manual transmission: to mod or not to mod? - Toyota Yaris Forums

*tomato* · 03-06-2009, 01:29 PM

So I got this cute little Yaris LB, 2007, 5 speed, about a month ago at a Toyota dealership. The car is in great condition, got a good deal on it, overall I'm pretty happy about it.

The only thing I'm still uneasy with is that clutch

. I've posted about that in this forum before, and I can tell by the answers I got back and by looking at the old threads that it's a common complaint with these cars.

My question to those of you with a manual transmission is this:

How many of you drive the stock clutch?
How many did the SSK mod?
If you did the SSK mod, did it make a huge difference?
What did you get, how much was it?

Thank you for responding to my previous questions about the car, BTW, you guys are great!!

eTiMaGo · 03-06-2009, 01:35 PM

stock clutch (you'll get used to it)
guilty as charged
Big difference in shifting feel, plus it's a shorter rod too so it look better in the cabin
Got a TWM short shifter, it was some time ago, $100ish maybe before shipping charges? NST's wasn't available at the time.

cali yaris · 03-06-2009, 01:45 PM

Just to be clear, the SSK does not have anything to do with the clutch itself, the clutch pedal or clutch feel (how the motor engages with the transmission).

It does shorten the throw of the shifter itself -- and it's absolutely one of the best "bang for the buck" mods you can do to the car. So, if the SHIFTER feels sloppy, the SSK will help fix that.

http://shop.microimageonline.com/pro...=2&productId=3

jkuchta · 03-06-2009, 01:53 PM

I have both NST SSK's and have changed the trans fluid to Redline MT-90, and all I can say is that the transmission and shifting is a whole world different...in a very good way.

1NZYaris1 · 03-06-2009, 03:49 PM

I installed the SSK-2 incabin short shifter + S/S cage bushes

,
big differance in the gear changes (feel of ) . Great mod
Bought them from Garm at Microimage.

*tomato* · 03-06-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali yaris

Just to be clear, the SSK does not have anything to do with the clutch itself, the clutch pedal or clutch feel (how the motor engages with the transmission).

It does shorten the throw of the shifter itself -- and it's absolutely one of the best "bang for the buck" mods you can do to the car. So, if the SHIFTER feels sloppy, the SSK will help fix that.

http://shop.microimageonline.com/pro...=2&productId=3

OK. Looks like I have some reading to do to really understand what you're saying to me

I appreciate the answers though, I'm learning a lot. Now that I figured out that I have to give the car a little bit more gas when I shift gears than I do in other cars like my old CRX 5 speed, it's better already. Just want to get to the point where driving the car becomes fun, second-nature.

Thanks all!

ImportRacer88 · 03-06-2009, 06:53 PM

Sotck clutch, and a homemade ssk,

cali yaris · 03-06-2009, 06:56 PM

^

Stock clutch, a homemade ssk, and a pool.

*tomato* · 03-06-2009, 07:16 PM

*tk-421* · 03-06-2009, 07:40 PM

As cali very correctly pointed out, the SSK has nothing to do with the clutch.
You should get an SSK nonetheless. It's one of those accessories that should have come stock IMO.

*tomato* · 03-06-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk-421

As cali very correctly pointed out, the SSK has nothing to do with the clutch.

My bad. I don't know any better.

To be honest, most of the terminology I see on this forum is completely new to me.... so sorry if I said something stupid, here!

I meant the whole shifting process is stiff, counter-intuitive (especially in low gears - the first is the worse! - and in reverse) and I want to figure out a way to get over that hurdle sooner rather than later

I looked stuff up online, and if I understand your answers correctly, it seems that my problem is with the shifter mostly. Looks like I'm getting used to the clutch by now.

But I wonder if someone could explain (in simple words, please, I'm no mechanic!!!

) how the SSK makes it better.

Thanks

jkuchta · 03-06-2009, 10:51 PM

The SSK shortens the throw of the shifter (makes the yaris shifter feel more like a car stick shift, as opposed to a truck stick shift). The combination of the Shifter bushings that NST makes, in addition to one or both of their SSK's, eliminates pretty much all of the mushyness of the shifting experiance.

As for the transmission's reluctance to shift (i.e. tough to get in first, third, and reverse) a lot of us here (me included) changed out the stock trans fluid for a better fluid (in my case Redline MT-90). The improvement in shifting is pretty amazing...so much so that I'd say it should be the first mod you do (cost about $25 and takes about an hour in the driveway).

Altitude · 03-07-2009, 02:13 AM

The clutch action is admittedly something to get accustomed to, but it's not tragic in IMHO. I've driven MT's all my life and this one wasn't that hard to learn.

The worst part is getting off the line, after that no problemo. It'll become second nature if you let it.

eTiMaGo · 03-07-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomato

My bad. I don't know any better.

To be honest, most of the terminology I see on this forum is completely new to me.... so sorry if I said something stupid, here!

I meant the whole shifting process is stiff, counter-intuitive (especially in low gears - the first is the worse! - and in reverse) and I want to figure out a way to get over that hurdle sooner rather than later

I looked stuff up online, and if I understand your answers correctly, it seems that my problem is with the shifter mostly. Looks like I'm getting used to the clutch by now.

But I wonder if someone could explain (in simple words, please, I'm no mechanic!!!

