gdizzle Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Ok, so the EST short shifters shaft if adjustable and is tightened by a set screw on the ball. For those that have installed this shifter, you know that you have to pull the ball seat to access this set screw. If you have installed this shifter, then you also know that it is almost impossible to get the ball seat with out breaking it. If you break it, you're gonna have a hell of a time driving your car with out buying a new ball seat and a ball seat is around 50 bucks from your local dealer (not usually a stocked item either...). So, when I installed my shifter, I set the height I wanted and put some blue locktite on the threads of the set screw before tightening it down. A year and half later on my home from work last week, I almost yanked the shifter out of the floor while pulling out into traffic.. The friggin set screw came loose. So, I tack welded it in place to get me home and that didn't hold for very long since I couldn't get a good weld due to the ball being covered in grease. So, first take the knob, shift boot, and rubber boot off. Then use a center punch to mark where to drill, then set the shaft to your desired height. I then, drilled a .128" hole in the ball about 1/8" back from the shaft at a 45* angle and at a depth of a .5". Vaccum the mess up and then knock in a 1/8" x 1/2" tension pin to hold the shifter in place. After the pin is installed, wipe the ball down as best as you can and re-lube. It took me about 30 minutes to take everything apart, install the pin and reassymble everything. It cost me about $.17 for the repair and it shouldn't ever come loose on me again, if it does, I'm ripping it out and throwing it in the chesepeak bay.Tools and crap needed:Centerpunchhammersmall drift punch.128"(#30 in the index) drill bitdrillwhat ever you need to take your shift knob off, in my case it was a 3mm allen wrench IIRC. Vaccum1/8"x1/2" tension pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spottieottie Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 I had to do this the first time I installed my EST shifter. That thing is a piece of crap. I ended up trying to drill in the same spot you had to Greg and broke the freakin drill bit right off Just my luck it made a hell of a good set screw , cause there was no way in hell I was going to try and get that out, hasn't moved since! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesoam Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 that blows but i think Red Locktight might have been the solution from the get go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdizzle Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 that blows but i think Red Locktight might have been the solution from the get gored locktite should never be the solution from the get go. I shouldn't have to use redlock tite on a friggin set screw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesoam Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 red locktite should never be the solution from the get go. I shouldn't have to use redlock tite on a friggin set screw.I agree with that but perhaps for future peoples installs ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdizzle Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 I agree with that but perhaps for future peoples installs I guess, but this is for people whom have installed the shifter and now have a loose shifter. :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyROTech Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 auto 4tw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdizzle Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 auto 4tw!hardly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastboy Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 mine came lose a few months after the install but I rigged(read: tbricks repair) the ball cage to be easily removable and just retightened the set screw.hardlyhis is a benz so it's a shitty domestic :monkey: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperVette Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Is it really worth it to go with the short shifter? All the problems I have been reading lately, and how tedious it is to install... any words of advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastboy Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Is it really worth it to go with the short shifter? All the problems I have been reading lately, and how tedious it is to install... any words of advice?no. a hacksaw and 5 minutes will give you the same result with next to no effort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the underlørd Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 honestly, after doing a few of these installs, you end up getting pretty good at it. My write up from a year ago really helps.My main goal was getting rid of the stock knob, and I've had no troubles with the ball coming loose from the shaft. lol.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperVette Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 so as per performance gains... nothing really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the underlørd Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 so as per performance gains... nothing really?it's all relative. I personally think the car shifts nicer with the kit, and the knob sits down more, so throws appear to be shorter, and the knob's play is greatly reduced. my .02, it was worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdizzle Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 so as per performance gains... nothing really?NO, there is 0 difference between the addition of the EST shifter and when I cut the stock shifter.honestly, after doing a few of these installs, you end up getting pretty good at it. My write up from a year ago really helps.My main goal was getting rid of the stock knob, and I've had no troubles with the ball coming loose from the shaft. lol..Yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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