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Change the paddle shifters?

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Old 12-08-2009, 09:16 AM
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Change the paddle shifters?

Has anyone ever done this or even thought about?

I like the paddles but the down buttons just plain suck. I always up to shift up with my left hand and down with my right by using the paddles.

Do you think it possible to re-wire those things?

I would be all for disabling the down buttons and just making the right paddle do the down some how.
Old 12-08-2009, 11:45 AM
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I've comtemplated this myself.
Left = Upshift and Down = Right
They are just connected by wires and the shifters use a simple Cherry NO switch. Very close to what you would find in an upright arcade console.

Switch the wires to you liking and you should be set.

have a service manual ? I don't know if the 04 manual would be the same wire chart as the 06+
Old 12-09-2009, 07:11 AM
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hmm. Wonder if I can get another AT wheel and an MT wheel somewhere cheap and just swap parts around. That way I wouldn't have the down buttons at all.

Anyone have an AT or MT wheel laying around with or without the airbag??

Last edited by Bigbacon; 12-09-2009 at 07:18 AM.
Old 12-09-2009, 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Bigbacon
hmm. Wonder if I can get another AT wheel and an MT wheel somewhere cheap and just swap parts around. That way I wouldn't have the down buttons at all.

Anyone have an AT or MT wheel laying around with or without the airbag??

You mean have the up buttons added to the MT wheel?
Old 12-09-2009, 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by JinDesu
You mean have the up buttons added to the MT wheel?
I was thinking using mixed parts from each wheel type so that it would effectively be an AT wheel just the with front of an MT without the down buttons.
Old 12-09-2009, 08:49 AM
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I'm not too sure, but I could swear the down buttons are placed on the back of the steering wheel, not the front cover.

I hope what I'm saying makes some sense lol.. I'm at work and can't go see my car

I actually like the shift up and shift down buttons the way they are right now; I often drive with my left hand on the wheel and my right hand either on the shifter, or messing with the AP. When I need to shift up while the wheel isn't turned too far, I just hit up and down with my left hand. When I need to shift when I have to turn the wheel a lot, I use the shifter instead.
Old 12-09-2009, 09:20 AM
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I have a very hard time using my thumb to hit down. specially when turning and other wise it's like my brain just doesn't want to use them. I often end up hitting the up paddle when I really want to go down.

I've tried just using the shifter but I don't care for personally. I normally drive with both hands on the 3 and 9 of the steering wheel.

It's like paddles are ingrained into my brain as one should be up and one should be down.

I'll have to examine the steering wheel more.
Old 12-09-2009, 09:30 AM
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Yeah, I understand where you are coming from. I was originally used to right-up, left-down pull-paddles.

If you were to change the MT front of the steering wheel with the AT, I think you get the same effect as just taking off the down buttons. You could probably saw off the protrusions on the back part of the steering wheel that support the button, and re-wire it to your liking. I would say getting a spare AT wheel would be better, so you can mess around with it to see what you need exactly.
Old 12-13-2009, 04:30 AM
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I've been contemplating this for a while, but never knew if it was truly possibly. I would probably get an MT wheel, then get some paddles from another car, and try and mount them.
Old 12-13-2009, 11:50 AM
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have you guys checked out Works Bell?
Old 12-13-2009, 11:57 AM
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yeah works bell makes a sick aluminum paddle shifer, that you could efectivly use with a quick release
Old 12-28-2009, 09:42 AM
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I was looking at the AT steering wheel and the looks like the "Down" paddles are part of the pieces that house the volume +/- controls, cruise control, ect. Swap in the MT steering wheel one's and make one of the "Up" paddles a "Down".

I'll do this when I get my 8 back.
Old 04-10-2017, 08:41 AM
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Can we change the AT steering wheel to at MT ??

while keeping all the wheel controls.
Old 04-24-2017, 07:08 PM
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Wholey Threadsurection Batman!!!


I believe the harness is the same.
Old 04-27-2017, 04:34 AM
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Originally Posted by 09Factor
I was looking at the AT steering wheel and the looks like the "Down" paddles are part of the pieces that house the volume +/- controls, cruise control, ect. Swap in the MT steering wheel one's and make one of the "Up" paddles a "Down".

I'll do this when I get my 8 back.
Did you finish this mod 09Factor?
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