Manual 6-speed TRD Quickshifter review, install tips, and a couple of questions...

Hi folks,

(Install) I put a TRD quickshifter into my '14 TRD OR this evening with minimal issues. Getting the new shaft spring-locked back into place took a few carefully aimed phrases from my sailing days, and I tried to put the sheetmetal screws into the rear console instead of the internal boot bracket, but otherwise it was a relatively uneventful hour-ish long job, not counting the tool hunting and whatnot.

Tip 1: put a drop cloth down over you brand-new seats or you'll be looking for solvents that will *SAFELY* remove FIPG (form in place gasket) off of your brand-new seats. Don't ask me how I know. Also, suggestions on how to clean that **** off are most welcome. It's actually just a few streaks, but still...grrr...

Tip 2: Ace hardware sells plastic razor blades and holders that make super-quick work out of the old gasket. They also sell 70% isopropanol. I prefer the 100% for use in chemical and electronic applications, but 70% works fine to finish cleaning the rest of the gasket completely off.

(Review) First, I've driven standards most of my life. While I have learned to point cars with an automatic transmission, and will do so grudgingly if I have to, I still prefer mt's. I learned on an '84 F-150 with a 3-on-the-tree and have owned 5-speeds in flavors including an S-10, Rodeo (don't ask), a Fusion, a Maxima, and have driven friends' F-150 and Isuzu pickups.

My Tacoma's mt is...clunky. I'm hoping that sorts out a little as the wear sets in, but I don't think it's going to change that much. The original shifter felt pretty sticky (maybe mushy is the right word?), and the throws are longer than you expect for a "compact" pickup. You figure that out when you test drive it though, and if you want a manual Tacoma TRD...well, there aren't many other choices.

The quickshifter has muchly improved throw lengths (well, duh...that's what it's there for), but it still feels pretty clunky. I was expecting it to be a bit more...slick I guess is the word I'm looking for. None of the other mt's I've driven have required so much pressure (granted, I'm not feeling like I'm "forcing" it) to get into gear. Maybe I'm spoiled from when I drove my ex's Fusion. You barely had to apply pressure to get it into gear, with the occasional double-stomp on the clutch to sync into reverse on a cold day.

So, I'm sort of wondering if anyone else has found the TRD shifter to make it less "hard shifting". I understand that reverse--being spring loaded and giving up some leverage--needs a bit more elbow grease. Still, I had expected moving through the gears to be a bit more improved as far as the effort, in addition to the overall reduction in throw.

Are there any points on the new shifter that may need grease applied? Anything at all I can/should do to make the shifter feel a bit more loosey-goosey?

Anyhow, that's my first real "mod" besides the new tires and weather techmats to replace the factory saran wrap.

 

the stock throws on the 2nd gen is night and day shorter than what i had on my 92 pickup which was a compact truck and not a midsize like the 2nd gen tacoma.

for a little smoother shifting, get some redline mt90 and put in place of the factory fluid.

mainly tho, these 6spds are very clunky and not a whole lot can be done to make it better. its a truck and not a sports car. your not going to be able to bang threw the gears with out clunkyness or grinding. its just the way these tranny's are.

 

I'll probably give that a go. Any idea if it voids the warranty?

 

shouldnt, its just fluid

 

I've been thinking about this mod, where did you buy the parts from? any pictures from your install?

 

Is there a diffrence between the URD and the TRD shifter. I hear good things on URD shifter.

 

Be prepared too have the clutch pedal, and clutch master cylinder replaced, due to it squeaking. Seems to be a common problem. Unless they fixed the issue at the factory. Had mine done at 8,000 miles. So far so good I'm a little over 15k now. I have not changed the fluid and the clunkiness has got a little better.

Steve

 

I had a coupon the stealership they sent me after I bought the new Taco, so I bought there. $340 out the door, which was a little pricey.

I didn't think to take pictures during the process.

TRD shifter is $$$ (I paid $340 at the dealership with a coupon) and replaces the entire shift lever and adds a spacer. URD uses the original shift lever and adds an extension knob + spacer. In terms of absolute reliability, I prefer personally prefer not adding more parts, but folks have said mostly good things about both of them.

References provided by other people, TRD first and URD second

http://www.xr-underground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2568

http://urdusa.com/Short-Throw-Shifters-URD-Short-Throw-Shifters/c106_73/p1230100023/URD-Short-Throw-Shifter-05%27+-Tacoma-4.0/product_info.html

 

"for a little smoother shifting, get some redline mt90 and put in place of the factory fluid."

Hi Ryan,
Did you use Redline mt-90 gl4 or ??

 

My quickshifter feels better now a few months later than when I first installed it. It is quite smooth now and worlds better than the stock shifter.

 

Hi Luke,
I just bought a 2014 Taco TRD OR and I'm having the dealer install the TRD quickshifter. I'm a little leery about it, they have very little experience with this. Did you do anything special with the install, like use brass shifter cable bushings or use Redline MT90 gl4(?) or ??

I think I'm going to buy some Redline MT90...I just haven't figured out the GL number that's recommended. I'll probably just go to the auto parts store near me and ask them. Then give it to the dealer and ask them to use it on MY truck

Any info is appreciated because I would like this to be done right.

Thanks

 

my TRD shortshift was tight when new, and now its so loose im tempted to go in there and see if the dealership techs screwed up the install.

at any rate, with 40,000km on the truck & shifter, the transmission shifts alot better than when new. when it was new it was so chunky I was worried, but now its actually pretty slick.

the clutch itself is a bit of a bitch on cold/wet mornings though.....

 

GL-4 is better for manual transmissions. Redline MT90 is GL-4, so is Amsoil synthetic

$28 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 manual transmission fluid.

 

About 2K miles in, the short shifter is starting to feel a little bit more "slippery" like it should and a little less "lever-y".

Don't regret buying it, but R is still a bit of a bear...may put an extender and weighted knob on the end.

Also, I haven't put the Redline MT90 in yet, but will make a point to do that in the next few weeks. Will update at that point.

edit: Thanks again for the input on this thread. I never expected it to shift like a car, but I am in pursuit of at least the shifting experience of my buddy's Isuzu circa 1992, lol.

 

Good to hear. I also have the grey TRD weighted knob. Its huge and made people laugh a little, but i really like it

Reverse will loosen up alot over time as well.

TRD knob was under $40 on ebay.

 

Just a follow-up, I went to look at the quickshifter their installing. The 2014 Tacoma does not have a shifter cable or sc bushings. The thread I read had to have been on an older Tacoma.

I did give them some Redline MT-90 to put in the transmission though. I hope they do it.

Picking up my new truck tomorrow!!!

 

sub'd hey OP, did you use a chassis punch to get to those slightly blocked screw heads??, i received this TRD quickshifter for my 2012 as a christmas gift this year and im kinda hesitant to install it myself after reading the directions... it seems more complicated than it looks.. idk..

 

Sub'd

 

I don't remember using anything more special on the tool list than a metric socket set and a screwdriver. I highly recommend some plastic razor blades and 70% (or higher) isopropanol for removing the old FIP gasket.

The instructions suggest a locking set of pliers (can't remember exactly what their called) to help guide the spring-loaded shaft back into place, but I couldn't get them to work right so I just beat my thumb up a little to finally get it locked down. It was a little bit of PITA (was starting to get dark, besides) but I finally got it to click.

Otherwise, pretty easy and uneventful install.

Edit--definitely no on the chassis punch. Not sure when they did it, but they must have changed up the placement on the screws because they were all easy to get to.

 

Ok cool, sounds good, thanks so much for the response