[cky3396]

hey guys,

after reading up on a few posts (see links), i felt i could complete these two jobs on my own. here are my notes, for future DIYers. thanks to everyone who chipped in advice.

overall impressions:

i had the kart boy short shifter before the bushings, and to be honest its kind of hard for me to tell what difference the bushings really make. one thing that is very noticeable is the whine that comes from the transmission (??)... its a bit more noisy inside the cabin now. but overall the kart boy shifting is very crisp and precise, and obviously much shorter throw. i enjoy the setup, although ive found it a bit difficult to hit the 2nd to 3rd shift quickly (if you have the kart boy kit setup, id like to hear your thoughts on this).

edit: 9.20.08 kart boy front and rear bushings install...

Reference threads:

kart boy front shifter bushing install

kart boy rear bushing install

the links above are not 08 STi's, but the procedure is the same. you will need to unbolt the heat shield, and move it around as needed to get to where you need to be. most of the time i just had it rotated 90 degrees towards the passenger side.

while you're in the area - dont forget to zip tie the reverse lockout cable away from the the drive shaft if you are using the kart boy short shift kit (see below for more details on this).

edit: 9.18.08 kart boy short shifter + TiC bushing install...

Reference threads:

kartboy short shifter install on 08 STi

TiC Bushing Install on 08 STi - this link provides a few different looks to get at the shifter lever, etc.

i decided to go ahead with my kart boy short shift install by myself, after seeking outside help and possibly paying a shop to get it done.

well, i didnt have a jack or stands - but luckily pep boys had a special on (2) two ton jack stands, (1) two ton jack, and a 36" creeper - packaged at $60... so i got it, along with some other little goodies i needed (LUBE). i already have ramps, so i was all set.

i guess i did something right, because i got the short shifter in (which came with TiC pivot bushing) - and im able to get into gear and go. lol. in fact the shifting is very crisp and the throws are extremely short and precise. i like it.

as far as my SS install went, getting the C clip out was probably the most difficult part for me. dont ask me how i managed to get it out. im sure there is a tool that could make this easier, but i dont know what it is. getting it in was a tough as well, but hey i got it back in.

second, putting the kart boy lever in and making sure the rubber o rings were in place on the white cup was a concern. i think i got them both seated properly. i used the punch tool to tuck the top o ring down where it popped out of the groove on the cup. no issues thus far.

third, getting the pin out of the shifter for the reverse lockout cable was easy, as well as getting it back in. to put it back together, i pushed the cable into position in the shift lever, put on the spring and slider knob on, lined it it all up then stuck the punch through (test by pulling the lockout line down, the slider knob should come down with it.) then i put the pin on the end of the punch, and tapped it through the hole (pushing the punch out the other side). basically the same proceedure as getting the pin out, except you use the pin to get the punch out. hope that makes sense.

fourth, zip tie the the lockout wire to the lever, like it was from the factory.. next get under the car and find the reverse lockout wire, use a second zip tie to move it away from the drive shaft to avoid any rattling / rubbing damage.

kart boy short shifter front and rear bushings tic pivot bushing reverse lockout rattle shift boot 2008 sti gr

[Turninconcepts.com]

Originally Posted by cky3396

hey guys,

is it necessary to use a jack for support when removing the crossmember? (bushings install 08 sti)

i am using this thread as reference:

Kartboy STi Shifter Bushing Install - ScoobyMods

also, if you have any tips for bushing install on an 08 please chip in!
thanks in advance

I suggest a jack as you'll find it easier to put the subframe back in by being able to raise the tranny.

as for tips - have you discovered scoobymods.com yet?

[cky3396]

hey tic, yeah i am reading up peaty's in depth threads over there. i cant find any 08 STi specific threads for front/rear bushings installs though - which at this point would be the most difficult part of the short shift kit install for me personally. im assuming past STi models, and even foresters are pretty similar though?

i didnt grow up working with cars, and was never much around them in a garage setting - but ive been pretty capable of doing installs with clear enough instructions. ill need to get my hands on a bottle jack and some other stuff before i attempt this though.

