short shifter bad for transmission?

**highlandarx** · 01-11-2008 08:38 PM

excuse me if this has already been posted by any chance. I searched for it and found nothing...

my audi sales rep was telling me that a short shifter can be damaging to the transmission because something about it changes the angle and leverage of the shifter rod place on the transmission...

a jhm short shifter was going to be my first mod to be honest, but if this is true it would discourage me from getting any short shifter at all....so has anyone else heard this? thanks in advance

**spoolingt2876s4** · 01-11-2008 08:56 PM

will not effect it

**I495 Bandit** · 01-11-2008 08:57 PM

I never heard of a ss having a negative affect on the trans. I have used ss in just about all of my previous cars with no ill affects. The jhm ss dosent change the angle of anything . You are are still using the same shifter base,rods, and mounting points. The only thing that is changed is the oem shifter stalk and ball joint which has alot of play and is made of plastic and rubber to a all metal unit that is much tighter with no play. There is also a adjustment screw one the bottom of the ss to adjust the reduction of throw from gear to gear.
I would take what some service advisors say about mods with a grain of salt. One told me the worst thing I could do to my engine is to get a APR flash cause it would cause my engine to blow up.

**ChriS4** · 01-11-2008 09:52 PM

The only thing it COULD damage is your synchros... but then that's attributed to driver error. The shift pattern to foot travel changes so you have to time things better so you don't try to rip through gears before the clutch is fully disengaged.

**viperdsa** · 01-11-2008 10:18 PM

My friend's sis put a ss on her impreza, and it was either the way she drove it or the shifter but it ground down the teeth on her first gear, from misalignment, and she needed to get a new tranny. But that's on a subie.

**Nico** · 01-11-2008 11:20 PM

Can be. Definately wear out syncro's quicker. It is important to shift gears slowly

http://www.dieselgeek.com/a_word_abo...nsmissions.php

**INTEGRATION** · 01-12-2008 04:38 AM

Yes, will mess up your synchros... which will damage your transmission in a 1-2 years. My friend has one in his B7 RS4, it's only been a year but his synchros are already messed up.

**TJHUB** · 01-12-2008 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by highlandarx

excuse me if this has already been posted by any chance. I searched for it and found nothing...

my audi sales rep was telling me that a short shifter can be damaging to the transmission because something about it changes the angle and leverage of the shifter rod place on the transmission...

a jhm short shifter was going to be my first mod to be honest, but if this is true it would discourage me from getting any short shifter at all....so has anyone else heard this? thanks in advance

A short shifter WILL NOT damage anything in your transmission. Only YOU will damage your transmission not shifting correctly. That's it, end of story. Anyone tells you otherwise, they don't know what they're talking about...

However, I will tell you that the Audi manual transmission is a HUGE disappointment. The syncros fail easily because they suck to start with. I am VERY unhappy with the way my car shifts overall. 2nd gear has been an issue for me from day one. I'm certain it'll last as I don't drive like a moron, but nonetheless, I expected more from my Audi. I love the car other than that.

I'd say get the short shifter IF you want it for the right reasons. This isn't a race car like so many try to make it. If you think the OEM shifter is sloppy and the throw is too far, get a short shifter. If you just want to jamb gears faster, get a better car. Sorry, but it's true.

Here's my thoughts on the JHM Short Shifter: (click me)