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I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:09 pm
by ourly
Hello Brian,

I have an 09 5 speed MX-5. What are my short shifter options? When I drive my car hard on the street i sometimes miss 2nd gear because my stock shifter is so notchy. I'm sick of it so i want to get a SS.

Let me know what's up, your website shows 6 speed only. all folks who have an opinion on this please share.

thanks,
rick

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:36 pm
by Brian
The short shifter makes that issue worse, not better. The engine is rocking over enough to twist the trans just enough when you drive it really hard to make getting through that next gate a little more difficult. You have likely noticed that this does not happen when you shift much slower (allowing the engine to rock back to neutral position on the engine mounts).

The cure is either our stiffer engine mounts.....or our engine brace.

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Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:50 pm
by EricP503
I also has the same question about the 6 speed Short shift. I have a 5 speed and can only find the 6 speed. Are these interchangeable or is there one just for the 5 speed? Good info about the engine brace tho I will be getting one very soon.

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 5:43 pm
by Brian
Not interchangeable.

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:14 am
by Nuvolari

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:43 am
by morrisg
Some of the notchiness (is that a word?) was cured in my 2009 6 speed by refilling the transmission with Ford Motorcraft XT-M5-QS. This is a full synthetic manual transmission fluid made in Germany but available through your local Ford dealer. It was expensive, around $18 a quart, but it really helped smooth out the shifting of my 6 speed which was much worse than my friends 5 speed. This was in a new car and now, 3 years and 30,000 miles later, the transmission is still shifting smoothly. Worth a try.

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:04 am
by rpmchris
I had the 6-speed and added the short shifter...then took it off and sold it after only 3 weeks. It was much harder to shift when autocrossing, but that was with stock engine mounts and no brace. I then added a weighted shift knob which effectively lowered the height of the shifter and made things much better. I also added the AWR engine brace which helped a lot during competition.

I replaced the 6MT with a 5-speed this year and was able to transfer the shift knob onto the new tranny. I also took off the upper brace and installed the AWR lower engine mounts (SCCA Street Prepared rules allow either an upper brace OR lower mounts but not both)...this is the BEST shift feel I've ever had.

I will be offering my engine brace - lightly modified to work with a Mazdaspeed FSTB - with the "street" PU bushings for sale very soon.

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:23 am
by Chris Thompson
I also changed to the Ford fluid. It absolutely works, for sure. Price in So Cal. is ~$24/qt. Worth it! It will be replacing the Redline MTL in my '99 too ASAP.

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:26 pm
by EricP503
I purchased the engine brace and im very satisfied with it, but i have been wanting to get a turbo charger or supercharger and leaning more toward a turbo. However, it looks like there is no way to have a turbo and an engine brace. Is there something else i can do to do the same thing as the engine brace or am i suck with getting a supercharger or turbo without an engine brace?

Re: I need a short shifter for my 09 MX-5 5 speed

Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:00 pm
by rpmchris
The lower engine mounts are the way to go. Stay with the 70 durometer bushings.