So I wish to replace my shifter cables. I have essentially 2 options. Goal being to eliminate slop and not have the cables break and leave me stranded.
Option 1)
Numeric cables
and shifter combo
$1200ish USD
Option 2)
Updated
Porsche
Cables
Updated
Porsche
bracket and Pivot lever
Function-First ball bearing retrofit kit
$1350 USD
Both are expensive and I am hoping to find someone who has tried both but I am not sure such a person exists. Thoughts?
I'll save you the backstory, but I've been through a zillion iterations of trying things with the 987 shifter. If I were doing it from scratch today this is what I'd suggest:
Numeric cables
Porsche OEM short shift assembly + Function First Shift Right kit
Stiffer rubber in the pivot lever (
Cayman Shifter Linkage Mod
)
If you have a 987.1, upgrade the linkage across the top of the transmission to solid ends (987.2 already has this)
Instead of #2 you could upgrade your current shifter with the Ben Auto Design 1.0 short shifter and side lever ($310 for both) but that does raise the knob up a little so I'd suggest the OEM SSK shifter with replaced plastic. YMMV on what you prefer, though.
The only downside to the Numeric cables is they can be noisy. You can eliminate this by using the silicone cable wraps and making sure you fully seal any openings in the grommet where the cables enter the passenger cabin. Also apply liberal amounts of Dynamat Xtreme to the internal surfaces of the center console and use some neoprene foam anywhere the cables touch the console or other parts like the reverse lever.
There you go: saved you a few years of trial and error, lol.
So that helps.
Option 3)
Numeric cables
.
Ben Auto Design 1.0 short shifter and side lever
Rubbing do-dads in pivot lever
$1000ish
How much higher does the Ben Auto lift it? Can the stock boot fit over it?
@gubi
Out of curiousity what did not like about the Numeric shifter?
Not much, maybe 15mm? The stock boot and knob fit fine.
I haven't tried the Numeric shifter, it just seems like overkill. With the Shift Right kit or the Ben Auto parts you can pretty much get all of the play out of the shift assembly. The only significant play remaining in my shifter is in the transmission inputs themselves.
To clarify, I've currently got the Ben Auto parts on the stock shifter and it's fine. Previously had the Shift Right kit on the stock shifter, but I wanted a shorter throw so I got he Ben Auto parts. In retrospect I think I'd be happier with the OEM short shifter and moving the Shift Right kit over to that, but except for the slightly higher height the Ben Auto parts work well.
Vortex, how long to you intend to own the car. If longer than a couple of years, I would highly suggest you go with
Numeric shifter
and cables. I love to shift, especially with the steel cables from
Numeric
. You can feel the syncro's engaging on each shift, especially the down shift into 1st at 20 mph with a little heal and toe to engine rpm match. I have had mine for 5 years without complaint and I engine brake all the time.
Quotes source post: 2186081
07 BS. I really appreciate this suggestion. I was thinking of upgrading to the OEM SSK, and replacing the plastic bits with the FF ball bearing retrofit, as you suggested. But then I noticed FF has SS retrofits, too:
SHIFT-RIGHT Solution: Ball Bearing Shifters
Why not just get the FF SS mod for my current OEM shifter for $490 and be done with it?
I mean, I haven't tried it, but that would probably work. The slightly short kit wasn't an option when I did the work on my car, I think.
Copy that. Too many choices.
The more I think about it, I think I want the distance of the throw and the bend of the shift lever to be designed by
Porsche
. Then I’ll replace their plastic bits with the metal ones from FF. More expensive, but I think the best bet for getting the feel just right. I don’t know why
Porsche
doesn’t just make a
GT3
SSK. Thanks for the input, Gubi!
