Just installed my Axial Flow Short Shifter....what a difference!!!

Huskyfan23 · 08-11-2007, 01:50 PM

What a difference the short shifter makes!! I can't believe how much better it feels than the stock shifter did. Not only are the throws "shorter" (I really can't believe it's only a 29% difference in throw than stock), but I was also shocked at how much closer together the gears are.

Does anyone else find it more difficult to shift into 6th gear, though? I try to get it into gear, but it doesn't want to go most of the time. Sometimes I really have to force it.

Installation was simple enough, too. Only took about half an hour. ripped the crap out of the boot, but it's all good......that's what duct tape is for.

Anyone on the fence about getting one, do it!!! Really makes a huge difference for only 300 bucks

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Jedi54 · 08-11-2007, 01:52 PM

I find that 6th gear takes a little getting used to and requires a bit of an angle.

5
\
6

LOVE my short shifter, hands down the BEST mod available for the $$$

NgoRX8 · 08-11-2007, 01:53 PM

congrats. if i remember correctly, some did have to very slightly file down the side of the shifter where it hits the place for 5th and 6th. not sure if this new batch needs it or you just needa get use to it

Huskyfan23 · 08-11-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jedi54

I find that 6th gear takes a little getting used to and requires a bit of an angle.

5
\
6

LOVE my short shifter, hands down the BEST mod available for the $$$

Thanks! I'll try it at an angle later on today when I drive it again. Richard Paul makes one hell of a good product....

Huskyfan23 · 08-11-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NgoRX8

congrats. if i remember correctly, some did have to very slightly file down the side of the shifter where it hits the place for 5th and 6th. not sure if this new batch needs it or you just needa get use to it

God I hope I don't have to "file down" anything. Taking off the center cover beat the hell out of my hands....I really hope I never have to take that thing off again.

Razz1 · 08-11-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NgoRX8

congrats. if i remember correctly, some did have to very slightly file down the side of the shifter where it hits the place for 5th and 6th. not sure if this new batch needs it or you just needa get use to it

That's only if he bought a used one.

That batch was very early in the production run, and many were repaired at the machine shop.

Yes, need to get use to 6th.

Rifle bolt sure..........

All you need is a Simmons Rifle scope and a deer.

Huskyfan23 · 08-11-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razz1

That's only if he bought a used one.

That batch was very early in the production run, and many were repaired at the machine shop.

Yes, need to get use to 6th.

Rifle bolt sure..........

All you need is a Simmons Rifle scope and a deer.

that "metal-on-metal" feeling sure is different than stock. Makes it feel much more precise, and lets you know without a doubt you're in gear. Freakin awesome.

This is how the stock shifter should have felt in the first place....

Jedi54 · 08-11-2007, 06:58 PM

yeah, I went back to the stock shifter for a week and I couldn't stand it!!

Razz1 · 08-11-2007, 07:05 PM

^ I feel so sorry for you..............

That is the first step towards the Dark Force

Jedi54 · 08-11-2007, 07:07 PM

To fully understand the Force, one must know the Dark Side

DarkBrew · 08-11-2007, 11:06 PM

Another convert!

Now you need to replace the boot with a nice leather one.

And maybe a Voodoo shift knob

Last time I tried a stock shifter I just laughed at how wrong it felt...

Huskyfan23 · 08-12-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkBrew

Another convert!

Now you need to replace the boot with a nice leather one.

And maybe a Voodoo shift knob

Last time I tried a stock shifter I just laughed at how wrong it felt...

lol....if I get a voodoo shift knob and upgrade the boot, won't I just be copying your setup? Gotta keep it a little original......

I was thinking about getting a mazdaspeed shift knob. Always liked the way they looked. Not too big of a fan of the voodoo, looks way too big. How does it sit in your hand when you're shifting, DarkBrew?

Oh, and I have to say, I took it up to redline about 10 times tonight. It is just so much more enjoyable clicking through the gears than it was before. Hope my car forgives me for the added abuse this shifter is going to have on it. Never had more fun in the 8, though.

