How to Install a Short Throw Shifter on an S550 Mustang

Upgrading your 2015-2023 Mustang with a short throw shifter is an affordable way to make it more fun to drive. Although the installation process is more complex than on previous models, our step-by-step instructions will help you finish the job quickly. You'll be rewarded with tighter gear shifts and faster acceleration.

Short Throw Shifter Installation for 2015-2023 Mustangs

For this installation, we're using the popular Hurst Indy short throw shifter. It's made to accommodate the factory reverse lockout collar and fits all 2015-2023 GT and EcoBoost manuals, as well as 2015-2017 V6s. Best of all, it’s been poven to reduce shift throws by 18%, making gear changes crisper for a more exciting driving experience.

Tools and Supplies:

Step 1: Remove Shifter Knob

First, you'll need to twist off the knob on your current S550 Mustang shifter. Twist counter-clockwise by hand until the knob is removed.

Step 2: Remove Center Console Side Panels

Pull up around the edges of the side molding to loosen the passenger side panel. Repeat the process for the driver's side panel.

Step 3: Remove Center Console Bolts

Once the driver's side panel has been removed, locate the two 7 mm bolts located at the base of the exposed section of the center console. Remove these bolts with a 7 mm ratchet.

Step 4: Remove Center Console

Using a plastic pry bar, separate the center console molding from the base. Begin at the back, and move towards the front until the entire console molding is loose. Three clips attached to the shifter boot will also need to be removed to free the console. This can easily be done with a small screwdriver.

Pro Tip: Remember to unhook the electrical plug for the lights when removing the center console.

Step 5: Remove Shifter Pin

First, remove the o-ring from the shifter shaft. Place this to the side for later. To remove the shifter pin, you can either use a 4 mm punch and socket, or grab a set of vice grips to hold down the shifter spring and use a c-clamp and socket as pictured below to push the pin through the shifter shaft.

Step 6: Remove Torque Spit

At the base of the shifter boot, remove the torque spit holding the boot in place with a wrench or ratchet. Also remove the white coupler above the torque spit by hand.

Step 7: Lift Your Mustang

Next you'll need to raise your Mustang so you can get underneath it for the remaining installation steps. This can be done most easily with a lift, though jack stands and ramps work just fine as well.

Pro Tip: Check out our S197 Mustang jack points article to make sure you lift your Mustang safely and securely.

Step 8: Remove Lower Transmission Support

For the next steps, go underneath your S550 Mustang. On the underside of the vehicle, there will be a lower transmission support held on with four 18 mm bolts and three 15 mm bolts. Remove the bolts to separate the transmission support from the vehicle.

Step 9: Unscrew Transmission Flange

To begin, locate the flange at the rear of the drive shaft. Mark the position of the flange relative to the damper behind it to make sure that it's in the correct position when reinstalled. Remove the three 18 mm bolts holding the flange in place. You will need to support the drive shaft through this process as it will come loose.

Pro Tip: Make sure your S550 Mustang is in neutral so the flange can rotate, giving you easy access to all of the bolts.

Step 10: Unscrew Carrier Bearing

Remove the 13 mm bolts from the carrier bearing. Make sure the drive shaft is being supported. It will fall down once the bearing is removed.

Step 11: Dislodge Shifter Rear

Once the drive shaft is removed, it'll expose two 10 mm bolts. Using a long extension, remove these bolts. Once the bolts are unscrewed, pull on the shifter rear to remove it.

Step 12: Remove Shifter Arm Bolt

Using a 10 mm gear wrench, remove the bolt to the side of the shifter arm. Remove the shifter arm.

Step 13: Remove Shift Linkage Bolt

Use a 13 mm ratchet to remove the shift linkage bolt at the rear of the shifter. Once this bolt is loose, remove the shifter.

Step 14: Disassemble Outer Shifter Assembly

Once the S550 shifter is removed, place it aside for disassembly. Remove the front bracket from the shifter. Separate the rubber connecting collar from the shifter housing and remove the four 10 mm bolts with a socket wrench to remove the outer housing.

