Description
This is the way to improve the feel of your 1997-2012 Porsche 911 / Cayman / Boxster!
Here it is!! Ben’s Short Shifter is unlike any other short shifter on the market: Fitted with ball bearings, it will eliminate all the play you may have in your old shifter. The precision of the ball bearings will give you a “rifle bolt” feeling on every shift.
Tried and true, this is the ultimate shifter upgrade at any price but it just so happens that this one is affordably priced !
Here is the installation video:
Installation instructions:
- Remove cable ends from the shift lever using a large flat blade screwdriver to pry them off.
- Using a hammer and a chisel or screwdriver break off the white plastic mounting tabs for the stock shifter lever bushings on both ends. Be careful and wear proper eye protection as this little suckers go flying! (the black housing is very strong, made from Nylon filled plastic.)
- Pull out the stock shift lever.
- Now is a great time to install the Ben Auto Design side lever kit if you purchased it as well. 😉
- Press the bearings onto the lever, 2 per side if not already present.
- Have the housing in front of you with the side lever on the left side. Insert the new shift lever, rear end first into the housing.
- Insert the spacer washer in one of the screw caps. Hold the housing up vertically and insert the cup (with washer inside) through the hole in the housing and onto the lever so that the bearings slide in. (Note the location of the locating notch on the black housing and orient the cups to match.)
- Repeat for the other side.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the screw caps so that you can press the caps in fully.
- Push the caps in so that you can insert the cir-clips in from to top to hold them in.
- Adjust the black threaded screws on the screw caps to position the new shift lever approximately centered in the housing. (Note: it does not need to be perfectly centered.)
- Use a 19mm box end wrench to hold the locknut, then insert a (6mm allen wrench into the black threaded screw and tighten FINGER TIGHT ONLY! Any more than finger tight and the shift lever will be difficult to move!
- At this point move the lever around to make sure that it rotates freely in all directions.
- Install into your car and enjoy your fantastically upgraded shifting experience! 🙂
**NOTE: On a small percentage of the shifter housings, you may need to file out the housing so that the new cups can slide in. Porsche had changed the diameter of the cups and the Ben Auto Design cups WILL NOT FIT without making the holes in the housing larger with a file. After making them larger the new cups should slide in easily.
Video from PCA detailing how to remove all of the plastic trim to install your new short shift kit:
Tyler K. (verified owner) –
Great build quality!
quyen (verified owner) –
Make tremendous shifter throw reduction. Make sure to install the washer for proper locking and security.
James K. (verified owner) –
jon b. (verified owner) –
Cody S. (verified owner) –
Solid quality and value.
Thomas Willis (verified owner) –
Quality appearing product
Michael B. (verified owner) –
Looks good, can’t wait to install it!
Allen (verified owner) –
Craig M. (verified owner) –
Awesome product
Dino Salaka (verified owner) –
Mary S. (verified owner) –
Johnny H. (verified owner) –
When comparing with my stock shifter (2008 turbo) the profile of the top edge where it insert into the shifter knob is different. On the stock one it’s narrower profile and I think the extra thickness of aftermarket shifter cause the knob/boot not be able to insert all the way and so I had a really hard time to turn the nut in the base of the knob to lock the knob/boot into position. I took a deemed and file down the top side of the shifter rod to mimic the profile of the stock one and was finally able to lock the shift knob/boot in place. Other than that all is good
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Directions could be clearer. The printed directions helped where the video was not clear but step by step photos with the printed directions might be more helpful.
TOM (verified owner) –
Shift feel has much more positive engagement and noticeably shorter throws than a stock 996 shifter.
kenneth wiedel III (verified owner) –
Absolutely love the shifter, transforms the experience of driving my 996!
Heinz M. (verified owner) –
David M. (verified owner) –
As described. Very solid workmanship, easy installation. Only suggestion, provide some instructions or a link to some form of guidance.
chris (store manager) –
Thank you David, detailed instructions are in the product listing along with an installation video. It’s all right in the webshop. 😉 https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/product/bens-porsche-996-986-short-shifter/
Evan P. (verified owner) –
High quality product, feels extremely smooth even without dialing in the cable adjustments perfect. Had an eBay short shifter before and this easily blows it away, worth every penny.
Dennis (verified owner) –
Priced right
Jason (verified owner) –
Would give a 5 if had a diagram or printed directions even an updated video.
chris (store manager) –
Installation instructions are right in the product description, along with a video, in the listing in the webshop. 😉
Tristen Fletcher (verified owner) –
I had a cheap ebay short shifter which decreased the throws but was very notchy. I installed Bens short shifter and it is awesome. Very smooth and precise. I flipped the main shift arm as I like the shifter a bit closer to me. Love it! Thanks!
owen (verified owner) –
Excellent. Easy install.
Ron Martinez (verified owner) –
Haven’t installed my new shifter kit yet, but the product quality looks great as advertised and it was delivered very quickly with excellent packaging. Look forward to getting it installed!
Jeremiah S. (verified owner) –
A fantastic product that seems really well made and priced very reasonably.
Wallace Sparks (verified owner) –
Great quality I’ve been waiting awhile for him to develop the new 2.0 a very good shifter it’s A+
Tyler (verified owner) –
Haven’t installed it yet, but feels good and high-quality.
Kevin Polley (verified owner) –
Kevin Johnson (verified owner) –
Adam M. (verified owner) –
Amazing improvement in my 986. The old bushings were trashed, and the shifter was beyond loose. The short shifter was like night and day.
R John K. (verified owner) –
Mark H. (verified owner) –
Bob H. (verified owner) –
Very pleased with the purchase for my 2003 911 (996). Excellent design and craftsmanship at a great price point. Eliminates the factory plastic and creates a nice crisp shift. A little stiff at first but after a few days of “break in” shifting it feels perfect. Make sure you order the BED Shifter Side Lever to complete the upgrade and get the maximum performance. Install is not difficult at all.
Mark S. (verified owner) –
This is really well engineered piece of hardware. Straightforward to install and a great improvement for a track focused car.
Chris V. (verified owner) –
Transformed the shifting of my boxter. OE shifter was worn out and now shifts like a Porsche should.
David L. (verified owner) –
A 4 for anticipation, hoping for a 5, It will be a few months before we install but looking forward to it.
Stacy L. (verified owner) –
Very well-made, short shifter and works GREAT!
Darren Stark (verified owner) –
Aaron (verified owner) –
Joseph J. (verified owner) –
Ordered the Ben Auto Design Porsche Short Shifter
and Shifter Side Lever Upgrade, parts came quickly and the quality looks amazing, will be a shame to hide them under the shift boot. Look forward to installing them and providing additional feedback then.
Dyllan (verified owner) –
I installed this and the upgraded shifter side lever at the same time. My old shifter was loose and sloppy from 94k and 22 years of use. Now it’s the best one I’ve ever used.
Alonzo Williams (verified owner) –
Jacek F. (verified owner) –
Very similar to cheaper ebay/amazon shifters with the addition of bearings on the two shaft ends. The shifter is notably taller than stock which takes getting used to, I personally prefer the shorter height but will try to get used to this one.
Gerry (verified owner) –
Simon Llanos (verified owner) –
William Oliver (verified owner) –
Very high quality shifter, make the shift feel 10x better and getting the lever with the short shifter is a must. It eliminates all of the play! 10/10
Anthony F. (verified owner) –
Tanner Cook (verified owner) –
Tom Ulsas (verified owner) –
Unreal the difference from stock shifter. Extremely pleased.