GCS Automatic Paddle Shifter Extensions
 

Has anyone tried the GCS paddle shifter extensions for AT cars? I was eyeballing these on eBay for a while at $60 shipped.
Now they're available in the U.S. for $34.99 + shipping. http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/gcs-...er-xt-cvt.html

Install looks super simple with an allen key setup. My only worry is that they may scratch the paddle shifters.

Anyone have these?

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/medi...dsc_0046_1.jpg

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A buddy of mine in Taiwan had a few friends get these and they were pissed that the set screws damaged the factory paddles. The set screws are really small diameter and in order to apply sufficient force to retain the aluminum extensions, the pressure is more than the factory plastic can sustain without permanent deformation. In addition, since the OEM plastic isn't exactly the stiffest material in the world, the set screws will eventually rip through it.

While these look kinda cool, I'm not a big fan of touching scalding hot metal in the middle of summer. I generally keep my fingers on the paddles while I'm driving and this would be rather painful when the interior is at 150+ degrees after sitting in the sun all day.

@Sithspawn - thanks. I was worried the screws might ding up the paddles. Maybe I'll just shell out the $86 for the Stark extensions instead.

Those seem like easy pieces to 3D print. I'm willing to bet with a little bit of work you could make some that snap into place.

i bought some, ill let u guys know how they feel when they arrive

I've got some and yes they do damage the standard paddles with those allen key screws :( I wish I had used 3M to stick them on instead

+ 1 for the Stark shifters

Just to let you guys know, I had the Stark paddles on my 13 AT and when the interior gets to that ~150' mark the glue "softens" and they do come off. I ended up using Gorilla glue to keep them.
This is my experience with these paddles and no one else's.
I liked them very much.


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I can't get these paddles to stay on. They eventually just come off when you press on them too low. Not only do i have useless paddle extensions but also two damaged paddle shifters.

Being in the UK I'm not going to suffer that problem :laughabove:

mine came off when I first put them on, I've now reattached them but it's only screwed on using the outer screws and seem to be fine for now, if they come off again then it will be some 3M double sided tape stuff to hold them on

just thinking of ways I can over the front face to hide the damaged paddles whilst still looking ok

+1 for stark I love them.

@FT-86 SpeedFactory - are you concerned about selling this product that may damage people's shifters?

I'm sorry to hear that you experienced an issue with the adhesive. I stand behind my products and if there is a problem, I am more than happy to resolve it. I can be reached via PM or e-mail at mike@starkperformanceparts.com It seems like you were able to devise a solution so that is good, but I am here if you need me.

Thanks,
-Mike

Just noticed that the Stark paddle extensions are $49.95 on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/20zC176

Order placed!

Just placed my order

damn i paid full price plus shipping a few weeks back as a gift for a friend.

i think these are a great practical and good looking mod for the first time modder(as long as it's an auto).

Oh heck no. I loved the paddles. So much better than the originals. Very well designed. Spot on fitment.
It's a physics thing, if the car is in the sun with no sun shades and it gets HOT inside, things happen. Once it cooled it all went back as advertised.
It gets just a bit hot in Georgia.
So I do not have any complaints. It's an awesome yet simple upgrade.
As they say "you gotta pay to play".
I would definitely buy again.


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I haven't had any issues with the GCS paddle extensions coming off. They have been on for several weeks and I've put them through many tests. I don't plan on removing them. So any damage from the set screws won't really matter to me. If they do come off, I'll come up with a solution to either repair the damage or find another way to attach. We'll see what happens after extended use.


https://cache.nebula.phx3.secureserv...JmZmE3YjI5ZWQ=

I have these as well in black. Very happy with them. Working on a solution to cover front part over factory silver paddles. Probably will use black felt pattern.

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Post what you come up with. If someone had a 3D printer, then that might also open up some possibilities.

I'm sorry but I can't settle for plastic extensions.


http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pslbubih4c.jpg

Somehow play of lighting / black & red colors / shapes in this pic makes me think of some games like Diablo :)

sorry to bump this thread, but I'm interested in getting these. If the screws end up damaging the paddles, can double sided tape or any adhesive work for this?

