend's wrx with the stock shifter, and i start driving mine. Such a better feel.

My cousin loved my KB knob so much he bought one for his A4 and it fit perfectly. You should start marketing to the audi crowd now :)

just ordered one last week should be here soon!!! Thanks Tom love the product.

Blake

I finally put in my front and rear bushings today.

Feels more precise and eliminated a lot of front and back play.

I've got a question on the front bushing. The scoobymod how-to made it seem hard to put in but mine slid right in and I didn't have to use the nut to force the bushing in. Is this correct? I've got a 06 WRX.

I finally put in my front and rear bushings today.

Feels more precise and eliminated a lot of front and back play.

I've got a question on the front bushing. The scoobymod how-to made it seem hard to put in but mine slid right in and I didn't have to use the nut to force the bushing in. Is this correct? I've got a 06 WRX.

A little grease made mine slide right on no prob. The scooby how to is several years old (yet still very effective) so that may be why the difference.

Good news, thanks.

As a side note, I've had these bad boys on my car for 2 years now and have had nothing but great experiences with them. I drove a 6 speed RSX-Type S over the weekend and it felt like I was stirring a bowl of shyte :D

:lol:

Got my Kartboy order today!!!!! super quick shipping and I gots da candy too!!!!

Awesome company :D

4+ years for my ss shifter and bushings.. This is a mod you can really appreciate!

The SS and front bushing are amongst my favorite mods. Put them on both of my rex's. Improved the shifting feel as much--if not more--than my Group N tranny and pitch mounts. The rear bushings, however, didn't seems to make much of a difference (and were a pain to stall for that matter).

I've had mine on for over a year now and it's one of best bang for the buck mods i have done so far. Great product, great company.

Installed mine last night. I mostly like it. The shifts are really nice. The only thing I don't like is the lowered height. Its a stretch for my arm and doesnt feel comfortable. But the shifts are exactly like stock, no issues in any gear. If the knob was 1" higher I'd be so stoked.

HEY doesnt someone make a simple 1" extension fitting for the shift knob threads?

Installed mine last night. I mostly like it. The shifts are really nice. The only thing I don't like is the lowered height. Its a stretch for my arm and doesnt feel comfortable. But the shifts are exactly like stock, no issues in any gear. If the knob was 1" higher I'd be so stoked.

HEY doesnt someone make a simple 1" extension fitting for the shift knob threads?


I'm right on the cusp.. can't decide if i will leave the shifter in. I preferred the arm position stock.

Installed mine last night. I mostly like it. The shifts are really nice. The only thing I don't like is the lowered height. Its a stretch for my arm and doesnt feel comfortable. But the shifts are exactly like stock, no issues in any gear. If the knob was 1" higher I'd be so stoked.

HEY doesnt someone make a simple 1" extension fitting for the shift knob threads?email Chris @ Lathewerks@turninconcepts.com - he may be able to help...

HEY doesnt someone make a simple 1" extension fitting for the shift knob threads?

I added almost 1.5"s to mine. Way better than before. Here's a crappy cellphone pic I took after the modification two years ago.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h307/bcapetanos/11-25-05_1418.jpg

that looks like a great height

I cut the top off of the stock one, cut the some of top off of the kartboy and took a piece of tubing and joined the two. The tubing slid over the threads on the Kartboy and the shaft of the stocker so it is plenty strong. I've since upgraded to a knuckleball from Kartboy and it's just about perfect for me. I'll try and snap a few pictures later. I've had it like this for a few years now and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yeah KB is the *****. The stocker bushings and shifter are the worst, maybe suby should outsource to KB. LOL Very Crisp shifts

Yeah KB is the *****. The stocker bushings and shifter are the worst, maybe suby should outsource to KB. LOL Very Crisp shifts
ooo i like the sound of that :) then i wouldnt have to worry about all these copykats knocking off my parts all the time :)

t

I don't know if this is the place for this, but have there ever been any issues with any seals leaking due to the KB shifter? It was posted in another thread that this is a problem. I have had one for four years and everything is fine, but has anyone else had that problem?