View Full Version : TRD Quick Shifter


nacy333
07-08-2003, 01:21 AM
I went down to Carson Toyota/Scion today to pick up the quick shifter. From the look of it and playing around with it uninstalled it seems that the shaft length and throws are about the same as the stock shifter. The base section is made of a strong thick plastic and the Leather TRD shifter ball looks kinda cheezy. Regardless, I still have to wait until I install it before I make any comments on how it feels and how long the throws are.

The instructions are in Japanese but the pictures should help. I plan on installing it tomorrow after work while theres ample daylight out so I can take some good pics. I'll upload some quicky pics later on tonight on the unit so everyone can see what the thing looks like.

As before, Steve Ganz from Carson Toyota/Scion got me the hookups. Very informative in the whole process starting from over 2 weeks ago on when I can expect them in and around what price I they go for (this was before it even had a sku). I've only ordered 2 parts so far but I know this won't be the last. Thanks Steve!

its_ikon
07-08-2003, 01:51 AM
when i installed my trd shifter it didn't feel that short at first. i also have second car that is a manual trans and when i drive that and then go back to my corolla the shifter is a lot shorter. it just might not seem like it at first, but it will be better and smoother.

bBted
07-08-2003, 07:32 AM
when i installed my trd shifter it didn't feel that short at first. i also have second car that is a manual trans and when i drive that and then go back to my corolla the shifter is a lot shorter. it just might not seem like it at first, but it will be better and smoother.

did u install it by yourself? i want to get it but i want to find out how hard is it to install

its_ikon
07-08-2003, 04:45 PM
they are really easy to instally. as long as you can tak all the plastic apart you should be fine. there are only about 4 bolts that hold it in and then there are cables that run through it. i also did it with my dad there (he is a toyota tech for over 20 years), so that made it a little easier. if you know your way around car then this will be easy. much easier then installing spings and people usually don't have much trouble with those.

nacy333
07-09-2003, 05:43 AM
I finally got around to installing the shifter. While there didnt seem to be much of a difference visually, it feels completely different now. The throws are considerably shorter, I'd say the difference in distance is at least a good 1/3 to a 1/2 shorter. The shaft is an inch shorter (8.5" vs. 9.5") and bent rearward a little more than the old one, and while it doesnt look like a big difference, you can definitely tell. In neutral positio, grabbing the stick from where it's at, it feels like its in the old postion of where 4th gear was...this is probably better for taller drivers as they won't have as much of a reach, though it still felt fine with me once I got used to it.

It feels quite a bit notchier and stiffer. You can definitely tell when you're in neutral as it has a stronger tension when positioning the stick side to side. There's a good amount of tension as well until the gears are engaged. Although I can't compare it anymore, shifting in reverse requires more effort than from going one gear to the other. I doubt that many people would accidentally engage reverse when not intended, same goes from going from the accidental 3rd to 2nd (when 4th is intended).

Now for the gripes >>
The only installation problem I had was with the boot support ring that holds the boot cover on the top part of the shaft to be flush with the shifter ball; the shaft will not fit through the support ring because its too thick (yes, I tried to make that sound less sexually oriented..heh). I had to remove the boot support ring and use part of a ring washer clip thingy to hold it in place and screw on the ball shifter with the boot cover material between the ring and the ball shifter....after driving home from my friends place, the boot material came out...I'll find another way to secure it on there later.

The ball shifter - its a really cheezy looking leather wrapped TRD shifter. It has the Logo on it with a super cheezy picture of of carbon fiber. Its not too difficult to notice that its not carbon fiber. The leather seems also feel plain wrong. They stick out a bit and the leather is hard enough to the point where it feels irritating enough to give me second thoughts about putting the stock rubber shifter on...or at least until I can find an after market shifter. (Sorry,I didnt take close up pictures of the ball shifter, but I'll put them up tomorrow).

Here's a comparison of the 2 with the TRD shifter behind the stock unit (it has the black upper portion on the shaft). They look identical to each other with the only exception being that the TRD unit is shorter and has a sharper bend.
http://nacy.net/scion/TRDShifter/OldVSNew2.JPG

Here's the length of the stock unit (the midget assistant in thebackground is my buddies son).
http://nacy.net/scion/TRDShifter/OldShaftLength.JPG

Here's the length of the TRD unit.
http://nacy.net/scion/TRDShifter/NewShaftLength.JPG

I've put up more pictures (a few install pictures) at:
http://nacy.net/scion/default.asp?cd=TRDShifter%5C

If anyone has any questions let me know. Otherwise, I'm gonna try to make it to the next So Cal Scion meet (provided its not on a Sunday) so that you guys can get a feel for it.

JDMxB
07-09-2003, 06:54 AM
Damn...and I thought we'd at least get a cool looking TRD Shift knob.

