JHM Shifters- Opinions?

[nealRlett]

Looking into ordering a JHM short-throw shifter. Noticed they offer 3 types:

1. Normal is at Stock knob height with 20% and 5% reduction settings.
2. 1" shorter knob height with 20% and 5% reduction settings.
3. Extra Short Throw with 1/2" shorter knob height and 40% and 25% reduction settings. NEW! (Includes 4 bushings to allow more clearance in the shifter box for the additional throw reduction).

Just looking for some insight.
Who is running what and how are you liking it?

thanks-

[jpv]

Looking into ordering a JHM short-throw shifter. Noticed they offer 3 types:

1. Normal is at Stock knob height with 20% and 5% reduction settings.
2. 1" shorter knob height with 20% and 5% reduction settings.
3. Extra Short Throw with 1/2" shorter knob height and 40% and 25% reduction settings. NEW! (Includes 4 bushings to allow more clearance in the shifter box for the additional throw reduction).

Just looking for some insight.
Who is running what and how are you liking it?

thanks-

I'm running the extra short throw set at the shortest setting with the medium stiffness spring. Liking it? I'm loving it! Allows for for very precise shipping. Highly recommended!

[S4DTM]

I'm running the Normal setting, and I couldn't be happier. The install is much easier than on the extra short throw, and I was used to the shifter height so there was no re-learning there. Extremely happy! It's just personal preference really how whort you want the shifter and the throw length.

[ginkof]

i am running the 20% reduction on the JHM shifter and its amazing! I just found out about the 40% reduction option which i may get in the future, but have to many other things to waste my money on. There is a stiffer reverse spring option for $5 which i would recommend.

Overall the product is amazing... i would give it a 9.5 out of 10. (loss of 0.5 since it is a pain in the butt to adjust properly without an angle finder). Myself and many other people have spent several hours attempting to adjust this shifter without an angle finder and it sucks! My friend bought one to adjust his JHM shifter on his B5 and adjusted mine to perfection in 10 minutes. I was very pissed at the time since it was sooo easy for him, but now am happy as hell! Buy the angle finder on the JHM website for a mere $15 and save yourself hours of aggravation.

It's an amazing product!

[ngng]

running the normal setting, LOVE IT. have a shift knob coming too

[Matt@JHM]

running the normal setting, LOVE IT. have a shift knob coming too

Glad you guys enjoy the shifter.

BTW ngng, a big shipment of knobs will be going out tomorrow. So you should have it very soon.

[jpv]

i am running the 20% reduction on the JHM shifter and its amazing! I just found out about the 40% reduction option which i may get in the future, but have to many other things to waste my money on. There is a stiffer reverse spring option for $5 which i would recommend.

Overall the product is amazing... i would give it a 9.5 out of 10. (loss of 0.5 since it is a pain in the butt to adjust properly without an angle finder). Myself and many other people have spent several hours attempting to adjust this shifter without an angle finder and it sucks! My friend bought one to adjust his JHM shifter on his B5 and adjusted mine to perfection in 10 minutes. I was very pissed at the time since it was sooo easy for him, but now am happy as hell! Buy the angle finder on the JHM website for a mere $15 and save yourself hours of aggravation.

It's an amazing product!

Yes, I definitely agree with the adjustment...mine is not 100% yet either and will probably try to readjust in the upcoming weeks...but, I'm still happy with it

[Captain Insano]

I have the extra short throw shifter and I'm waiting for some time to set aside to install it. I have the black delrin shift knob too. I've inspected each part and I can say the quality is top notch. Glad I read that post about the angle finder, think I'll order one so the adjustment is easier.

[ghoonk]

I have the extra short throw shifter on my B7 RS4, and while it was stiff to engage in the early days, it's broken in pretty nicely and shifting is pretty smooth now.

There's a bit of an offset on the 1st and 2nd gear -- pushing the level all the way to the left, you'll find that you need to bring it back to the right by a millimeter or two to get it into 1st, but going into 2nd from there is easy.

