JHM UPDATED B6/B7 S4 and RS4 shifter adjustment video

**jaybquick@JHM** · 10-15-2008 05:22 PM

I have noticed that these cars are more finicky than all the other 6-speed cars when adjusting and installing our shifters. Well I had a customer come down for an install the other day and I was reminded on how much more finicky they really were as compared to B5 S4s and even B6/B7 A4s.

So I made this video to help those out who plan on buying or already have one and want it adjusted a little better.

Here --> http://audishifter.com/videos/B6B7_S...e_10-16-08.wmv

Alternate Link (if download is slow) --> http://jhmtuning.com/videos/B6B7_S4R...e_10-16-08.wmv

More info on the shifter itself and the other 2 install videos here --> http://www.jhmotorsports.com/shop/ca...&products_id=4

Enjoy, and I hope this info helps somebody.

**enigma1406** · 10-15-2008 05:28 PM

Alternate link is way faster for me. Seen quite a few posts about people having a hard time with the install, so hopefully this helps everyone out. Thanks.

**ieatfishburitos** · 10-15-2008 06:53 PM

I have to say I tried for 2 days and couldn't get it right. I took it down to a local high performance shop that specializes in porsches and audis and they they did a little better than me, but the car wouldn't go in 2nd over 3k rpms. I took it back to them and after another 3 hours they finally got it. It is great now, but still finicky to get into reverse.

I'm never taking that damn thing off again.

**whartung** · 10-15-2008 07:23 PM

funny that you posted this just now Jason. a few minutes before you did i started a thread documenting my failed install attempt today. I blame it mostly on the tools I had available, but i suppose i'll copy paste it in here for your reading pleasure.

"Earlier today, much to my excitement, my JHM extra short shifter arrived in the mail. So of course, as soon as I found the time, I tried to install it. At roughly 4 o clock, after making a last minute stop at the hardware store to pick up a set of snap ring pliers, I started taking apart the stock shifter, and almost immediately, ran into a problem. I didn't have a 6mm Allen key of any kind. So after a brief debate, I drove my car without the shift knob or sound deadening back to the hardware store to see what I could find.

In the installation video, for those of you familiar with it, they appear to use a socket wrench and extension with a flexible Allen key on the end of it. And of course, with my luck, the best 6mm key the hardware store could supply me with was of course, just a key. Since it was just 89 cents and I was eager to at the very least attempt to get the shifter installed, I went along with it and shortly thereafter, resumed trying to get the stock shifter out.

And I managed to. After a lot of struggling underneath the ashtray with the Allen key, finally the shifter linkages came off and the shifter was out.

Not surprisingly, the first snap ring holding the reverse spring on came off without issue. But all good things must come to an end, and that end came with the second, much larger snap ring holding the entire plastic ball bearing, and thus the entire shifter, in place. The P.O.S. snap ring pliers I purchased couldn't get the large snap ring even close to out. (The pliers were some 15 dollar set that had interchangeable heads, and I really really don't recommend them unless the snap ring in question is really really small.) Needless to say, they slipped every time.

After struggling with that snap ring for a half of an hour, with daylight quickly fading, I realized that I had to give up and get the stock shifter back in and come back to fight another day.

Getting it back in, even just the stock unit, was no walk in the park. Everyone talks about how adjusting the JHM unit to sit right is a PITA. From the difficulty I had, I can't imagine the stock one is much easier. And the Allen key I had in tandem with the ashtray being consistently in the way didn't make it any easier. After maybe another half hour of adjusting the stock shifter, I finally got it seated in such a way that all my gears were accounted for.

However, I'm skeptical that any of the important bolts in the shifter linkage are in their as tight as they should be, thanks to the key. So now, the car is once again drive able, but I'm somewhat wary, reasonably so, about the strength of the shifter as it sits right now.

I suppose I'll have to re-tool and try again some other time. Which is frustrating, because I feel like I did all the work required to install the JHM unit, only the stock shifter is still sitting in my car.

I just wanted to rant. Sorry if my post is a bit verbose."

**jaybquick@JHM** · 10-15-2008 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by enigma1406

Alternate link is way faster for me. Seen quite a few posts about people having a hard time with the install, so hopefully this helps everyone out. Thanks.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by whartung

funny that you posted this just now Jason. a few minutes before you did i started a thread documenting my failed install attempt today. I blame it mostly on the tools I had available, but i suppose i'll copy paste it in here for your reading pleasure.