Looks like a mod i'm skipping for now...not like the xB is gonna see any "spirited" driving for awhile anyway.

Thanks for the writeup nacy...informative and helpful as usual.

Mr_scion
08-06-2003, 04:44 AM
have u had the problem with shifting from 1 to 2 is it still hard? or did the new shifter fix that problem?
:?:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=662

nacy333
08-06-2003, 05:50 AM
have u had the problem with shifting from 1 to 2 is it still hard? or did the new shifter fix that problem?
:?:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=662

I never had the problem with my old shifter so I don't know if that helps matters. Still, I love the Quick Shifter, Genesis has drivin it for a bit and commented on the better feel. Just as well, other people from this board have sat in there and played around with it...everyone comments that it feels alot better.

Mr_scion
08-06-2003, 05:08 PM
8) thanks

TylorWeaver
09-07-2003, 08:33 PM
Does anyone have a picture of the Quick Shifter installed with Shift knob along with before and after pics installed with shift knob?

I would really like to see the pics...

Thanks...

-TW

showpaojoe
09-07-2003, 09:45 PM
The quickshifter is incredible. I drove mine for 3 weeks and just put it in yesterday and I drive 10 times smoother. There is still a problem with going into second when you you push the car hard but for slow traveling out of a stop sign, its better than stock. The other gears are awesome though, short distance and smooth as all hell.

JDMxB
09-24-2003, 02:43 AM
Anyone have a FAQ on this bad boy install?

I only got the JDM instructions--and I don't wanna fudge it all up...

Thanks fellas.

09-24-2003, 03:58 AM
I was talking to bBted and both of us might cut off the 1inch ourselves. I have a die grinder and a tap & die set. So we will let you guys know if it works!

McG_XB
09-24-2003, 06:50 AM
I was talking to bBted and both of us might cut off the 1inch ourselves. I have a die grinder and a tap & die set. So we will let you guys know if it works!

Is the 1" length difference the only thing that is different between the TRD short throw shifter and the standard one? I don't know much about the TRD shifter, but I just assume that the throw mechanism at the bottom of the shifter might also contain design elements that shorten the distance between gear shifts?

Just curious if anyone knows this to be true or if the TRD shifter is really just a shorter shifter stick.

TJ
09-24-2003, 07:25 AM
How much does the TRD SS Kit cost?

eric_m
09-24-2003, 03:22 PM
i have the instructions in english. i can make copies for people or i can try to scan them and put them up on the internet for everyone to see. it's really not hard to install, but i understand that sometimes it is more assuring to have the directions there to let you know you aren't screwing something up.

i think it's around $150-$200 for the shifter. but it's totally worth it.

JDMxB
09-24-2003, 04:42 PM
Thanks Eric...that would be great.

09-24-2003, 05:04 PM
I installed my quickshifter on Sunday. The shifter is worth buying! I do have a problem when it comes to shifting 1st to 2nd gear. Does anybody have a the similar problem?

Or is it just me?

Rhobz
09-24-2003, 05:53 PM
The length of the shaft ABOVE the ball joint is not what makes it a short throw shifter. The length of the shaft BELOW the ball joint does it.

It a simple lever. The length of shaft BELOW the joint on the TRD shifter is LONGER than the same portion on the stock shifter. So, simple physics tells us that a shorter movement on the top, produces a longer movement on the bottom...thus requiring a shorter THROW to get into gear.

Simply cutting your stock shift rod will NOT give you a short throw shifter. It will only give you a lower shift knob.

nacy333
09-24-2003, 06:33 PM
As Rohbz stated, this is true. Though I didn't really check for that when I took pictures of it. Another thing about the shifter is that the upper portion of the shaft is angled slightly as can be seen in the pics.

I really do like the shifter, but some people are iffy about it. The best way to tell if you want one is to simply drive one of the cars with the short shifter in it. Anyone that wants to give it a try should just try to make it to one of the meets. I've had about 10 people drive my car. Some fell in love with it and some didn't like it....

Rhobz
09-24-2003, 07:51 PM
Short shifters are a hit and miss type of thing. Either you like it or you dont. I have an adjustable one in my integra that most people dont like because I have it set so short. Although, the TRD Quick Shift Set is not all that short. Its shorter but not anything to make driving the card difficult. And most guys that I know that race, dont use them because they make it easier to miss gears or hit the wrong gear because everything is so close. I like it, especially for street driving, but more because I like the feel, not because it makes me drive any better or faster.

