348SStb

Guys I highly recommend installing the magnetic paddle shifters… they single-handedly transform the driving experience and mitigate the longing desire for a manual transmission. Using the paddle shifters becomes a satisfying event, and since they are lengthier than the OEM paddles, they are easier to utilize while hands are in the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions.

These are fairly easily to install but there are some tricky aspects to the installation that require an abundance of care.

Adrift

They are on "the list"

@348SStb Where did you get yours? Were the included instructions sufficient?

348SStb

@Adrift

Glad you’re on board — you won’t regret it. Here’s a long answer to a short question

They are the JQ Werks shifters which are available on many online platforms, and I decided to buy them from the guys at UroTuning.

I recommend skipping the black or the gunmetal variants (available at extra charge) and just going with the carbon fiber ones. I ordered the other two in addition so I could compare all three, and the black and grey, which are smaller in size, just didn’t represent the kind of look or sensation suited to upgraded paddle shifters.

The instructions are definitely not sufficient — they are extremely short. I will be here to help. I would like others to avoid any pitfalls and gain from my experience with this installation.

You can do this yourself after watching a YouTube video of 718 steering wheel removal, but it takes experience in trim removal to best do this job along with knowing what catastrophes can happen during this particular job. I had a super expert trim removal guy do this with me, and due to some issues we were having, I had to make several round trips of taking the steering on and off — and now I’m the freaking expert. I have good experience removing and replacing trim, but since I don’t do it for a living like this fellow does, I am not even close to being perfect the way he is when attempting a disassembly and assembly job that I’ve never done before.

The instructions don’t tell you:

1) How much care you need to take when inserting the new paddle shifters into place — the integrated female connector (on the new paddle shifter) which receives the steering wheel’s male connector is glued on with glorified spit and can pop off VERY easily. It is imperative that contact not be made between the connector and the steering wheel receptacle, which is just about impossible to achieve because you have to slide the paddle sifter down into place, and there’s about enough space for a piece of paper between the edge of the connector and the steering wheel trim, and the connector’s edge wants to graze the trim as it slides down. It can be done, but perhaps not without screwing one up first; and I hope others will be able to avoid the hassle I suffered in this regard. I attribute the problem to the mediocre adhesive used in manufacturing — it ought to be epoxied on there with very strong stuff. If the connector on the paddle shifter pops off its seat, it’s game over. Re-gluing it down won’t work. Don’t let any of this dissuade you, because the quality of the piece is excellent and the thing functions flawlessly. We are dealing with tight quarters during fitment.

2) How to perform the very delicate process of removal and replacement of the 718 steering wheel
a) There is a good YouTube video out there on 718 steering wheel removal
b) Disconnecting the negative lead to the battery on 718 RS requires learning how to CAREFULLY remove those rubber boots atop the plastic cover under the front decklid (these adorn the brake cooling orifices on either side); my guy needed to show me three times how to do remove those, and I’m a pro at it now but it takes some effort to learn how to remove those rubber pieces. They can tear easily; I managed to not allow myself to make a mistake and tear these.

Tips for removing/replacing airbag and steering wheel:
1) Buy pin punch tool set from Harbor Freight — using anything but a pin punch (with a flat end) in a steering wheel airbag release hole is a waste of time
2) Turn the steering wheel when using the pin punch tool to get the angle you need! No need to keep the steering wheel at 12 o’clock — you won’t have a good angle at 12 o’clock due to the stalks on either side of the steering wheel. I didn’t think to do this until I struggled for minutes on end. Either side punch should be done with the steering wheel turned away from that side.
3) Buy blue thread locker from Home Depot
4) M12 XYZ Triple Square Bit is a necessary tool — the YouTube video is wrong and you CANNOT use a star-shaped bit.
https://www.jbtools.com/titan-tools-16161-xzn-triple-square-bit-set-4-piece/
(The M10 will come in handy for doing your engine oil change — see my reference guides thread and accompanying engine oil change attachment for explanation.)
5) Breaker bar of significant length (24” 1/2” drive recommended) to unlock the steering wheel lock nut — short handle ratchets are not recommended for loosening
6) Ratchet with decent length for preliminary tightening and post-unlock loosening of the steering wheel lock but
7) Bar driver adapters (appropriately sized) and appropriate socket to adapt the breaker bar/torque wrench drive to the M12 bit
8) Good quality torque wrench that can do the smaller torque specification of 22 ft-lbs
9) Thanks to a Rennlist thread somewhere where the relevant service manual page was posted, the specified fastening torque of the steering wheel lock nut for 718 is 22 ft-lbs, and then one full 1/4-turn beyond that, which *can* be done alone but it’s better to have a second person of decent strength holding the steering wheel. (I did not have a new lock nut on hand and did not choose to buy one; the thread locker along with proper tightening is more than sufficient).
10) Once airbag has popped out, pull it just out just a bit and then rotate it 180 degrees as it sits on your microfiber towel; now you’ll be ready to remove the connectors. Be SUPER careful removing the connectors from behind the airbag and removing the steering wheel. It’s best to have a second person watching to make sure everything is disconnected and nothing is yanked on. It’s easier than you think to make a mistake.
11) It’s fairly easy to line up the lines so steering wheel is aligned like it was before; take pictures.
12) Use lots of painters tape and also use a microfiber towel when removing the airbag — follow the taping example set by the YouTube guy
13) Do not fail to disconnect negative lead to battery, ensure it cannot make contact, and wait ten minutes before job start.
14) One-touch window function will not work upon recharge — simply perform the window reset procedure
15) If all connections are made correctly, and if battery was disconnected, then there will be no airbag warning light.

