RzR Shifter

The way to radically improve
your driving experience for
your 90s and 2000s Toyota cars

Why

The main reason for this project was to radically improve the precision of the shifter. The idea was to get a mechanical feel instead of the rubbery and loosed sensation of the OEM lever. By rigidising the structure, hard mounting it to the chassis and using things like precision spherical bearings, the goal was achieved.

But what if…? “10 centimetres higher to have the knob closer to the steering wheel” “industrial looking but with a premium finishing” “adjustable” …

So here we are, where all these things have been combined to improve your driving experience!

Construction Description

The main structure of the shifter is made of a 2mm stainless steel sheet that is accurately cut using a CNC laser that allows for an exact bending. The sheet is TIG welded to obtain full strength and beautiful weld beads. The stick is made of a 12mm stainless steel rod and with the top tip threaded to allow you to use the OEM Toyota knob or an aftermarket one that has a thread of M12 x 1.25 (One made of carbon fiber and aluminium is included with the purchase). To finish, the shifter is completed with anodized aluminium parts that hold the bearing and bushings for the mechanism.

Materials:

– Stainless steel 304L brushed finish sheet (CNC laser cut)
– Anodized 6061 aluminium (CNC milled)
– Stainless steel 304L rod (CNC lathed)
– Spherical plain bearings made of steel/PTFE
– Oil-filled sintered bronze bush (minimum 18% oil)
– Stainless steel 302 spring (Handcrafted)
– Stainless steel hardware

All the pieces were chosen to make a shifter that doesn’t require maintenance.

Operating characteristincs

The shifter is 10cm higher than the stock, so it will be closer to the steering wheel for fast shifting.
– The adjustability gives you the opportunity to adapt the shifter to your driving style.
– The shifting sensation is very precise and solid due to the chosen materials and the way that it has been designed.
It is very important that —if you haven’t done it yet— you install a “shifter bushing kit” that goes on the gearbox side of the shift cables to take full advantage of the RzR Shifter precision. (not included with the purchase)

Adjustability

You can shorten the distance between gears to get faster shifting by adjusting the longitudinal and transversal throw. You decide how much and adjust it yourself.

Adjusting the longitudinal throw means that the distance that your hand has to travel from the 1°(3º or 5º) gear to the 2°(4º or 6º) gear can be adjusted from OEM distance to almost half of that length.

Transversal adjustability is the same thing, but with the lateral distance. (Note: if the lateral distance is adjusted shorter, the shifter needs more force to be moved by the driver. Especially good to avoid getting in the path to the reverse gear of the C56, C60, C64.. gearbox)

Important things to have in mind

Most of the people that have the RzR Shifter use the car for motorsport purposes. They don’t have anything in the interior, so the installation is easier. But if you want to keep the OEM look you will have to trim some parts of the centre console of the car and move some items.

FOR COROLLA:

In the Corolla, it’s very simple because you only have to cut the plastic that holds the leather that covers the shifting lever. That allows for some room to let protrude the RzR Shifter that is 10cm higher. You also have to unbolt the airbag control unit, move the shifting cables from underneath and put them on top.
All of this is explained in the installation manual.

FOR MR2:

In the MR2 you have to cut the plastic centre console that is around the shifter. The RzR shifter is 10cm higher, so you need to make some room there.

FOR CELICA:

In the Celica, you have to cut the plastic centre console that is around the shifter. The RzR shifter is 10cm higher, so you need to make some room there.
Also, the fuse box behind the dash had to be unscrewed and raised a little bit to make room for the shifter structure. The fuses are still reachable from the service point on the passenger side.

Aesthetic

From the shape of the shifter to the finishing of each part, everything has been carefully thought to have that incredible racing look that we love. The manufacturing process involves a CNC lathe, a CNC milling machine, sandblasting equipment, a CNC laser cutting machine, a TIG welder, a conventional lathe and milling machine, a brushing machine and all the other typical tools of a workshop.

All the different techniques have been considered to deliver a piece that besides being functional is also beautiful.

For further details, I suggest you click on the following hashtags where you will see pictures and videos of some of the RzR shifters working in my own car or customers/friends cars:

#rzrcorollashifter

#rzrshifter