B&M short throw shifter kit reduces the shift throw length on the JK Jeep Wrangler six-speed manual by 35 percent.
As badass as the JK Jeep Wrangler is, it’s not a perfect machine. The JL Wrangler is proof of that. However, even before the JL came out, the JK had its share of low points, just like any vehicle that hasn’t been completely redone in more than a decade.
According to Youtube channel AUTOEDIT, one of those is the JK’s six-speed manual gearbox. Its throws are lengthy and the shifter has a tendency to wobble all over the place when it’s in gear. It’s so loose that it can pop out of gear and back into neutral if the JK goes over a bumpy road.
To shorten the 6M’s throws and make it tighter and more composed, AUTOEDIT gets a B&M short-shifter kit and records all of the steps you’ll need to follow to install it. Perhaps one of the hardest parts is removing the stubborn stock transfer case and gearshift knobs. Then it’s a matter of removing the center console, yanking the OEM shifter, taking off a skid plate, and slightly lowering the gas tank and transmission cross member. Patience is key when extracting the foam seal that goes around the shift mechanism. Once the new box goes in, it’s time to reverse the original process.
It takes a while, but AUTOEDIT eventually finishes it. Is it worth the work? Definitely. The gearbox feels more positive and stiffer and tighter. It no longer rattles. More importantly, it stays in gear over rough pavement and dirt trails. The B&M hardware is so good that AUTOEDIT’s host deems it worthy of its $469 price tag.
Looking for a good deal on a new Jeep? Get insider information here.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
