MX-3.com

So I recently got a Mazdaspeed weighted shift knob from Corksport. I looked up in my Mazdaspeed catalogs and this shift knob is recommended for the mx-3... My question is are there any negative affects of using a weighted shift knob in the mx-3? Does it put more wear and tear on the linkage or internal parts of the tranny? It seems like I read somewhere that if you ride around with your hand on the shifter it puts uneeded wear on the tranny since it's extra weight...

thoughts?

and as a side note, I absolutely love this shifter - it feels more solid when shifting (especially combined with my super lower shifter)!

Stock weight of leather stitched shifter: 4.34 oz
Weight of MS weighted shifter: Over 16 oz... I don't have an exact weight

Honestly I doubt it would have any negative results other than a few ounces extra. I know the stock is like under 5 ounces or whatever but the MS is a pound so it's all about numbers and whether or not they will have any adverse effects but unlikely in a daily driver situation.

It you were to do world class auto-x or track racing or something like that then maybe people would opt out of it because of extra weight = reduced shift time because of the lag it would create but thats like 100th of a second or whatever but IMO I think it looks better than the OEM and the MS knob is a little bigger so it seems like it might be more comfortable to use.

I say roll with it =)

Isnt the extra weight actually supposed to be benificial as it makes shifting easier with a short shifter by giving you a bit more leverage or something of that nature?

Yes I believe it is beneifical for for leverage... but I'm wondering about extra wear and tear on the tranny...

thanks for the input so far - I'd really like to keep it but just trying to find out if there are any adverse affects

Honestly I doubt youll have any tranny wear unless you suddenly forget that you need to full engage a gear before letting out your clutch. After all Ive seen enough of those junk skull/whatchamacallits/boat anchors on peoples shifters from walmart and such that theyve used for years without wearing out the shifter joints, so I doubt that yours will at all.

When there's vertical force on the shifter such as your hand or the weight of a shift knob, I don't see how that can affect the transmission. It would probably just take more effort to shift. I actually like the feeling of a lighter shift knob more!

I've never liked the Jap shift knobs and just last week I was going to machine down my Hurst aluminum shifter from my 69 340 Dart Swinger because I considered the same thing. The weight kind of throws the shifter into the next gear. Personally I like the idea. How could the extra weight hurt anything?

Daninski wrote:I've never liked the Jap shift knobs and just last week I was going to machine down my Hurst aluminum shifter from my 69 340 Dart Swinger because I considered the same thing. The weight kind of throws the shifter into the next gear. Personally I like the idea. How could the extra weight hurt anything?

Lol thats why I like using my B&M t handle shifter actually, plus its a whole lot more comfortable to rest your hand on

Oh man the T handle,,I'm getting a chub just thinking about it.

uuh, sorry got carried away there for a minute.

Daninski wrote:Oh man the T handle,,I'm getting a chub just thinking about it.

uuh, sorry got carried away there for a minute.

JUst think you can click on the link and see pics just for you!

Just wondering... since you got a new knob, would you consider parting with your leather wrapped oem one?
Plz and thanks! =)

The weight of your hand does not wear the trans- it wears the rubber boot that holds the shifter to the car body. Remember the shift brackets to fix just that...
The extra weight is very helpful and should be a much better shift feel for you. I am loving those knobs- GreenTurd on the MOCA forum has a MS one and I LOVE IT. If he would turn his back for only a minute I would own one...

Sleeper6 wrote:

Daninski wrote:Oh man the T handle,,I'm getting a chub just thinking about it.

uuh, sorry got carried away there for a minute.

JUst think you can click on the link and see pics just for you!

Mine is just like that but with a felt finish. I wonder if I could fill the Hurst name with aluminum then engrave MazdaSpeed in it's place.