AT Paddle Shift Replacement Feeler Thread
 

Hi everyone, just wanted to show that we have love for the AT's too. Thanks to @sevi21, we were able to get our hands on an AT model for R&D purposes. We noticed the biggest complaint was the small paddle size so we wanted to see for ourselves.

The thing we noticed was that there wasn't a whole lot of room between the steering wheel, paddle, and stalks. Originally we were planning on making aluminum stick-on pieces from "waste" material cut out of our wing uprights, but after driving the car we felt a stick-on extension might not be the best choice because it would further limit the space. Another thing was that the spring weight felt good, but could be a little heavier for a more solid shifting feel.

So this is the idea for what we came up with

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7cb8f585.jpg

The top is about 25mm longer, the bottom is about 15mm longer. This would allow the driver to shift even with the hands at the 10/2 o'clock position or the 5/7 o'clock position. We're trying our best to retain the OEM curvature to keep the same feel of the OEM paddle. The idea is to make the paddle out of CNC'd aluminum for better tactility. We are also trying to incorporate an adjustable spring system that you can preload to adjust to force needed to shift the paddles. So you could effectively use the same force or increase it for a "heavier" shift feel.

If we can keep the OEM electronic box, we will do so, but if we have to make a custom box, we will. However, the development on the electronics side will likely have to wait until the end of May because our electrical engineer won't have free time until after the Indy 500 (he's currently the lead EE for an Indy Car team).

We are not married to the design or the ideas and we would love input from the AT owners.

Yo,

1. What type of aluminium? This looks like it'll take ages on the CNC machine.
2. Perhaps finger grooves on the other side of the paddle (can't be seen from the steering wheel side)? better ergonomic and nonslip due to the rising edge of the finger groove. This could be a market differentiating feature? Maybe use a 3D printer first to see if it actually works?
3.Adjustable spring system sounds awesome!

1. Just any basic aluminum that takes well to anodizing was what we had in mind. Nothing fancy, as it's a cosmetic piece, not a structural one. We don't have to use CNC and can use other processes.
2. You mean like ribbing, kind of like how a steering wheel would have? If the thickness of the paddle allows for it, we could add the feature. We may end up making it out of plastic, it really depends on what will bring the cost down and how many are ordered. Unfortunately, most of the time, 3D printing costs as much, if not more than CNC and there's no way to amortize the cost, keeping the price the same whether we make 1 or 1 million.
3. Thanks, we're heavily influenced by motorsport so we wanted to create a way to replicate that sensation of a heavy shift paddle

Would like a wet carbon or something xD

Very interested. I would personally prefer aluminum with the -/+ machined in.

Carbon fiber would be cool, but to be honest I don't know if it would be the right material for this application. It would be difficult to make a shape that felt ergonomic without a lot of machining. Then it wouldn't look pretty. While not impossible, it would take a lot of time and care to make it looked as good as you have it pictured in your head right now.

I just left it out of the model because it will depend on the final material. If it is metal, it would be etched in, if it were plastic, it would be embossed.

If we are to use printing methods, we could make the material a buyer option. The options would be plastic, glass-filled nylon, aluminum, stainless and titanium.

Is 20mm and 15 mm going to be enough extra length?

How would you install them? I do like that stick on pieces are a easy install.

matte black would be nice

The top side will be 25mm/1" taller. The bottom side is as long as it can go while leaving room for the cruise control stalk.

They would be direct replacements for the OEM unit.

If the paddles are made of some kind of metal, we'd leave it in the metal finish and leave the color choice to the end user. It saves us time and you money. Painting a paddle matte black before installation would be a breeze.

Perhaps if you keep the OEM electronics box, people can send in their current OEM box after they install the new CNC aluminum one to bring costs down?

We are looking into this and doing a core exchange so you don't have to leave your car immobile.

Metal and bigger.

I'm very interested, but of course it all depends on price.