How to: RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter
Dec 5, 2006, 06:26 AM
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How to: RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter
How to Install: RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter
Required Tools:
1. Flat head
2. Screw driver
3. Wrench
4. Plier
Installation:
With this tutorial, 30-45 minutes.
Note:
Please keep in mind, this RA is from Australia. Our cars are right-hand drive. I've edited the thread for US RA owners.
Step by Step Tutorial
Above is an image of the RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter.
________________________________________
Step 1: Twist the stock gear knob anti-clockwise until it is removed. Be sure to hold the leather down firmly while using your other hand to twist. If you don't, the leather will twist in the same direction and you'll end up nowhere. Worst case scenario, you've ripped your leather.
Step 2: On the driver’s side (left-hand side), take a look where the pedals are, you will see this clip that is holding the housing down. All you need to do is simply remove that clip with a flat head. This will get you started.
Step 3: Goto the passengers side (right-hand side) and find what you see in the picture. Gently pull the housing off. Alternatively, you can use a flat head and place it between the two housings to wedge the extra piece out softly.
Step 4: Once you’ve taken the extra piece off as shown in the picture below, there will be one more clip under the housing. All you need to do is lift the housing to have that clip in full view; remove the clip with a flat head and then the front of the housing is pretty much loose and done for now.
Step 5: Lets move on from the front and focus on the middle. As you can see in the picture, there are two big holes at the top. Thats where the arm rests housing clips go into. To remove the housing, I just put a flat head in between the housings and gently pushed the flat head forward. This acted as a lever to release the clips. Once you’ve done this and completed STEP 6, it will look something like this.
Step 6: Arm rest. Open your arm rest. Looking inside, you will see two screws. Remove them with a screw driver. You should now be able to remove the arm rest housing once you’ve completed STEP 5.
EDIT: Keep in mind, you will need some jiggling/forcing of the housing to come off. Don't rip it out, just keep at it, it will eventually come out. For some, it may just come right off.
Step 7: Remove those two screws that are located beside the white clip. Also, disconnect the white clip.
Step 8: Once both housings are removed, it should look something like this. Using your wrench, remove all four bolts that are holding down the stock shifter. There will also be two little clips which need to be removed. One is for the stick which you can slightly see, and the other is for the lever. Don't worry, you'll know where to look.
Step 9: Now all you need to do is remove these two black clips. Using your flat head, place it between the hole which you can slightly see in the picture on the bottom right clip. Wedge it out of the clip lock and the clips should be able to just come right out. Do the same for the bottom left clip.
Once thats done, remove the stock shifter. The area will now look something like this.
Step 10: Basically once thats done, all you need to do is just simply get the RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter and place it in the stock shifters place. Simply a matter of just putting the bolts and housing back on and you're done. Should look something like this:
Before Gear Knob:
After Gear Knob:
Review
The RPW RS-SS is an amazing product. The throw both front, backward and sideways have been reduced by at least 50%. The throw is so much easier and you'll never miss a gear. Of course to begin with, it will take some time to adjust, but shifting is so much easier. The shifter adds a sportier feel to the car and ease when changing gears. I recommend this product to anyone.
Required Tools:
1. Flat head
2. Screw driver
3. Wrench
4. Plier
Installation:
With this tutorial, 30-45 minutes.
Note:
Please keep in mind, this RA is from Australia. Our cars are right-hand drive. I've edited the thread for US RA owners.
Step by Step Tutorial
Above is an image of the RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter.
________________________________________
Step 1: Twist the stock gear knob anti-clockwise until it is removed. Be sure to hold the leather down firmly while using your other hand to twist. If you don't, the leather will twist in the same direction and you'll end up nowhere. Worst case scenario, you've ripped your leather.
Step 2: On the driver’s side (left-hand side), take a look where the pedals are, you will see this clip that is holding the housing down. All you need to do is simply remove that clip with a flat head. This will get you started.
Step 3: Goto the passengers side (right-hand side) and find what you see in the picture. Gently pull the housing off. Alternatively, you can use a flat head and place it between the two housings to wedge the extra piece out softly.
