{If you have|If in case you have|In case you have|When you have|When you've got|You probably have} a {manual|guide|handbook} transmission A3 (or GTI or GLI) {you have got|you've got} to get {a short|a brief} shifter! I'm {sure|certain|positive} {some other|another} {brands|manufacturers} are good as {well|effectively|nicely|properly}, {but|however} I can {definitely|positively|undoubtedly} vouch for the Forge SSK for {excellent|glorious|wonderful} {quality|high quality} and {feel|really feel}. {I was|I used to be} chasing the {last|final} {bit of|little bit of} daylight. Also, after I pulled off {the original|the unique} shift linkage {I was|I used to be} {way|approach|manner|means|method} too greasy to {touch|contact} the {camera|digicam|digital camera}. There are two {items|gadgets|objects} {that you|that you just|that you simply} {need|want} for {the full|the complete|the total} {kit|equipment|package} - {the main|the primary|the principle} {front|entrance}-to-{back|again} shift linkage, and the {side|aspect|facet}-to-{side|aspect|facet} linkage. {Since the|Because the|For the reason that} {kit|equipment|package} is made {to fit|to suit} {several|a number of} {different|completely different|totally different} VW/Audi {models|fashions}, it comes with {various|numerous|varied} fittings for the shift cable attachment. There are a smaller pin, {a larger|a bigger} (thicker) pin, and a ball attachment. {You will need|You have to|You will have|You will want|You'll need} the {larger|bigger}/thicker pin and corresponding nut for {both|each} linkages for the A3; {you can|you may|you possibly can|you'll be able to} discard/{store|retailer} {the rest|the remainder|the remaining}. The nuts have washers {fixed|fastened|mounted} {to one|to 1|to at least one} {side|aspect|facet}.
{You must|It's essential to|You could|You have to|You need to|You should|You will need to} assemble {things|issues} with the washers {towards|in direction of|in the direction of} the bracket. However, the washers prevented the nuts from threading on {correctly|accurately|appropriately} at first. I {had to|needed to} 'chase' the threads by {running|operating|working} the nuts on backwards, then {turn|flip} them {around|round} and assemble them {properly|correctly}. Additionally, {by using|by utilizing|through the use of} the prevailing torque nuts, when tightened to {the proper|the correct|the right} torque specs. {We have|Now we have|We have now|We now have|We've|We've got} had {versions|variations} of this product {using|utilizing} {the same|the identical} {type|kind|sort} of hardware {installed|put in} on {numerous|quite a few} {vehicles|automobiles|autos} for {well|effectively|nicely|properly} over a {year|12 months|yr} with {absolutely|completely} zero {issues|points} {before|earlier than} we {released|launched} them into the market. Both {parts|components|elements} of the linkage have slots that the pins {fit|match} into. {The most|Essentially the most|Probably the most} 'out' or 'up' {position|place} on the respective slot {is the same|is identical|is similar} {position|place} {as the|because the} {stock|inventory} {pieces|items}. {The most|Essentially the most|Probably the most} 'in' or 'down' {position|place} on the slot is the shortest shifter {movement|motion}. Trust me - {just|simply} set it {at the|on the} shortest {position|place}. The white plastic 'slider' that joins {the two|the 2} linkage {parts|components|elements} is {more|extra} {robust|strong|sturdy} than the {stock|inventory} one, and wraps above and {below|beneath|under} the channel that it slides in (the {stock|inventory} one {does not|doesn't}). This {shows|exhibits|reveals} how {the two|the 2} {pieces|items} {fit|match} {together|collectively}.
