J-Speed SSP Installed
 

Ordered up a J-Speed SSP (short shift plate) last week and it arrived at my door this morning. It installs just like the Jbarone plate, but the J-Speed reuses the stock bolts and shifter weight. At first I was a little concerned with the bolt lengths because of the added thickness, but after test fitting it, the bolts are able to thread in plenty far. For the sake of it I added some loctite to them just for added security.

I've taken the car out twice now. First was a short jaunt around the block to make sure there was no binding and what not. Then a second drive for about 30 minutes. I absolutely love this shift plate. I was looking for something shorter than the stock throw, but not overly short. It honestly has changed the feel of the shifter to exactly how I always wanted it. Before it always felt kinda loose/off between gears and then stiff while engaging gears. But now it feels solid and a little firmer throughout the throw and gear engagement feels a little less forceful. It's kinda hard for me to explain. I think it's a clever idea how they allow for the plate to be adjusted forward and back to give you some finer adjustments as to where neutral sits with the shifter. I cranked the bolts down pretty fricking tight, so I will report back if there is any slipping of the plate from hard shifts.

I had a used Jbarone SSP last year that I only kept on the car for about 15 minutes. It made my shifts almost feel like it was binding or hitting a shift gate in some gears. I never took the time to adjust the cables so I cannot say if that would have helped out or not. My only concern with that design was the standoff used for the ball end that shifted the linkage up about an inch or so. In doing so it changes the geometry slightly and for gears 1,3,5 you are pushing up and forward and on gears 2,4,6 you are pulling back and down basically. But anyway, I am not bashing JBarones product in anyway, you can read the countless stories about it being a quality product with excellent support.

All in all I am extremely happy with this very inexpensive purchase. I can't believe it took me so long to stumble upon it. Below are just 2 pictures I snapped of the plate before I installed it and I will try and remember to take some pics of it installed tomorrow. If you have any interest in their SSP, it can be found at this link:

Short Shift Plate (SSP) for Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazdaspeed 6 - J-Speed Inc.

http://www.akimbojustice.com/ssp/SSP1.jpg

http://www.akimbojustice.com/ssp/SSP2.jpg

Jbarone FTW! Just saying support the cool vendors. With solid base bushings and link adjustment you'd be have been fine

The J-speed plate is a total piece of shit!! The quality control isn't there. I have seen pictures online where the holes are drilled so close to the edge, you just know it will break. I put my trust in vendors, and if you screw up on quality control, then you should not get business anymore. Jbarones quality control, customer service, and just fucking awesome products are why I have most of his parts. I would have them all, but I iz poor.

OP, if you would not have been lazy and just adjusted your shifter, then you would have seen how a quality shift plate feels. JBR FTMFW!!!!!

I agree; my business will stay with authorized vendors who make superior products with impeccable customer service; which in this case is JBR.

OP; good luck with your product.

Thanks for the input. I hadn't read too much info on the j-speed so I figured I'd post.

tl; dr; jbr

i have the jspeed ssp and the jborne one and i like the jspeed one it shifts better and smoother for me, i even use the shifter weight from the jborne kit. and ur able to adjust the shifter position up or down and it doesn't put the shifter cable so high and rubbing next to the other cable. not to talk bad about the jborne kit, this is just personal preference like the feel of the shift knob some like it rough some like it smooth some like it big some like it small.