It's taken most of the slop (i.e. side to side wiggle) while the gear is in the slot, but there's still some play. Nevertheless, shifting feels much more precise now, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the car more than before. I'm not sure if there is a performance improvement as I did this mod mostly to get the shifter to feel better.

If Jason from JHM's reading this, maybe he can let me know if the install was done correctly, else it's back to the shop for a bit of tweaking :D

[Lake Powell]

Installed mine a few days ago, very happy.

25% reduction with normal length.

I think I will install the stiffer reverse spring, however.

[nealRlett]

thanks for all the input. It's great to see what you guys think.

[ngng]

thanks for all the input. It's great to see what you guys think.

i dont think anybody with the JHM is unhappy with it, the only gripes i've heard (and mine as well) have been the install.

[mbgt72]

I'm running the Extra Short with the bushing and love it!

[meinblaus4]

running the extra short with the 40% redux. this is how the car should have been built from the start.

[rsquattro]

With the 40%, could you estimate how far the throw is from 1st to 2nd gear? I'm just trying to decide if 40 might be too much..

running the extra short with the 40% redux. this is how the car should have been built from the start.

[nymk41.8t]

How The Hell Do You Use The Angle Finder ??? Im Just Ordered Everything Up And Will Have It Soon But Was Wondering How The Hell You Use It ?? Lol Any Helpful Advice On The Install ??

Thanks

Vinny

[ngng]

How The Hell Do You Use The Angle Finder ??? Im Just Ordered Everything Up And Will Have It Soon But Was Wondering How The Hell You Use It ?? Lol Any Helpful Advice On The Install ??

Thanks

Vinny

i believe you attach it to the shifter shaft

[ngng]

i put in my JHM weighted shift knob and I am lovin it as well!

[markbradford]

I've got the normal throw with the 1" shorter rod. It's the best short shifter I've ever used, and I'd highly recommend it.

Make sure you have circlip pliers for the delrin slide bushings during the install. I didn't, and skipped them, and it still feels really solid though.

[jdmoorman]

I have the extra short throw, installed by JHM, and whole heartedly recommend it.

My previous car was an A3, in which I installed the diesel geek short shifter.
My current '07 B7 S4, which I've had for all of 3 months, has been quite a transition.
The power delivery is completely different, light FWD vs. heavy quattro, cable vs. solid transmission linkage.
Compared to the short shifted A3, the stock S4 was Extremely long. Resolving that was my first priority.

JHM installed their extra short shifter, and asked if they could use my stock shifter for a while to study it's geometry to improve the performance of their short shifter.
My observations on the initial short shift install was that it was a welcome relief to the long and numb feed back of the stock shifter. It did reveal some nuances of the linkage that was dampened by the stock shifter. It seemed like I could feel the long linkage arm flex during the shifts. The linkage itself felt a bit sloppy, and there was a very small bit of finesse needed for 1st gear. About a week later, they asked to test their revised shifter in my S4. I agreed and also installed their weighted delrin shift knob.

I've spent several days now (all day today), evaluating the new version of their shifter and here are my observations:

The new version eliminates any need to finesse 1st gear and seems to have mitigated a lot of the percieved linkage flex, and the whole thing feels a lot tighter - more direct.

My A3 short shifter had a definite 'notchy' feel (not a bad thing); the JHM shifter in the S4 does not feel notchy, it feels 'mechanical' and direct.

The solidness and weight of the JHM shift knob (vs. the hollowness of the stock shift knob) definitely contributed to the solid & direct feel of the shifts.

I am now very happy shifting with fingers and wrist vs. my whole arm. The shift preciseness is much improved. Not that the remaining components of the shift linkage couldn't be improved by the JHM treatment, but the short shifter is a very welcome and worthwhile improvement.

Jason and the folks at JHM are a pleasure to work with - it is obvious that they are S4 enthusiasts.