) how the SSK makes it better.

Thanks

From the sound of it, you found the trick to the clutch: give a lil more gas than usual when shifting, and release the clutch pedal gently (especially from a stop). So that covers your footwork.

The SSK's and other transmission mods affect your armwork: You'll have to push the gear lever a shorter distance to change gears (so you can change them faster), and the lever will feel much more solid and direct with the various bushings. It's hard to explain in words, but these basically help you shift faster and with a better feeling.

eTiMaGo · 03-07-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImportRacer88

Sotck clutch, and a homemade ssk,

I would not want to park this car while drunk... splash!

NonStopTuning · 03-07-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomato

But I wonder if someone could explain (in simple words, please, I'm no mechanic!!!

) how the SSK makes it better.

Thanks

The following thread would be a good place to read tons of user reviews and comments regarding the NST SSK options...

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...&highlight=nst

Good luck and have fun with your project!

Tamago · 03-07-2009, 07:24 AM

are yaris owners REALLY banging thru the gears like that?

eTiMaGo · 03-07-2009, 08:55 AM

oh I sure do

View Poll Results: Should I get the SSK to make the clutch more user friendly?
Absolutely worth the expense, makes a big difference	14	46.67%
No, you'll get used to stock clutch, not worth it	11	36.67%
No, it will void your warranty	2	6.67%
What's a clutch?	4	13.33%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

03-06-2009, 01:29 PM	#1
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155	manual transmission: to mod or not to mod? So I got this cute little Yaris LB, 2007, 5 speed, about a month ago at a Toyota dealership. The car is in great condition, got a good deal on it, overall I'm pretty happy about it. The only thing I'm still uneasy with is that clutch . I've posted about that in this forum before, and I can tell by the answers I got back and by looking at the old threads that it's a common complaint with these cars. My question to those of you with a manual transmission is this: How many of you drive the stock clutch? How many did the SSK mod? If you did the SSK mod, did it make a huge difference? What did you get, how much was it? Thank you for responding to my previous questions about the car, BTW, you guys are great!!

03-06-2009, 01:35 PM	#2
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	stock clutch (you'll get used to it) guilty as charged Big difference in shifting feel, plus it's a shorter rod too so it look better in the cabin Got a TWM short shifter, it was some time ago, $100ish maybe before shipping charges? NST's wasn't available at the time. __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

03-06-2009, 01:45 PM	#3
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	Just to be clear, the SSK does not have anything to do with the clutch itself, the clutch pedal or clutch feel (how the motor engages with the transmission). It does shorten the throw of the shifter itself -- and it's absolutely one of the best "bang for the buck" mods you can do to the car. So, if the SHIFTER feels sloppy, the SSK will help fix that. http://shop.microimageonline.com/pro...=2&productId=3 __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

03-06-2009, 03:49 PM	#5
1NZYaris1 View User's Garage Drives: Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,566	I installed the SSK-2 incabin short shifter + S/S cage bushes , big differance in the gear changes (feel of ) . Great mod Bought them from Garm at Microimage. __________________ http://www.microimageonline.com/forums/index.php

03-06-2009, 01:53 PM	#4
jkuchta View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris hatch (red) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 557	I have both NST SSK's and have changed the trans fluid to Redline MT-90, and all I can say is that the transmission and shifting is a whole world different...in a very good way.

03-06-2009, 06:53 PM	#7
ImportRacer88 View User's Garage Drives: 4dr Sedan s Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Meshoppen, Pa 18630 Posts: 86	Sotck clutch, and a homemade ssk, __________________

03-06-2009, 06:56 PM	#8
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	^ Stock clutch, a homemade ssk, and a pool. __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

03-06-2009, 07:16 PM	#9
tomato Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: Yaris 2DR LB 07, MT, Abs. Red Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 5,155

03-06-2009, 07:40 PM	#10
tk-421 Super Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 5D-07-LB Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dagobah Posts: 4,263	As cali very correctly pointed out, the SSK has nothing to do with the clutch. You should get an SSK nonetheless. It's one of those accessories that should have come stock IMO. __________________ --[ FORUM RULES ]--[ SEARCHING TIPS ]--[ EYELIDS PICS ]--[ RBK SPOILER ]--[ BEST/WORST INVESTMENTS ]--

03-06-2009, 10:51 PM	#12
jkuchta View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris hatch (red) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 557	The SSK shortens the throw of the shifter (makes the yaris shifter feel more like a car stick shift, as opposed to a truck stick shift). The combination of the Shifter bushings that NST makes, in addition to one or both of their SSK's, eliminates pretty much all of the mushyness of the shifting experiance. As for the transmission's reluctance to shift (i.e. tough to get in first, third, and reverse) a lot of us here (me included) changed out the stock trans fluid for a better fluid (in my case Redline MT-90). The improvement in shifting is pretty amazing...so much so that I'd say it should be the first mod you do (cost about $25 and takes about an hour in the driveway).

03-07-2009, 02:13 AM	#13
Altitude Drives: '08 LB MT Bayou Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,671	The clutch action is admittedly something to get accustomed to, but it's not tragic in IMHO. I've driven MT's all my life and this one wasn't that hard to learn. The worst part is getting off the line, after that no problemo. It'll become second nature if you let it.

03-07-2009, 08:55 AM	#18
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	oh I sure do __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

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