Once removed, apply grease from the original lever’s ball or molly based grease to the new shift lever’s ball. This will ensure smooth operation. You will also need to apply grease to the tip of the reverse lockout cable and the area where the reverse lockout slider rides. Make sure that anything that slides or rotates has grease.
You may want to take the time at this point to remove the metal surround that holds down the rubber gasket and trim it for more adjustability with the shifter. Remove the four 10mm bolts and maneuver it out of the car. Trim the upper left edge where the linkage goes by to allow for more clearance for the linkage, as it will be slightly higher to get the geometry for a shorter throw. After trimming, reinstall the surround.
(STi’s built in March 2007 and later, including 2008+ STi) If your factory bushings are loose in the shifter barrel without the spacers, you will need to install the (2) COBB Tuning supplied steel bushings into the shifter barrel before you install the bushings. If your bushings fit snugly without the COBB Tuning steel bushings, then you do not need them.
Place the new shifter and bushing in place as it was from the factory. Getting it in should not take much effort. If it gets tough, then try again and make sure the bushing is going in straight.
Before attaching the shifter to the shift linkage, apply a small amount of grease to both sides of the bushings used in the new shifter. There may be extra on the ball or socket to use.
Attach the linkage to the shift lever using the factory hardware that was removed previously and the(2) 12mm wrenches. This should be hand tight (approximately 12-15 ft/lbs of torque). The following pictures show the linkage attached. Note that the barrel is oriented towards the front.
Thread the reverse lockout cable into the shifter’s center section and into the top section. It may be easier to do this while the upper portion of the shifter is in its lowest position. You should be able to see the hole in the top of the reverse lockout cable thru the notch in the upper portion of the lever.
Slide the reverse lockout spring over the top portion of the lever followed by the slider. Make sure that the slider is oriented so that the pinhole is on top of the lip. Line up the holes of the slider and cable, and reinstall the pin. It may be easier if the top portion of the lever is loose in the center section so that you can rotate it to line them up. Make sure the pin is not sticking out either side too much.
- Sometimes as you tap the pin into place it can push the reverse lockout cable up against the side of the shifter. To avoid this happening, tap the pin slightly too far, then tap it back the other way to even it out back into the middle.
Go under the car and release the reverse lockout cam so that it can operate. Check the reverse lockout operation in the cabin at this time to ensure proper function. If you will be setting the height of the shift lever short, you will have to use zip ties to keep the reverse lock-out cable from contacting the drive shaft as it did on the test car in the below picture. Setting the height in the higher ranges may not make this a requirement. Due to the geometry changes and how they may affect this cable, COBB Tuning is not responsible for any damages to the cable or driveshaft if you do not check the clearance and secure the cable if necessary.
This is a good time to set the throw and height of the shift lever, as the shift boot will cover the clamp screws. If you want to adjust the throw of the lever, the lower portion needs to be adjusted using the lower 3mm socket head screws. If you desire the shortest throw, you will want to have the lower section as long as possible. However there are space limitations in the chassis and shift linkage. If you go too long on the bottom section, the linkage will sandwich the rubber gasket in between the chassis and the shift linkage. This can increase shift effort, causing you to not be able to go into first or third, and wear a hole in the rubber gasket. We usually set it so that there is the slightest amount of clearance so the throw can be as short as possible without causing issues. To set the height of the shift knob, simply adjust the top portion of the lever using the upper 3mm socket head screws. Again when tightening the clamp screws, do not over tighten them, torque to 41 in-lbs. If you over-tighten the screw it may strip the threads on the aluminum center section. COBB Tuning is not responsible for damage due to over-torquing the screws.
Reinstall the center console shifter surround trim piece making sure to reattach the wiring harness for the lighter and screw the shift knob back into place making sure it is tight. Make sure the shift boot is reattached around the trim piece.
Congratulations and enjoy your shifting with your new COBB Tuning 6-Speed Double Adjustable Short Throw Shifter. Future adjustments can be made very easily by just removing the center console shifter surround trim piece as the clamp screws are easily accessible.