Step 4: Once you’ve taken the extra piece off as shown in the picture below, there will be one more clip under the housing. All you need to do is lift the housing to have that clip in full view; remove the clip with a flat head and then the front of the housing is pretty much loose and done for now.
Step 5: Lets move on from the front and focus on the middle. As you can see in the picture, there are two big holes at the top. Thats where the arm rests housing clips go into. To remove the housing, I just put a flat head in between the housings and gently pushed the flat head forward. This acted as a lever to release the clips. Once you’ve done this and completed STEP 6, it will look something like this.
Step 6: Arm rest. Open your arm rest. Looking inside, you will see two screws. Remove them with a screw driver. You should now be able to remove the arm rest housing once you’ve completed STEP 5.
EDIT: Keep in mind, you will need some jiggling/forcing of the housing to come off. Don't rip it out, just keep at it, it will eventually come out. For some, it may just come right off.
Step 7: Remove those two screws that are located beside the white clip. Also, disconnect the white clip.
Step 8: Once both housings are removed, it should look something like this. Using your wrench, remove all four bolts that are holding down the stock shifter. There will also be two little clips which need to be removed. One is for the stick which you can slightly see, and the other is for the lever. Don't worry, you'll know where to look.
Step 9: Now all you need to do is remove these two black clips. Using your flat head, place it between the hole which you can slightly see in the picture on the bottom right clip. Wedge it out of the clip lock and the clips should be able to just come right out. Do the same for the bottom left clip.
Once thats done, remove the stock shifter. The area will now look something like this.
Step 10: Basically once thats done, all you need to do is just simply get the RPW Rally Spec Short Shifter and place it in the stock shifters place. Simply a matter of just putting the bolts and housing back on and you're done. Should look something like this:
Before Gear Knob:
After Gear Knob:
Review
The RPW RS-SS is an amazing product. The throw both front, backward and sideways have been reduced by at least 50%. The throw is so much easier and you'll never miss a gear. Of course to begin with, it will take some time to adjust, but shifting is so much easier. The shifter adds a sportier feel to the car and ease when changing gears. I recommend this product to anyone.
Last edited by MITVRX; Dec 5, 2006 at 02:24 PM.
Dec 5, 2006, 11:53 AM
#2
Great how-to!
To avoid confusion for the left-hand-drive people, maybe you should say left and right sides instead of driver's and passenger's sides for removing the center console.
Now, let's see a pic of your dash. What are those heater controls? Did it come like that?
To avoid confusion for the left-hand-drive people, maybe you should say left and right sides instead of driver's and passenger's sides for removing the center console.
Now, let's see a pic of your dash. What are those heater controls? Did it come like that?
Pick the temp on the dial (note the celcius temps written on there) and it automatically holds that temp. Neat-o.
Dec 5, 2006, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Myszkewicz
Now, let's see a pic of your dash. What are those heater controls? Did it come like that?
Originally Posted by otter
I noticed those, they've got automatic climate control
Originally Posted by chowetime
well done great write up of the shifter and how to install
Last edited by MITVRX; Dec 5, 2006 at 02:24 PM.
Dec 5, 2006, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by MITVRX
I'll take a picture of my dash today. I think its the same as the Ra's in the US. Yep they are heater controls and yep they come stock. Are they not the same in the US? Also have edited the post for USA owners.
Wow, I thought all the Ra's were the same lol.
Thanks for pitching the idea to me Christine! hehe
Wow, I thought all the Ra's were the same lol.
Thanks for pitching the idea to me Christine! hehe
It also looks like yours are in the hole where the 6 disc changer goes in our RAs.
Last edited by captain150; Dec 5, 2006 at 03:17 PM.
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Dec 5, 2006, 03:38 PM
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Great reveiw. If you have no objectins I would like to copy it and place it on my website - with obvious reference to yourself of course as the author. Glad you liked it.
For USA customers, these can be ordered and supplied through any of our RPW USA Agents.
For USA customers, these can be ordered and supplied through any of our RPW USA Agents.
At least we now know we can order a double-din trim piece without paying a ton of money for the custom ones I've seen in the Evo section.
Dec 7, 2006, 05:02 PM
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Only the VRX's have the double din ... NO WAIT, the LS models do now also . The ES base models are all still single DIN like the US RA's / OZ / ES.
