Manual Shifter Upgrades

I bought my 2023 TRD Sport specifically for the manual 6-speed. My two upgrades have both improved the shifting experience.





The first phase was installing an OEM TRD knob ($58) with a Dobbs Hardware trim cover ($20) to secure the boot. The knob is big and fits my hand better than the OEM or other ball knobs I looked at. The feel was better than stock.

I looked into aftermarket shifters and decided on the B&M 45204 Sportshifter ($297). I could have installed it myself, but for the time and effort, had the local Toyota dealer install it for $143.





NOTE: All measurements taken with shifter fully into gates, not where it rests while in gear.

What a difference! The gates are tight and throws are less. The overall feel is much more satisfying than the OEM setup. As a manual fan, I'm very satisfied with the results.

 

I thought I was reaching for the stick shifter so I made these

 

I went the URD short shifter route along with accumator delete.

 

Oh that's nice. I like that it retains a rubber injected shaft to keep trans noise out of the cabin.

 

What's your impressions on the accumulator mod? What feels different? Did you do it yourself? Worth the effort?

 

Are you not able to use OEM threaded knob with that shifter? I know a lot of the other aftermarket ones require an adapter to use the OEM threads. I’ve got the TRD pro shift knob and would love to keep it without having to use an adapter

 

The B&M shifter is larger diameter than the stock shifter. Not sure of the thread size, but larger than the TRD knob 12x1.25; too small to fit. I haven't figured a way to adapt it short of re-drilling to the larger size.
I did like the size and weight of the TRD knob so will sell it and the boot adapter. FYI, the B&M is 2.11"/53.5mm diameter and good heft; about a 1/4 inch smaller than the TRD, so not a big difference. I got used to the B&M ball first drive.
Nothing better than an old-school ball and a stout shifter with well defined gates.

 

I think there is value to to the accumator if you are new to manuals. I think Toyota realized it's more enthusiasts buying them and that's why it didn't carry over to the 4th gens. It wasn't that hard to do and I did it at the same time as the short shifter.

 

Very nice looking product, my wallet is cramping in anticipation...

Questions:
1) Is the B&M shifter taller, shorter or the same height as the factory one?

2) Does the B&M transmit any additional noise into the cab?

 

I’m not the guy who you replied to, but I drove a truck with the accumulator deleted back to back with my truck which doesn’t have its accumulator deleted.

You get more clutch feel. That’s basically it.

 

1) Not the guy you quoted but I have driven a B&M 3rd gen a few times and it seems roughly the same location, maybe a bit shorter? Whatever it was it didn’t stand out to me as being noticeably further away or anything.

2) I didn’t notice any additional noise at all.

That guy did get a faulty one originally and it was pretty crappy to drive. I think the bushing on the end was bad or something. I’m not really sure but there were a few of those failures. They appear to be fixed now, his new one shifts great. Only reason I don’t run one is because the short throw just doesn’t really jive to my preferences. His felt good though.

I think it looks better than the Core alternative.

And FWIW, he runs the same Motorcraft fluid as you.

 

The OEM shifter is 17" overall length while the B&M is an inch shorter at 16" overall. I haven't noticed any more noise from the transmission area than before the install. As I get used to the feel, liking it better and better!

 

Thank you for the info.

 

Did B&M shifter and Billetworkz shift knob. Very happy. Biggest benefit is that is much harder to accidentally go into reverse.

 

I did the urd shifter and I did the accumulator delete disk. Love the shorter shifts, and love that it's a tiny bit harder to accidentally go into reverse