saved for technical info's

Thread Pitch:
Auto M10 x 1.25
Manual M12 x 1.25

SF Model Auto's with the "T" handle shifter will not accept standard shift knobs.

 

Fitted an STI Duracon (shiny plastic?) knob to mine. The standard one is leather covered, which gave too much grip: quite long movements on the 6MT, your hand needs to rotate round the knob as you shift, so shiny is better. Found I made much better shifts with it.

And of course it makes the car faster - it's lighter!

 

Manual transmissions use M12x1.25 (same as the lug nuts)
Automatic transmissions use M10x1.25

 

I knew there was a difference and I knew you knew what it was, I was just unable to find it quickly (and my laziness/ADD kicked in while I was searching)

Thanks I will update the second post. Did the thread pitch ever change across any of the model years? ie is a 99 auto the same as a 09 auto?

 

I have had in previous cars, stainless steel, aluminum, and rubber knobs. The metal ones get really, really cold and stay that way in winter, which gets old in a big, fat hurry. The metal ones also retain heat like a mother in summer. The stainless knob I had i took to covering with a glove in the summer to keep from getting the shift pattern tatooed into my palm. I currently have a Delrin knob in the Fozzie and love it to death! I wish I had known about the stuff for shift knobs ten years ago. I personally have always like the simple medium diameter round ball style knobs, they just feel right in the hand IMHO.

 

Good info about the hot and cold knobs.

One complaint I have heard with the delrin knobs is that the material is too soft for the threads. This can be remedied by making the threads larger and inserting a helicoil insert though. Personally I used to work in a machine shop that used a lot of Delrin for the food service industry (it does not hold bacteria like Nylon) and I believe a Delrin knob would be strong enough for the average Joe without the helicoil insert. With it they are just fine. That being said I would not put one in a race car that will see a lot of abuse.

I am curious about the Flossy brand knob as they have a powder coating on them that is supposed to reduce heat... I need to find out more about this though.

 

In my experience with the Subaru 5mts weight counts. Delrin feels nice and has desirable thermal properties but its really light. The STI 5spd knob is great I have one and I recommend them to anyone (good weight, steel with leather banding for hot/cold touch-ability, Subaru part, shift pattern engraved) the one catch is there bloody expensive. Also if you have a short shifter installed the counter weighted knob really helps with the shift rhythm. Cheers.

JW

 

My delrin knob is pretty light, you make an excellent point there. I do miss the weight of the steel knob I had in my Honda, but the trouble I'm having with the shifter in the Subie is shortly going to be remedied with new Kartboy bushings and shifter stay.

 

If your going to use the kartboy shifter then the heavy knob really makes a difference as the Kartboy lever does not have the same vibration isolation setup as the factory lever and the weight seems to quiet things a bit. Also I think the factory short shift kit is a better leverage match for the 5mt. The Kartboy is a little short and notchy for my taste. I've used both (SPT short throw on my '05 legacy GT Wag. and the Kartboy w/ bushings on my '07 forester XT). Also you can "rip shifts" quicker with the Kartboy which is than the SPT linkage which is a bit of liability if you've got the power turned up a bunch. Also the Kartboy bushing have been great so far. Final point. Match knob weight to the leverage ratio of the transition shift linkage and you'll be most pleased. In general shorter stiffer throw-->more weight. Longer softer throw-->less weight. It better to err on the side of to much weight (with in reason).

JW

 

Great info guys. This is what I was going for. Keep it up.

 

I have the Kartboy short shifter with Kartboy Stainless knob, and boy does it get cold in the winter. That being said it's an amazing transition from the stock setup, I'd definitely recommend a heavier knob with a short throw shifter.

 

I'll throw this image in here.....

kartboy knob on left prodrive on right


forgot about the subaru momo AT knob

 

i think my knob really is the best of both worlds. its the delron on the top so you have the nice thermal properties of that, but it is on a stainless steel insert that has the threads in it. so you have strength and weight from the steel. plus WCLathewerks (the company who makes them) does custom engraving so I got my family crest engraved onto the shifter. I personally prefer the piston style shifter just because i rarely hold the shifter from the top, but I usually hold it from the side. either way WCLathewerks has tons of different style knobs and materials.

here is a thread from that other place about these knobs: Shift knobs! Super-Heavy, Customizable, Copolymer, Engravings & More! - NASIOC

here is a pic of mine:

 

Any of the 4EAT with slotted gates can mount different shift knobs,
I had BAC5.2's #10 pool ball on our 08 but my wife wasn't a fan.

The 98 has a button so it has to stay stock.

The best one I've had was a Kamei Golfball on my mk2 jetta;
It fit my hand just right, didn't get too cold or too hot, was grippy and soft to the touch..
12x1.5 though :icon_frown:

 

I had that same shift knob on 5 of my old VWs. I kept moving it to all of my cars - loved that thing!

 

Just purchased a 12 x 1.25 tap and a Green Bay Packers billiard ball - we'll see how well the threads cut and if it will make a secure fit - pics to come.

 

12M X 1.25 tap worked very well. Snug, looks and feels great!

 

I just purchased this shift knob at an Atlanta novelty shop:

The hole is 9/16" across and about an inch deep, and it's unthreaded.

Any suggestions for making it work on my 2010 Foz with 5-speed manual? It appears to be made of some kind of resin-based material. Is the opening too big to be tapped (assuming you CAN tap this kind of material)?

I bought this because I can't think of anything more hilarious in an otherwise boring, stock dark gray Forester.