Installation was {a lot|loads|lots|quite a bit|rather a lot|so much|too much} {quicker|faster} than I've seen {other|different} {people|folks|individuals} {claim|declare} {for short|for brief}-shifters. The longest time was spent assembling the pins into {the two|the 2} {parts|components|elements} of the linkage. It took {a while|some time} {because of|due to} the nut/washer {issue|challenge|concern|difficulty|problem|situation|subject} that {I mentioned|I discussed} above, {and because|and since} when tightening the nut/pin {it would|it could|it might|it will} '{walk|stroll}' {in the|within the} slot a bit. I wound up sticking {something|one thing} {in the|within the} slot {to block|to dam} it and {make sure that|be sure that|ensure that|guantee that|make it possible for} the pin stayed all {the way|the best way|the way in which} {at the|on the} shortest {position|place} {as it|because it} was tightened. {I was|I used to be} {sure|certain|positive} {wanted|needed|wished} it in that {position|place} so I used Loctite Threadlocker (BLUE) {to make sure|to ensure|to verify} neither pin comes {loose|free|unfastened}. At first {I was|I used to be} {concerned|involved} about what would {happen|occur} if the nut loosened and the pin slipped {in the|within the} slot, then I realised that it {is totally|is completely} a non-{issue|challenge|concern|difficulty|problem|situation|subject}. First, when {properly|correctly} tightened there {should be|must be|needs to be|ought to be} no loosening of the nuts {at all|in any respect} (see above).
However, if a nut did loosen {enough|sufficient} for the pin {to slip|to slide} {in the|within the} slot, {it would|it could|it might|it will} {just|simply} wind up slipping {back|again} to the {stock|inventory} {position|place}. You'd wind up with a {bit of|little bit of} slop and {a longer|an extended} throw, {but|however} would {never|by no means} be stranded and unable to shift. Actually {removing|eradicating}/reinstalling is soooo {easy|simple|straightforward}. I {didn't|did not} even {remove|take away} the engine {cover|cowl}/intake. Yes, you {actually|really|truly} can {reach|attain} in and do it. The worst {part of|a part of} swapping the linkage is {removing|eradicating} the ring clips on the three pins. They pop off {easily|simply}, {but|however} {that's|that is} {part of|a part of} {the problem|the issue} - {they'll|they will|they're going to} go flying off and get {lost|misplaced} {somewhere|someplace}. Luckily, the {one that|one which} flew off on me bounced {around|round} and fell {through|by|by means of|by way of|via} to {the ground|the bottom} {under|below|beneath|underneath} the {car|automobile|automotive}, so {be careful|watch out} popping them off. Start by taking off {the two|the 2} clips that hold on the shift cable ends, and slide the cable ends off the pins. The 13mm nut on the linkage comes off {easily|simply} with a socket, then I used the ratchet handle to pry up on the linkage to get it off the splined shaft.
{There is|There may be|There's} {a third|a 3rd} clip holding on the {side|aspect|facet}-to-{side|aspect|facet} linkage, then it slides out. Note: there are 2 plastic bushings ({inner|inside|interior|internal} and outer) on the pin that mounts the {side|aspect|facet}-to-{side|aspect|facet} linkage. They {have to|must|need to|should} be put in place for {the new|the brand new} linkage. I used {one of the|one of many} {red|crimson|pink|purple} grease packets included to lube all pins and the slider {heavily|closely}. Installation is the reverse of {removal|elimination|removing}. Mate up the 2 linkage {pieces|items} {at the|on the} slider, and {fit|match} {the new|the brand new} {main|essential|foremost|fundamental|important|major|most important|predominant|primary|principal} linkage onto the splined shaft. Put up your {tools|instruments}, degrease your {hands|arms|fingers|palms}, and go drive! That's {really|actually} all {there is|there may be|there's} to it. Everything between 'assemble the pins' and '{clean|clear} up' {should|ought to} take you 20 minutes. Fom {casual|informal} {observation|commentary|remark|statement} of the linkage, it {looks|appears|appears to be like|seems|seems to be} {stock|inventory}. It {won't|will not} {attract|appeal to|entice} {attention|consideration} from a service tech {looking at|taking a look at} it, {but|however} {anyone|anybody} who drives the {car|automobile|automotive} {would have to|must} be an idiot not {to notice|to note}. The {important|essential|necessary|vital} {question|query} is "how does it {feel|really feel}?" It feels {great|nice}! It's {awesome|superior} - it {actually|really|truly} feels {like the|just like the} RX-8, which {is good|is nice|is sweet}: {short|brief|quick}, {solid|stable|strong}, {more|extra} mechanical than {stock|inventory}, shiftable with wrist {motion|movement}.
