Where to Buy a Short Shifter
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Finding a short shifter for your car isn't difficult, finding the right one for you can be. Research is key here; know what you're looking for and find other's who have have tried it and what their opinions are.
How a Short Shifter Works
A short shifter does two major things: it shortens the shift throw, and it provides a more solid shifter feel. Shortening the shifter throw makes shifts quicker, and the shift travel is shorter. It does this by shortening the shifter length, raising the pivot point and lengthening the secondary shaft. This does result in more force needed to select gears, simply because the lever (shifter length) has been shortened. In some cases it also means the height of the shifter will be shortened, but this is not necessary. The shortness of the throw is usually measured in percentage; a 30% shorter throw means the shift knob will move only about two thirds the distance to select gears compared to the stock unit.
How a Short Shifter Impacts Shifter Feel
Besides requiring more force to select gears, a short shifter also provides a more direct feel. This is because many aftermarket companies replace the stock rubber shifter bushing with either a urethane one, or in many cases, a ball bearing. This gives the shifter a near solid connection to the transmission. This also means more vibrations are transferred through the shifter and you will notice more shifter movement during hard acceleration and engine braking.
Short shifters come in all different lengths and in some applications different bends making for a more optimal shifter placement. The best approach is to research different brand shifters for your specific vehicle and find out what other owners think.
