JHM Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade for B8/B8.5 A4/A5, S4/S5, 2008-2016
Introducing the JHMotorsports Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade for your B8 Chassis Audi!
PROUDLY DESIGNED AND BUILT AT JHM IN LATHROP, CA!!!
At JHM, they have been developing and building shifter and linkage upgrades for Audis since 2006. As they've done for the B5, B6, and B7 platforms, they've brought the JHM "Solid" shifting experience to your B8 Chassis Audi with their B8 Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade!
While Audi has improved on their OEM shifter setup since the days of the incredibly sloppy B5, they still primarily use plastic and rubber components in their B8 linkage. This contributes to the vague and somewhat rubbery feel you experience while shifting your B8 Audi and makes the linkage alone worse than previous generations. Furthermore, as plastic ages it tends to get brittle and break easily.
If you are looking for the ultimate shifting experience with precise feedback allowing for confident gear changes, the JHM B8 Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade is what you need. Our JHM B8 Linkage and Cross Rod setup is the ultimate upgrade for increasing the durability and longevity of your linkage components while dramatically improving the shifting experience of your B8 Audi.
Adding the JHM Linkage and Cross Rod or a JHM Solid Short Throw Shifter alone won't bring much noise or vibration into the cabin due to Audi's ultra-silent, rubber lined shift knob. However, if you're looking for the ultimate shifting experience with more of a race inspired setup, we recommend the JHM Linkage, Shifter, and Shift Knob.
NOTE: Adding in the JHM shift knob and other variables like your exhaust setup, other lightweight/performance components (crank pulleys, flywheels, etc...), and factory tolerances may affect how much of an increase in interior noise, vibration and/or harshness you experience. Remember, Audi designed these components with lots of plastic and rubber to hide normal noises that the engine and transmission make so removing them can reveal some of those noises.
This linkage and cross rod upgrade is a direct replacement for the OEM components. The JHM Linkage and Cross Rod replaces the OEM plastic socket assemblies on both the linkage and the cross rod with 2 spherical steel bearings and one graphite impregnated, polyurethane bushing.
JHM Linkage
On the linkage, JHM has placed a steel spherical bearing in a custom race at the end of the shift rod or selector shaft.
JHM Cross Rod
Matching exactly the OEM dimensions, JHM attaches their Cross Rod upgrade to a cage on top of the race using another, smaller spherical rod end housed in a bronze race for more rigid side to side feel. On the other end of the Cross Rod at the selector shaft cap on the transmission, JHM uses a heavy duty, graphite impregnated, polyurethane bushing.
Not only do these spherical and polyurethane bushings offer much more precise shifting while delivering more feedback than stock but they are also much more durable than the OEM plastic setup.
The JHM B8 Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade will deliver the ultimate shifting experience when paired with the JHM B8 Solid Short Throw Shifter. However, it will also dramatically improve your shifting performance if you only have a stock or aftermarket shifter.
PARTS INCLUDED
- 1x JHM Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Assembly
Due to the design of the OEM cross rod and linkage setup, the most cost effective way to upgrade the shifting experience was to combine the JHM Solid Linkage and JHM HD Cross Rod Linkage into one "Solid Linkage and Cross Rod Upgrade."