My UUC Evo III Issues + Fix (HUGE pictures)

[m3f_epj3]

Here's a brief history of my problem: After a few years of owning the UUC Evo III bank account drainer (err, short shift kit) I noticed my shifter felt sloppy. I pulled the boot off the shifter and noticed the carrier cup bolts (6x 3mm allen bolts) were not tight. I tightened them up best I could in limited space with a tiny allen key - ie not very much. It got better, til recently when I noticed 4 out of the 6 bolts were missing entirely, assuming they fell out over winter.


So I remove the shift carrier, here's what I found: The bolt heads sheered off. These are grade 8 bolts, and thought there's no possible way they were over-torqued with a 2mm cheapo allen key.











Anyways, here's why it happened. The bolt heads only have one flush surface to make contact with as you can see here:





and if you look here, you'll see EXACTLY why the bolt heads sheered off. When you torque down one side of the allens, it puts a good bit of force on the opposite side of the cup in the shifter. With all 6 bolts are torqued, add in vibration and forces from shifting, over time this is bound to happen.








This is an inherent design flaw - the bolts were not overtorqued at install, and this is NOT the first time I've heard of bolts backing out or breaking off entirely. Quite frankly for $350, this SSK should have come with a modified or new carrier.


My plan now is to drill and tap new holes around the carrier with flush surfaces for the bolts to meet. I will take pictures once I'm done.

[m3f_OahuMPower]

good stuff Eric.. I also had the rubber boot off when I was painting, and noticed the same thing. I just tightened them up, and will keep an eye on them

[m3f_SlickmisterN]

Why is UUC naming their garbage after Mitsubishi Lancer models? Are we really to believe this is the 8th iteration or "evolution" of their ssk? If so maybe we're ready for number 9...

[m3f_epj3]

Why is UUC naming their garbage after Mitsubishi Lancer models? Are we really to believe this is the 8th iteration or "evolution" of their ssk? If so maybe we're ready for number 9...

It's actually an evolution of a "bad batch"

[m3f_das borgen]

It's actually an evolution of a "bad batch"

bad designs often evolve into bad designs.



unfortunately, the R&D work was very poor if that is the case...but it happens. The only way to fix a deisgn is to identify the root cause and work a fix for it.....band aids often fail

[m3f_rowar64]

Wow...good stuff Eric, thanks! Had this on past e36 and really liked it...This pretty much cements the Autosolutions SSK purchase for me now...

[m3f_Roland H]

Wow, another UUC part failure. Glad I didn't pick up one of these when I had the chance.


Auto-solutions, AKG, and Understeer are really the only good options for this car.

[m3f_jvit27]

Thanks for proving those things suck, because no one likes to believe me when I tell them. That cup is nothing but a bandaid for incorrect geometry.


May as well spot weld that thing on!

[m3f_epj3]

Thanks for proving those things suck, because no one likes to believe me when I tell them. That cup is nothing but a bandaid for incorrect geometry.



May as well spot weld that thing on!

Haha unfortunately the cup is stainless and the arm cast aluminum. If he made the cup aluminum, I would no doubt have gotten it welded! I'll be uploading pics of my "fix" in a minute.

[m3f_jvit27]

Ahh. Thought it was Al... JBweld!

[m3f_epj3]

Here's the fix: I secured the cup into the carrier and (after measuring the best I could) drilled and tapped 4 holes around the carrier for a 4mm .70 pitch bolt. I had to grind down a bit of the shift carrier (as you can see) at all four bolt holes so they would sit flush, but this was pretty easy with my dentist drill style grinder Used lock washers and red permanent strength loctite, and very little torque to install the bolts. Not the prettiest job I could have done, but I'm without a work bench, garage, etc. right now so I did the best I could sitting on the driveway It will last though...

[m3f_rln_21]

This thread amuses me because just last night I was researching SSKs and ran across an old thread in which a gentleman from UUC stated in response to this very problem that "UUC parts NEVER break, they are made from the highest quality materials and do not fail"...

[m3f_Rider]

Due to all of your inputs from this thread (and all the others on short shifters--hooray for the search function!) I have canceled my order through UUC, and I'm going to steer towards the Rogue SSK now. Also picked up the illuminated ZHP knob, so I'm pretty excited to get all of that installed.



All of that coupled with the 5th/reverse detent replacement, and the shifting should feel pretty awesome. :



Thanks for all the good info and first-hand experiences on here!

[m3f_OahuMPower]

I will be selling my Evo III probably this winter, and getting the baller AKG setup


It helps that the mad greek (Andy/AKG) live 15minutes from my house

[m3f_adema24]

What is this baller setup you speak of?