"Earlier today, much to my excitement, my JHM extra short shifter arrived in the mail. So of course, as soon as I found the time, I tried to install it. At roughly 4 o clock, after making a last minute stop at the hardware store to pick up a set of snap ring pliers, I started taking apart the stock shifter, and almost immediately, ran into a problem. I didn't have a 6mm Allen key of any kind. So after a brief debate, I drove my car without the shift knob or sound deadening back to the hardware store to see what I could find.

In the installation video, for those of you familiar with it, they appear to use a socket wrench and extension with a flexible Allen key on the end of it. And of course, with my luck, the best 6mm key the hardware store could supply me with was of course, just a key. Since it was just 89 cents and I was eager to at the very least attempt to get the shifter installed, I went along with it and shortly thereafter, resumed trying to get the stock shifter out.

And I managed to. After a lot of struggling underneath the ashtray with the Allen key, finally the shifter linkages came off and the shifter was out.

Not surprisingly, the first snap ring holding the reverse spring on came off without issue. But all good things must come to an end, and that end came with the second, much larger snap ring holding the entire plastic ball bearing, and thus the entire shifter, in place. The P.O.S. snap ring pliers I purchased couldn't get the large snap ring even close to out. (The pliers were some 15 dollar set that had interchangeable heads, and I really really don't recommend them unless the snap ring in question is really really small.) Needless to say, they slipped every time.

After struggling with that snap ring for a half of an hour, with daylight quickly fading, I realized that I had to give up and get the stock shifter back in and come back to fight another day.

Getting it back in, even just the stock unit, was no walk in the park. Everyone talks about how adjusting the JHM unit to sit right is a PITA. From the difficulty I had, I can't imagine the stock one is much easier. And the Allen key I had in tandem with the ashtray being consistently in the way didn't make it any easier. After maybe another half hour of adjusting the stock shifter, I finally got it seated in such a way that all my gears were accounted for.

However, I'm skeptical that any of the important bolts in the shifter linkage are in their as tight as they should be, thanks to the key. So now, the car is once again drive able, but I'm somewhat wary, reasonably so, about the strength of the shifter as it sits right now.

I suppose I'll have to re-tool and try again some other time. Which is frustrating, because I feel like I did all the work required to install the JHM unit, only the stock shifter is still sitting in my car.

I just wanted to rant. Sorry if my post is a bit verbose."

Sounds like quite the adventure. Reminds me of when I first started playing with cars years ago. A 66 Mustang, which obviously was less complicated but did need a lot of

. You learn fast when you start with a many decades old car.

It is definitely all about the tools man. That is one of the big things I have learned over the years. I NEVER attempt a job without the right tools anymore. Had my share of stories like yours when I didn't get the right stuff.

**whartung** · 10-15-2008 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by jaybquick@JHM

Thanks.

Sounds like quite the adventure. Reminds me of when I first started playing with cars years ago. A 66 Mustang, which obviously was less complicated but did need a lot of

. You learn fast when you start with a many decades old car.

It is definitely all about the tools man. That is one of the big things I have learned over the years. I NEVER attempt a job without the right tools anymore. Had my share of stories like yours when I didn't get the right stuff.

yup. I'm learning the ways on a b7 S4. I'm learning fast, but its a steep curve. And on a students budget, assembling the tools i need is always the hardest part. I want to try to install it again on friday, I just have to find heavier duty snap ring pliers, a socket joint, and a hex driver attachment for the socket wrench by then, and I have to find all that in upstate new york, which is harder than it would seem...

**ieatfishburitos** · 10-15-2008 08:37 PM

I didn't have snap ring pliers and saw the tools list in the video and went out and bought a pair before I started. I ended up buying 4 different types of snap ring pliers spending about $40 by the time I was done. They all sucked and I finally got lucky and got the big one off. What a pain in the ASS. I would recommend buying a high quality set of professional snap ring pliers before trying this. Dont rely on walking into autozone or some neighborhood parts store, their snap ring pliers suck and it wont go easily..

**whartung** · 10-15-2008 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by ieatfishburitos

I didn't have snap ring pliers and saw the tools list in the video and went out and bought a pair before I started. I ended up buying 4 different types of snap ring pliers spending about $40 by the time I was done. They all sucked and I finally got lucky and got the big one off. What a pain in the ASS. I would recommend buying a high quality set of professional snap ring pliers before trying this. Dont rely on walking into autozone or some neighborhood parts store, their snap ring pliers suck and it wont go easily..

exactly my problem. I bought some pair of universal snap ring pliers that were at my local hardware store. bought them because they were cheap and the selection wasn't very wide to begin with. They worked for the small ones, but had no purchase whatsoever on the large snap ring. They ended up essentially breaking...