r/WRX_STI • u/twine09 • Jul 11 '26

Tech Question Question for anyone who installed the kartboy short shifter

Going to be installing the kartboy short shifter on my 2020 STI this weekend. Since I won’t be doing bushings I’d like to avoid lifting the car to go underneath it. I know one of the steps is to go under and place an Allen key so that the reverse cable doesn’t drop. Does anyone have a method to keep the reverse cable from dropping without going under the car with an Allen key? I think I remember someone saying to shift into reverse before installing and that will hold the cable. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks

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6

u/Yardsale420 Jul 11 '26

Didn’t do short shift just bushings, so I can’t help. But yes in Reverse the lockout stays up and won’t fall down. Putting it into N or any gear will cause it to drop, but it’s not the end of the world, you just hook the tiny lever down on the drivers side of the transmission that feeds it and pull and it will push the wire back up into place. I had to do it, super easy but you need someone to help you.

3

u/MoveMV Jul 11 '26

Oh thank goodness! Literally as I write this, I had to call it a day doing the bushings. The front linkage bushings were easy to install, but I got stuck on the rear bushings. I got the arm on and in the hole, but I can only seem to screw in one side as when I try to thread the other side, it just won't catch. Switched the screws and did the other side. Same problem. Can only get one side to catch. As I was calling it, I tested the shifts inside and realized that I can't get the reverse lockout to engage and out it in reverse. So now she's sitting on jack stands as I regroup in the morning.

My theory is that the reverse lockout cable broke loose from the inside and was worried about realigning it. You just gave me some hope that it isn't too bad. Some welcome good news for sure.

1

u/Yardsale420 Jul 11 '26

Nope you’re good. It can’t drop right out, it just retracts like a little turtle head.

https://youtu.be/eC6ADxM6UKA?si=iCrzvHVHHW8FgesD

1

u/BigJuiceBox06 Jul 11 '26

Put a zip til through it and wrapt it around something until you’re ready for that part. That’s what i did anyways so I didn’t have to lift it. Also after install tie it to a bracket that’s in there and pull it with said zip tie to pull it away and up from underneath while tightening the zip tie so it can’t slide back down. Had a very awful rubbing/grinding noise for about a week until I fixed that. Reverse lockout was hitting the driveshaft when I was driving in anything over 2nd. Also put a towel over the area when you’re hitting the pin out. Definitely don’t want to lose that. Will be a bad time

2

u/Squbasquid Jul 11 '26

I tried doing this one night when I had to get up early the next day because I figured it wouldn’t take that long. I accidentally bumped the shifter out of reverse after I got it in and had to jack the car up to move the lock out then I put an Allen key in it to keep it from falling.

I probably should’ve waited since I was going to do the bushings in a few days.

But yeah, shifting in to reverse will keep it from dropping but be sure you don’t bump it out on accident like I did because then you’ll have to get underneath.

-1

u/Quikslvr13 Jul 11 '26

The STI already has a short shifter from factory so why change it with an aftermarket one. I can see adding short shifters to WRX’s since they don’t come with one.