It should be fairly easy to get this entire job right the first time. If not getting it right, you risk:
i) Scratching or damaging the steering wheel, airbag, trim on and around the steering wheel, any leather involved (mine remain perfect, and yours can too)
ii) Having an airbag warning light which can only be cleared with a Porsche scan tool
iii) Breaking any of the three connectors behind the airbag once airbag is popped off or during reassembly, which would be a nightmare for many reasons
iv) Snapping off the connector on the new paddle shifter, which is game over for that piece and which would reset the entire job
v) Tearing the rubber boots atop the brake cooling orifices

Knowing what I know now, I am glad I didn’t have a shop install this; I would trust only myself — there is too much care to be taken to blindly allow someone whose work I don’t know to do this job.

The camera is your friend, and so are the watchful eyes of a second person.

Adrift

Wow, I’m totally sold now.

Thanks for all the info!

348SStb

My pleasure. I am going to do my GTS 4.0 Boxster and then all my other German cars that aren’t manual. These shifters really are something else. I showed the staff at the Dealer and the shifters brought endless smiles. They really bring the car as close is it could be brought to feeling like a manual transmission.

mwar99

Curious as to how the shift paddles make the car feel more like it has a manual transmission? What is the impact that makes that difference?

hk43

Great to hear! I just ordered the JQ Werks in CF straight from them. Shipping was $40 to Canada plus $41 for customs and looks like it will come next Wednesday after ordering this Tuesday. Coming from a manual Spyder I realized I didn't miss the stick at all (other than my foot instinctively looking for the clutch sometimes ) due to how brutally fast the gear shifts are. Firing off rapid downshifts before accelerating is addictive from both responsiveness and ridiculous engine sounds. However, especially in rapid shifts I didn't love the relative lack of feedback from the paddles and longed for something more tactile and larger, too. @348SStb 's instructions are amazing but I'm still too scared to take my steering wheel apart so luckily my service guru told me they can install them (along with my black with silver stitch roof pull tabs from SpyderCover).

I drove 200km on Sunday and another 200km yesterday after not being able to get out with it for several weeks and it was glorious (though still only at 500km). This is definitely the epitome of a fun car to blast around in for me. Here is a picture from when I stopped over to put up the roof when I realized I was getting a sunburn..

348SStb

@mwar99

Check out the YouTube videos on these types of paddles and the explanations — these can do a better job explaining than I can.

But in short, there’s a certain effort required to make the shift happen, and then a very satisfying “click” is heard and felt.

This style of shifter comes standard in 992 GT3 RS from the factory. I compared these aftermarket ones with a 992 GT3 RS side by side, and the aftermarket ones are even better.

mwar99

If it's a similar click that the GT3RS has I won't like it. Hated that sound in the GT3RS. Not sure why, but it bothered me. Unfortunately for me it wasn't a satisfying click.

hk43

There's a thread in one of the 992 forums that talk about these paddles and from what I gathered not only is the click slightly different from the 3RS paddles, you can also lessen the clickiness of the paddle by applying some tape to the clicky part.

TXshaggy

Probably worth a dedicated thread, it’ll get lost in here.

348SStb

I thought about it, but my threads haven’t been big hits recently. Folks are free to contact me if they need help.

white2abbit

Love the green! We should go on a drive some time...I should crack 1,500km this weekend

lilbza

Unreal spec, probably exactly how I would do mine if given the chance. Green, yellow PCCB and silver wheels is just the perfect combo IMO.

Drifting

I still think it would be a good addition to the "list of best aftermarket mods for an SRS" that both of us have contributed to.