Tamas · 08-12-2007, 01:04 AM

Any additional noise with the RP shifter?
That's one thing keeping me from getting it... and the additional shift effort / notchiness many people reported. I'd really have to try it in someone's car before pulling the trigger.

Huskyfan23 · 08-12-2007, 01:07 AM

definitely try it. there's a little bit of "whining" when I shift into either 2nd or 4th gear, and a little notchiness / difficulty shifting into either 6th or reverse. All of it is tolerable, though, especially for the enjoyment you get out of it. Of course, I've only had it installed for about 10 hours now, so maybe the extra noise/notchiness/difficulty shifting will get annoying in a couple of weeks. for right now, though, it doesn't bother me at all.

swoope · 08-12-2007, 01:08 AM

you guys are late.. i use the dpe knob.. great combo.. i dove my sis rx8.. i felt like i was rowing a boat...

beers

\\Konig\\ · 08-12-2007, 01:10 AM

SHIFT EFFORT?

i could shift with two or three fingers and my wrist through almost every gear with the short shifter. and i dont hear any extra sounds.

trust me you will not regret it...its great.

Huskyfan23 · 08-12-2007, 01:10 AM

DPE, like voodoo, looks like of odd to me. How do it fit in the palm of your hand when you shift?

Huskyfan23 · 08-12-2007, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by \\Konig\\

SHIFT EFFORT?

i could shift with two or three fingers and my wrist through almost every gear with the short shifter. and i dont hear any extra sounds.

trust me you will not regret it...its great.

There is effort to shift into 6th / reverse. At least for me, initially. Really have to pull hard on the shifter to get it to slide into 6th from 5th or neutral. Since the gears are so close together and I have difficulty getting into 6th, sometimes I accidentally shift into 4th.

swoope · 08-12-2007, 03:07 AM

you have to use the knob to understand... and yes i have a bit of effort to shift into 5 and 6th, but you get used to it...

have choose to do nothing about it...

beers

LPCOKIE · 08-12-2007, 12:32 PM

i put the stock sifter back in to get my trany worked on big difference but i noticed that going into reverse is much easier with the stock one my only complaint with the short shifter but at 61 i am turning in to a wimp

\\Konig\\ · 08-12-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huskyfan23

There is effort to shift into 6th / reverse. At least for me, initially. Really have to pull hard on the shifter to get it to slide into 6th from 5th or neutral. Since the gears are so close together and I have difficulty getting into 6th, sometimes I accidentally shift into 4th.

6th is slightly hard to get into true, but it doesnt bug me anymore. it isnt THAT bad, but it seems like the effort varies from car to car. ive never misshifted from 5th to 4th when trying to get to 6th.

t-run/8 · 08-12-2007, 03:06 PM

yes occasionally sixth and also reverse will act up. But the shifter is still much better than stock. I hardly ever grind a single gear any more, with the exception of fifth.

ken-x8 · 08-12-2007, 04:21 PM

Are these 5-6 issues typical, or is it like engines in that we only hear the problems?

Been thinking of one of these ever since I got Zoomy. Stock shifter has been OK once it broke in, but it does not have that crisp snick-snick feeling that a Miata I test drove had.

Ken

\\Konig\\ · 08-12-2007, 06:07 PM

you might have issues, you might not. even if you do though you are NOT gonna want to go back to the stock shifter. you'll get that snick snick feeling with the rp shifter...go for it

Huskyfan23 · 08-12-2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by \\Konig\\

you might have issues, you might not. even if you do though you are NOT gonna want to go back to the stock shifter. you'll get that snick snick feeling with the rp shifter...go for it

agreed....that metallic click feeling when you snap into gear is amazing.

After two days of using the shifter, it seems to be loosening up a bit and snapping into 6th / reverse much easier.

Ken, definitely get it. You won't regret it.