[Turninconcepts.com]

Check our site as well. Off the main page we have install links that may help.

[Dante]

I'd done the KB shifter install several months ago, last weekend I finally did the TiC bushings set and I have a few notes that may be relative to an '08. 1st, thanks to KTS and Peaty for the notes.

1. I had to unbolt (four 10mm bolts?) a heat sheild over the exhaust.
2. I used a 12" extension to get to the pass. side bolt on the rear bushing. With this I was able to use a ratchet (needed for the re-install, not the removal).
3. Getting the shift rod into the new rear bushing was a major PITA. I finally bolted the rear bushing back on and then just forced the rod to go in.

Good luck! It's really not to bad!

[Turninconcepts.com]

Originally Posted by Dante

I'd done the KB shifter install several months ago, last weekend I finally did the TiC bushings set and I have a few notes that may be relative to an '08. 1st, thanks to KTS and Peaty for the notes.

1. I had to unbolt (four 10mm bolts?) a heat sheild over the exhaust.
2. I used a 12" extension to get to the pass. side bolt on the rear bushing. With this I was able to use a ratchet (needed for the re-install, not the removal).
3. Getting the shift rod into the new rear bushing was a major PITA. I finally bolted the rear bushing back on and then just forced the rod to go in.

Good luck! It's really not to bad!

A little bit of lube in the hole will help the rod go in. Remember - lube it up before you stick it in.

[cky3396]

^^^ finished the job

[cky3396]

bump for updates!

[Slimey]

probably going to do my install soon

does anyone have pics of where the zip tie goes underneath to keep the cable off the drive shaft?

[Krusader_08_STI]

cky3396, Whats up! I read that you were having noise in the cabin ( a noticable whine from the transmission). After I installed the Kart Boy SS I had a Whining noise similar to what you are describing. I put the car back on the ramps to look underneath and recheck my work. I saw that there was excess line from the reverse lockout cable in near distance of the driveshaft, I took three smalll zipties and cinched that SOB down to the shifter, and BAM!! (John Madden's voice) there was no more noises.

[cky3396]

Originally Posted by Krusader_08_STI

cky3396, Whats up! I read that you were having noise in the cabin ( a noticable whine from the transmission). After I installed the Kart Boy SS I had a Whining noise similar to what you are describing. I put the car back on the ramps to look underneath and recheck my work. I saw that there was excess line from the reverse lockout cable in near distance of the driveshaft, I took three smalll zipties and cinched that SOB down to the shifter, and BAM!! (John Madden's voice) there was no more noises.

hey krusader, thanks for info. what i am experiencing is the increased NVH from the stiffer stay bushings. i too used a couple extra zip ties to keep the reverse lockout clear of the drive shaft. this usually solves rattling issues, not to mention keeps the reverse lockout wire from getting chewed up and destroyed.

[cky3396]

Originally Posted by Slimey

probably going to do my install soon

does anyone have pics of where the zip tie goes underneath to keep the cable off the drive shaft?

once your under the car, you'll see the rest for yourself

[Slimey]

That's great. Thanks.

I was just under the car when I changed my oil this weekend -- I scoped out the real estate. It looks like pretty cramped quarters even with the exhaust shield down.

I'm thinking of just doing the short shifter and seeing how that works out before I do all the lower bushings - I'm telling myself because I want to assess the NVH of the SS before bushings, but I know it's because I'm dreading the whole thing at one sitting.

[cky3396]

there was no increase in nvh from the short shifter by itself. added NVH is from the bushings. and from what i hear, most of it comes from the kart boy rear bushing. if you keep the OEM it will be a lot less noisy.

the bushings install really isnt that bad.

[Slimey]

another dumb question that I seem to have missed along the way


do you keep your shifter in neutral or in gear (rear to pull up on the lockout?) during the install (either the SS or the bushings)?