Rod or Cable shifter?

[SHOstuff]

What's better...a rod shifter or a cable shifter and why? I just recently looked under my car and noticed that my car has a rod shifter. I assume the last owner did this upgrade. Whould this explain me grinding into 2nd? And why would he do that?

 

[lowc]

imo the rod is better dont think it would cause grinding unless the bushing are junk but i think that would cause more of an issue with getting it into any gear

 

[Shoaz]

Consistent grinding into a single gear is far more likely to be a worn synchro for that gear than a problem with the shifter.

Or driver error.

 

[SHOstuff]

Consistent grinding into a single gear is far more likely to be a worn synchro for that gear than a problem with the shifter.

Or driver error.

Lmao.... Ok Sho ur az.....lol

 

[SHOstuff]

I'm just kiddin Shoaz. But why is the rod shifter preferred over the cable?

 

[lowc]

dont have to worry about cable stretch or snaping and most of the repairs to rod shifter is a bushing or a little welding

 

[sperold]

Beats me why one is preferred over the other.
I have both, and when they are in good repair, both work well.
I prefer the cable shifter myself, it seems to have a lighter feel. I bought new cables and it was terribly expensive at the time, but you can't argue with the results.
The rod shifter has the image of a rugged, manly mechanism that has no play or problems. The cable shifter has the image of streached cables and poor tune generally. Both images are wrong.
Both work well when adjusted properly.

 

[SHOstuff]

oh ok. thanks for the info y'all.

 

[shobote]

The cables for the shifter won't stretch, the plastic bushings on the end tend to break, which can be repaired cheaply. Some folks replaced the cable shifter with the rod, which is not a direct bolt in, and needs a bent exhaust resonator piece instead of straight through like stock early Gen I had. I like the cable instead, upgraded to the STS short throw cable shifter, has quicker shifts and lighter feel than the rod shifter; also weighs 15 lbs less.