Step 15: Disassemble Inner Shifter Assembly

Remove the shift arm linkage from the Mustang shifter. Remove the two 10 mm bolts in the center of the housing with a socket wrench. Remove the shifter cover and pop out the shifter.

Step 16: Disassemble Old Shifter

On the old shifter, pop off the small black pivot cup and put it to the side. Next, remove the larger white pivot cup in the same way.

Step 17: Reinstall Cups on New Shifter

Apply a generous amount of grease to the old shifter caps before reinstalling them on your new S550 Mustang shifter. Pop both the black and white caps back into place by hand.

Step 18: Reinstall New Shifter

Reinsert the new shifter into the same location as the old shifter. Make sure the threaded hole on the new shifter is facing you, so it'll be on the driver's side when installed. Reinstall the retainer plate with the same 10 mm bolts as before. Reinstall the shifter arm linkage with a generous amount of grease in the same location you removed it from. Make sure the rubber gasket is back in place and reinstall the cover with four 10 mm bolts. Tighten down the bolts.

Step 19: Replace Rubber Bracket Guard with New Polyurethane

Now that the shifter is reassembled, it's time to replace the old rubber guard on the shifter bracket with a new polyurethane one. Slide it into position on the shifter housing before snapping the metal bracket into position.

Step 20: Reattach New Shifter Beneath Your S550 Mustang

Lift the shifter back into place from where the original shifter was removed. This may require more than one person. Reinstall the shifter arm bolt with a 10 mm gear wrench. Tighten the bolt.

Step 21: Reinstall Shifter Housing

Raise the new shifter housing into position. Tighten down the 10 mm bolts using a long extension.

Step 22: Reinstall Carrier Bearing

Raise the drive shaft into position and reinstall the 13 mm carrier bearing bolts. Tighten down the bolts.

Step 23: Reinstall Drive Shaft Bolts

Line up the bolts for your driveshaft flange with the marking you made earlier to make sure it's in the correct position. Reinstall the three 18 mm bolts. Tighten down the bolts.

Step 24: Reattach Brace

Reinstall the brace with 13 mm bolts in the center. Reattach the cross member bolts on either side. Tighten down the bolts.

Step 25: Assemble New Shifter

Drop your Mustang back down, and enter the cabin for the remaining installation steps. Remove the old shifter collar and replace it with the new collar. Thread in the new bolt to hold the collar in place.

Step 26: Reinstall Shifter Spring

Slide the shifter spring back into position and hold it down with a set of vice grips. Reinstall the set screws and release the spring.

Step 27: Reinstall Shifter Boot

Slide the shifter boot over the new shifter and attach it around the shifter housing. You might need to move it around some.

Step 28: Unhook Shift Boot Housing

Unhook the 5 clips holding the housing in place.

Step 29: Reinstall Center Console

Slide the center console back into position. Snap the console back into place by hand at each attachment point. Reinstall the 8 mm bolts on either side of the console. Next, reattach the side molding. Remember to reattach the electrical plug on the bottom of the console.

Step 30: Reattach Shifter Boot

Place the shifter boot over the new shifter handle. Line the three attachment points up with the set screws. Reinstall the set screws with an allen key and snap the shifter boot into position.

Step 31: Reinstall Shifter Knob

Wrap some teflon tape around the bottom of the shifter. Add a few drops of lock tight to the threads around the top of the shifter. Screw your shifter knob back into position and tighten by hand until it just touches the collar. Leave the car still for about 12 hours until the lock tight is permanently in place. Congratulations, you're all done!

Get Even More Out of Your S550 Mustang with Transmission Upgrades

Now that you've installed your new S550 Mustang short throw shifter, you'll have way more fun driving your S550 Mustang with quick and responsive shifts. Short throw shifters aren't the only way to make your driving experience better though. Upgrading your Mustang's clutch can make your transmission even smoother. Shifters are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to upgrading your S550's transmission. Check out more possibilities here at CJ's.