Damn, I bought the red ones on eBay last year for $60, but they're worth it. They fit our paddles perfectly and extend the paddles so that they're actually usable with your hands at 10 and 2. The anodized aluminum looks and feels quality every time I put my hands on the wheel.

The screw on mechanism works very well to attach them securely, ensuring that the paddle is able to be fully depressed, even when pressed from the tip of the extensions. The screws have pointed ends so that they can dig into the plastic on the oem paddles, which is why they're so secure. I would not trust double sided tape to properly depress the paddle when I'm hitting the tip of the extension. I'm not sure why anyone is worried about damaging the stock paddles because there's absolutely no reason to ever take the extensions off, even if you're gonna sell the car, the next owner will appreciate them.

For 34.95 these are a no brainer for AT owners.

When you factor in the $13.43 shipping on the GCS extensions, the price is within $5-6 of the Stark extensions. I decided that I'd rather not potentially ding up my paddles and went with the Stark extensions.

Has the gorilla glue seemed to hold up even in the heat? I see constant 90+ and triple digit heat in the summer and experianced the same thing. I jacket up the paddle finish and still havent been happy with the repaint so they still arent on. Stark has great customer service selling me new adhesive but seems like that isnt really the issue. I like the Starks much more in terms of looks over the GCS though if I could get them to really stick

If memory serves, you have the original hand made paddles, correct? If so, we have a standing offer to replace them with the new injection molded version. All you have to do is cover round trip shipping to get the free upgrade. You will still be getting product made in the USA and backed by our one year warranty.

As for the adhesive, it was tested in the peak of Southern California summer hitting 110 degrees Fahrenheit with the car parked in the sun without failure. We did move to a thicker adhesive to accommodate for the loose tolerances we observed on the OEM paddles (+/- 0.010") so it may have simply been a tolerance issue (the OEM parts are made in China, go figure). Our injection molded parts are manufactured here in California to a tight industry standard tolerance of +/- 0.005". In addition, the 3M VHB adhesive we use is designed specifically for high temperature environments and is rated at 300 degrees Fahrenheit long term, and 500 degrees short term. At worst, the interior of a car will reach equilibrium at 190 degrees on a hot day in the sun so the adhesive is in fact over spec'd for the application as far as temperature is concerned.

In any case, if you would like to do the upgrade, please shoot me a PM so we can square away the details.

Wow. That's awesome. Yeah they are one of the original sets. Hope you dont mind one is stripped and one has an uneven paint job lol. PM coming shortly.

I don't mind if they're messed up. Yes, they were extremely difficult to paint and required a lot of sanding and polishing to get a presentable appearance. Ultimately, however, I would much rather have happy customers rocking great product than a quick buck. This is more about passion than anything else and the injection molded paddles are really bitchin' IMHO so I would really like for you to have a set of these bad boys. Thanks for your support.:thumbsup:

BTW, may i suggest possible design - to mount paddle extensions not via adhesive, not via screws to original paddles .. but via some plate that goes around oem padles from another side and is screwed to paddle extensions. This way:
1) more secure and sure mount then via any adhesive
2) easier to remove if user ever needs that vs adhesive
3) nothing needs to be screwed to stock paddles. Just Extension from one paddle side, mounting plate from another.

But how would you mount the plate to the paddles? still have the same problems you're trying to avoid unless Im just not getting what you are saying

Simple sandwich - mounting plate>pressed in stock paddles in middle>paddles extension. Bolts secure that plate to extension via holes outside stock paddles perimeter. No adhesive nor drilling in stock paddles needed.

If I had a 3D printer, I'd be making these myself. Could even make them so they're toolless. Just put the bottom plate over the back and the front cover snaps into the rear with tabs that stick out a tad so you can remove them later, if necessary.

I work in manufacturing, 3M VHB is fantastic stuff. With enough VHB and good surface prep you could probably stick yourself on the ceiling lol

http://s32.postimg.org/8oqu73705/128...56359049_o.jpg
didn't want to make holes in the original paddles so i stuck them on with 3M tape and they hold on great..surprisingly to me