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Spart
Well-Known Member
Looks very OEM+, can you measure the height above the console though? It seems taller but hard to tell.Installed a BFI Alcantara shift boot to match my Alcantara interior. Stayed with the silver stitching to match the rest of the car.
Shift knob is from Billetwerkz. Shifting feels like a night and day difference with a heavier knob.
lucky phil
Well-Known Member
Yes that looks way taller than stock. May be just the image angle. If you look at the image of my Receseng it's 6mm shorter than stock for reference but again not the ideal image angle.
Phil
lucky phil
Well-Known Member
Well I drove my car today with the new shift knob. I'm pretty objective about the modifications I do and I know how to differentiate between "different" and "improved" so considering the new knob is from memory around 190 grams heavier than the std knob I certainly expected the shift action to be "different" compared to the OEM and it was.
I've always been happy with how my car shifted and the clutch worked, the best gearbox I have ever used in this torque carrying range so making the shift action better was going to be hard. I must say though push come to shove the new heavier knob is an improvement in feel and action. It seems to make the feel going into gear more positive and closer to the "snick into gear" feel of a lighter duty gearbox.
You can certainly spend the same money on less worthwhile modifications for sure. My feedback for what it's worth.
Phil
I've always been happy with how my car shifted and the clutch worked, the best gearbox I have ever used in this torque carrying range so making the shift action better was going to be hard. I must say though push come to shove the new heavier knob is an improvement in feel and action. It seems to make the feel going into gear more positive and closer to the "snick into gear" feel of a lighter duty gearbox.
You can certainly spend the same money on less worthwhile modifications for sure. My feedback for what it's worth.
Phil
Spart
Well-Known Member
From a technical mechanical engineering perspective that's not quite true. Any mass in a simple lever system will only have an effect when the lever velocity is high enough for the mass to have an influence. Plenty of systems have masses and dampers that have zero influence until there is an abnormal velocity and even then the simple stock knob can be totally benign in normal operation shift velocities. So maybe the heavier knob is in this category. Has no impact on the shift action under normal transmission operating conditions because the shift speed is below the heavier knob's influence. Throw the shifter or try to slam it into gear and then the mass of the heavier shift knob has an influence due to the synchro load and dampens the action a little.
It's only a problem in the mind as far as I'm concerned. Go out and start your car and put it in first gear and start driving at say 10mph shift to second with the stock knob. If the synchro kicks you back into neutral then I'll believe all the anti-stock knob people. If it goes into gear then it's all a load of shit.
lucky phil
Well-Known Member
You can just use the std Raceseng collar and boot retention system but the knob will be 6mm or so higher than stock. Or you could use the Raceseng knob without the boot collar and have std shift knob height. Either way you can approximate what I have done without the small reduction in shift knob height.
You can also buy an aftermarket shift knob kit and fit it to the car without the boot assembly ( and avoid cutting it) and try it and if you dont like it go back to stock and resell the aftermarket knob.
Phil
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lucky phil
Well-Known Member
I don't disagree with any of this, it all makes perfect sense however you forget a few important aspects, from an engineering perspective of course. My shifter is now 6mm shorter than stock and has less leverage over the gear detent spring in the gearbox. This combined with the additional weight of the shift knob means that more force on the knob is required to overcome the resistance of the detent spring. When the detent spring resistance is finally overcome the additional lever force is now converted into additional kinetic energy over the std combination which MAY help the shift action FEEL. Remember I'm talking here about "feel" as I mentioned it in my original post and it may all be a worthless personal perspective. It's NOT some "game changer" or "single best mod you can do to your manual Supra" thing some people claim every mod they do is. It's more a case of if you were wondering how a heavier knob "feels" then it's certainly no worse than stock and maybe a little better. OR it could be all bullshit
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Mk5oup
Member
Finally got around to switching to a weighted shift knob today! Raceseng Ashiko. Anyone know where I can find a shift boot collar? I tried to get a Raceseng one but they’ve closed up shop! It seems to be sold out everywhere. Any recommendations for a substitute one?
BMWAF
Well-Known Member
After buying a Racseng Contour and collar (which I'll be putting up for sale in the next few days) I ended up going with a bespoke brushed Titanium sphere with custom laser engraving from WC Lathewerks. The knob and internal retainer weigh in at 380g and once installed, the knob sits noticeably lower than stock, giving better clearance with the HVAC controls. Also, the boot is tucked inside (I used electrical tape to secure it to the retainer) for a neat finish without the need for a collar.
Chris at WC Lathewerks was great to deal with and was patient and helpful as we refined the design. No kickbacks, just solid service worth praising.
The installed knob feels great in hand - that's what she said - and I am really pleased with the result.
Chris at WC Lathewerks was great to deal with and was patient and helpful as we refined the design. No kickbacks, just solid service worth praising.
The installed knob feels great in hand - that's what she said - and I am really pleased with the result.
swrdply400mrelay
Well-Known Member
With a heavier knob, does shifting get more vague (ie - less feedback, harder to tell which gear it’s in)?
Jmanlevan
Well-Known Member
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Not at all in my opinion. The added weight allows the shifter to slide into the gate easier which I believe gives me more tactile feedback. I always know what gear its in based on position feel regardless of shiftknob weight though.
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