The gear shifting experience in the BRZ has never been ideal. In the cold it does not go from 3rd to 2nd easily. Once warmed up and at speed on the track, it takes a moments concentration to make sure the gear is lined up before shifting it to the next gear. This was especially worse at PI going from 4th to 5th and vice versa. Even a slow car needs high gears!
The first proposed solution is a set of MTEC Shift Spring kit which helps stiffen up the feel of the shifter giving it a heavier feel and quicker return to neutral, that then allows for getting into the next gear more confidently.
Next is the Whiteline Shift kit, fancy name for an insert between the gearbox and mount. Simple but quite effective at taking the movement in the gearbox which makes it easier to find each gear at the cost of a few notches increase in the NVH department. Because race car.
With all things said, overall the shifting finds its way into each gear more easily, or simply "snappy" as Jorge would say haha. I have yet to drive it in the cold to see if the 3rd-to-2nd gear notch has been smoothed out or had the need to go hard between 4th and 5th, and I will report back when I do!
MTEC Shift Spring Kit & Whiteline Shift Kit
Grease and insert.
"Extreme pressure molybdenum disulphide (LM) based grease" - In case I ever need this stuff again.
Bushing install first. It inserts itself in here.
After 1 bolt removal, some jacking of the transmission, it inserted pretty easily.
Shifter spring install. First bolt that needs to be removed is on the passenger side of the gearbox.
Specialty tool (Thanks Jorge!), and a Loctite'd hex bolt came out without too much trouble
Used a magnet to get the old spring (left) out and in went in the new spring (right)
Cleaned up the old Loctite before applying some new blue Loctite for reinstall
The second spring is located behind this bolt on the driver side
People had to unbolt the exhaust to get to the bolt. I was lucky my breaker bar could reach to crack it.
After many turns using a ratchet and uni joint, it is out.
New spring (left) vs the old one (right). Putting the bolt back into the gearbox took a few shots given the limited room, sight and angle.