Mr_scion
09-24-2003, 08:51 PM
Short shifters are a hit and miss type of thing. Either you like it or you dont. I have an adjustable one in my integra that most people dont like because I have it set so short. Although, the TRD Quick Shift Set is not all that short. Its shorter but not anything to make driving the card difficult. And most guys that I know that race, dont use them because they make it easier to miss gears or hit the wrong gear because everything is so close. I like it, especially for street driving, but more because I like the feel, not because it makes me drive any better or faster.

well the scion is not a races car i think the trd shifter is more or less for the feel and fun facter if u wnat a race shifter get a b&m shifter

JDMxB
09-24-2003, 09:02 PM
Ok...i'm installing it as we speak..one problem though.

How do i get the two plastic things around the shifter shafts that are closest to the front of the car? I don't really know how to explain it, but think of it this way.

I removed the 4 bolts, and I removed the 2 clips as well as removing the two plastic wire holders. So the only thing holding the white plastic part to the car is in the front, there are 2 black plastic squares with holes in the middle so the shift shafts can connect to the car. How do i get these off?

eric_m
09-24-2003, 09:05 PM
JDMxB. i can help you.

there is a little retaining clip on each one of those parts that you need to remove, and then it will come right off. it's hard to explain with words, but if you take a small screwdriver or something and pry it off, the piece will come off easily. let me know if you need more help.

JDMxB
09-24-2003, 09:22 PM
Is that clip on the bottom....i've seen a small tab that I thought I could get to...that could be it.

eric_m
09-24-2003, 10:13 PM
ok i'm having a hard time remembering, but if you feel around some something that looks like it might be holding the part in place, that's it. i think it can be pushed or pryed off easily. if i saw the part it would be easier. sorry.

Rhobz
09-24-2003, 10:26 PM
I installed mine last night. I just pulled.

JDMxB
09-24-2003, 11:38 PM
Got it in--the clips are at the bottom.

The second to third shift is shortened by a lot!

09-25-2003, 01:42 AM
does any one have a pic of the shifter on the bottom to show how much longer it is? I am rethinking this cutting option. You guys are right I think the shifter is longer underneath, but I would like to see by how much.

squirrel
10-03-2003, 01:33 AM
bay area folks,

I installed my TRD short shifter, and it took all of about 30 minutes w/ hand tools. You can tell from the get-go that its definitely different. The TRD shift knob has got to go though. It feels "wimpy", maybe a MOMO instead.

If anyone needs help putting it in, let me know. I'll do it at one of the meets or come to your place.

squirrel

ps. sorry Gabe, I didn't measure the lengths below the ball.

Slopoke21m
10-03-2003, 05:19 AM
:) Hey, FYI, i just cut my shifter...about 1 1/2"-2" above the machined step in the
the stock shifter. Used a 1/2" die and cut new threads, drilled out the chrome
plastic ring in the top of the shifter boot so it slides down past the step.
I used a large o-ring to hold the chrome ring up against the shift knob.
I have the OBX chrome/CF knob.
I really notice and like the way it feels and the way it looks. I especially like the
2nd to 3rd shift now.
I contemplated takin the torch to it and bending it slightly back, but with all
the plastic its attached to, dont think that would be wise and
I dont think it will just bend, I think its made of stainless, but
dont know for sure.
Sometimes 1st to 2nd is sticky, but I think its op error, I noticed I may not be
pushing the clutch all the way down.
A pic is on my homepage. See Ya, Louie 8)

http://hometown.aol.com/slopoke21m/scionxb.html

Slopoke21m
10-03-2003, 05:36 AM
:? Sorry fouled up my homepage url......Fixed now, Louie 8)

LVXB
10-06-2003, 08:07 PM
Okay i finally got around to getting the sport shifter in! And yes i like it too. Thanks to steve at carson!

Question. What has everybody done with the shift boot? Now that its without the fiiting at the top its just kinda loose so i rolled it down but it looks sort of crummy. Not to mention the trd ball.

Any clever ideas out there for the boot or aftermarket shift knobs?

subcode
10-27-2003, 10:31 PM
is there a shifter available for the xA?

ibutton
10-30-2004, 01:53 PM
Guys, I've just bought quickshifter but there is Japanese install manual. Anybody has in English? Also there was some pictures but now it seems broken links - maybe anyone can re-post? Thanks a lot!

xAlex
10-30-2004, 02:23 PM
for my xA i just went with the TWM, its shorter and quicker... i no longer feel like i'm driving a truck with this shifter

ibutton
10-30-2004, 02:30 PM
Just want to install and compare with stock shifter.
Here is what I have in the box:
http://bids.tomsk.ru//0/quickshifter-lowres.jpg (121kb)
http://bids.tomsk.ru//0/quickshifter-hires.jpg (465kb)
(ps: old knob pictured as TRDs installed for present moment.. )
Also one interesting question for what purposes is VCI Paper...

ibutton
10-30-2004, 02:35 PM
ps: also i have not Scion just Trueno but I guess quickshifters have to be similar.. just there are no more places to ask :? tnx