I've got a MY05 WRX Wagon. I followed the instructions, popped out the stock shifter, and tried to get the Kartboy SS in, but the ball won't seat. I don't have a rubber mallet, but I do have a hammer and an old t-shirt. I lubed up the ball really well.

I've folded it over and over and started to pound away, but it won't fit.

Searched some, and decided to sand the ball down, because it was black, not silver. Sanded it down until the metal showed, and tried again. No luck.

Got a hair dryer to warm up the socket, and tried again, no luck.

Now I'm kinda tired with a shirt that has about 60 holes in it. I'm going to see if a friend can bring me a mallet. Anyone else have any ideas?

sometimes its pretty stuborn to get in. some cars they just pop in with a mallet some take your whole body weight. for the hard ones i usually use a long (12") 3/8" extension and put it through the hold in the shifter then put it under the metal plate and put my body weight on it. pops right in.

When I installed one on the 02 wrx I had you have to find its sweet spot and it should pop right in.

Rubber Mallet/Deadblow will do it. If not, put the shifter knob back on and apply your whole body weight to it steadily in a downward motion as mentioned above.

You need a plastic mallet or a block of wood and hammer. A rubber mallet didn't work for me and I didn't have a plastic mallet so the block of wood plus hammer method is what I used. Mine was a bitch to get in too. I couldn't hit hard enough, my dad had to do it. He said that was the hardest he has ever swung a hammer inside a vehicle without trying to break anything. He even got tennis elbow which lastes for a couple weeks after swinging the hammer so hard. There does seem to be a sweet spot for it to pop in, but you won't find it on the first wack.

I had trouble with this too, so I did was seth_man suggested. Put a big screwdriver through the hole and wedge it under the shifter trim. Then just push down as hard as you can on the screwdriver.

I tried a dead blow and a rubber mallet but it would take one hell of a hit to seat it with that.

I ran through a bunch of techniques the guys on here mentioned, then I went for the big time. I got a 10 pound dumbell coated in rubber and turned it upside down, then put the shifter in the hole and tapped the top of it. The force of the dumbell popped her right in after 3 good shots. Give it a try!!

go to home depot or other hardware store, buy the HEAVIEST hammer they got, go home and give the shifter a few good hits with the shift knob on, it should go right in. after that go return the hammer ;)

had the same problem as u when i installed the SS in my old RS, until i got the heavy hammer. last night b4 i install the SS on my new WRX i just went straight to Home depot and got a 4lbs/1.8kg hammer. gave it a few hits with my bare hand, didnt do it. gave it a few hits with the hammer, went right in.