i like the kartboy package, shifter and bushings, less expensive then the others (at least when i got it) and the quality is top notch. after about two months i changed the gear oil to redline MT-90 and that made it even nicer! 
Short shifter pros and cons
- Thread starter mazdaspeedpower
- Start date
brianmcd: Try Royal Purple. I put MT/90 in my P5 and I dunno if the shifts are any more smooth. In fact, the OEM fluid might've been better. My friend put R/P in his car and the shifts are oh-so-smooth.
hello2000: I'm really not sure, but my stock P5 knob fit onto the KB shifter. Now we just have to find out if the MSP-P5 shift knobs are compatible.
EDIT: After a lil' search, I don't think it'll work.
The P5 has a thread pitch of 10 X 1.25 and the MSP(well, at least the MP3) uses a 8 X 1.25 thread pitch.
hello2000: I'm really not sure, but my stock P5 knob fit onto the KB shifter. Now we just have to find out if the MSP-P5 shift knobs are compatible.
EDIT: After a lil' search, I don't think it'll work.
The P5 has a thread pitch of 10 X 1.25 and the MSP(well, at least the MP3) uses a 8 X 1.25 thread pitch.mazdaowner123
Member
I think you have to ask kartboy to thread the shifter for the MSP. My msp shift knob fit the b&m fine though.
I'd vote b&m due to the fact that it raises the shift knob. I think it makes shifting better that way, but if you want it shorter you might wanna go with kartboy.
~brian
I'd vote b&m due to the fact that it raises the shift knob. I think it makes shifting better that way, but if you want it shorter you might wanna go with kartboy.
~brian
Yeah, I always hate the long-ass throws of the OEM shifter and I am also planning on getting the B&M,but why does it raise the shift knob??Long shaft??Isn't it supposed to shortened the the knob to make it like or as close to the RX-8 shifts(I test drove one).
mazdaowner123
Member
It raises it on the MSP, but I'm pretty sure it drops it a little on the P5 and regular protege.
~brian
~brian
- :
- 03' silver dx
yea i heard it drops about an inch on regular protege's
It does drop it by about an inch or so. Trust me, once you feel how it responds, you will not care about how long it is.. It's perfect height for me to grab hold of the knob without having to lean into it.
Think about it. the RX-8's is short, but it's because the tranny and driveshaft are right under your arm... the Protege is front wheel drive with the tranny mounted differently, so the shifter is all the way on the floor. that's why they made it long in the first place.
Think about it. the RX-8's is short, but it's because the tranny and driveshaft are right under your arm... the Protege is front wheel drive with the tranny mounted differently, so the shifter is all the way on the floor. that's why they made it long in the first place.
BIG QUESTION: on corksport website, there are the kartboy shifter bushings (yellow) and the cork sport oil shifter bushings (bronze)....Are they the same thing or are they different? because the 'kartboy' ones said you had to jack up the car, which i never had to do before when installing a ss and replacing the bushings. Are both needed if they are different? which ones better if they are the same?
thanks,
thanks,
mazdaowner123
Member
They are different. Many people use both of them. I've heard with the bronzoil bushing you have to file them down or something, not sure though. You'll have to jack the car up anyway when you put in the short shifter. You have to loosen 2 bolts on a heatshield and disconnect the shifter the thing that goes to the tranny.
~brian
~brian
Hey guys, I have a question to add to this - which SS keeps the shift knob at about the stock height? I am on the short side, so my arms are shorter than most, and I dont want to have to reach too far to shift.
I wish I could find pics of someone who had installed all three SS in their car, and see what each looks like.
scorch70
I wish I could find pics of someone who had installed all three SS in their car, and see what each looks like.
scorch70
mazdaowner123
Member
B&M will keep it the highest I think, but the new perrin SS is height adjustable and I don't know just how high it adjusts to, so maybe the perrin one will be taller.
~brian
~brian
scorch70 said:
TXMazdaSpeeder
T is for Turbo
- :
- 2003 Black Mica MSP #566
lovin my gen 1 TWM
- :
- Das Pretzelwagon
For those wondering about knob threading: the P5 and the MSP have the same threading. Only the MP3 is different. If you have an MP3, and want to use the stock knob, kartboy can specially thread a SS for you.
That is all.
That is all.
mazdaspeedpower said:
If you don't mind dealing with a salesperson, you can slip over to Subaru and try it out. If they have one to test drive, SS is an option on the turbo Legacy GT and the WRX (or maybe just the STI, since they offer STI parts for the Legacy). Drive one with and without to compare
.
I have the B&M and it has been great. The only thing that I can say that you need to look out for is the heat shield! I put mine in and it was pretty easy with the exception being the retainer clip. After I put it in it was very hard getting it in to gears. I bent the heat shield so the shifter would clear it and still had a hard shift. I put a Racing Beat axle back on the car about a month ago. When I was done the shifting was smooth and very easy, just like the stock. I guess I didnt bend it enough. The RB is a lot heavier than the stock muffler so I guess that gave me the extra clearance that I needed. Plus I only paid $79 shipped for my shifter!
NeverSober
WTFPWN3D
- :
- 06 wrx
Kartboy ss/knob/bushings.................need i say more?
Chris
Chris
- :
- Das Pretzelwagon
Amen.NeverSober said:
