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COMPARED: MGW vs. Steeda Triax

  • Thread starter Thread starter anthony05gt
  • Start date Start date Apr 14, 2007
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anthony05gt

Active Member
Mar 18, 2006
1,262
1
37
Maryland
Apr 14, 2007
#1
  • Apr 14, 2007
  • #1
I've had the Steeda Triax shifter for over a year now and even updated it with the stock OEM bushings rather than the brass bushings that came with it on the bottom of the shifter. Steeda no longer sells the shifter with brass bushings do to noise. I just removed the Triax and replaced it with a new MGW LTD model. Keep in mind the PRO 50 shifter is pretty much the same as the Triax.

The Triax is a decent shifter after the OEM bushings were installed which really did quiet the thing down. It does rattle a bit at certain rpm's which is a PITA at times. There have been times that I've missed third gear do to the shifter handle hitting what feels like a brick wall (no man's land) and I've had the thing go into 1st gear when hunting for third, that's only happened a couple of times. Overall it's a decent shifter that's fairly quiet and performs very well as long as you know how to hunt the gear selection down. The height adjustment for the shifter handle is either 1 or the other position........no in between. I like it in between. The higher the engine revs, the harder it is to engage a gear.

After installing the MGW LTD model I immediately hit the rural streets where I live and flogged the thing. It feels very solid. Very little slop whether in or out of gear. The adustable throw is incredible. My adjuster is about 8 turns out which is a fairly short, but not extremely short throw. Missing third gear takes a real jackazz for sure do to the heavy springs in the design. Absolutely no noise over the stock shifter in my opinion. I was able to get pretty darn decent speed shifts with this thing which is something I just couldn't do with the Triax at high rpm's. Shifting from 1st to 2nd requires you to remember the heavy springs, but not a problem. I just adjusted the way I shift a bit and got used to it real quick. Getting it in reverse is easy, no problems there.

Overall, it is my opinion that the MGW LTD shifter is the best replacement out there for a host of reasons that others have already gone over. I just wanted to do an honest comparison between the two. I highly recommend it. Very solid. You can feel it immediately.
 

mustangmike6996

5 Year Member
Nov 10, 2005
483
6
29
clinton twp, MI
Apr 14, 2007
#2
  • Apr 14, 2007
  • #2
whats the cost and where can i purchase one from???

any special mods required? (just making sure there is no "additional" requirements)
 
R

rj05gt

New Member
Feb 22, 2006
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Apr 14, 2007
#3
  • Apr 14, 2007
  • #3
MGW vs tri-ax

I've read what seemed like a hundred posts praising the tri-ax. "Never miss third again" and so on. I've had a tri-ax for 18 months (1st mod) and have hit the "brick wall" so many times I've stopped speed shifting to third. I figured it was just me. Good to know someone else has had the same problem. I'll be ordering an MGW real soon.
 
0

07gtfolife

New Member
Oct 31, 2006
125
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0
Apr 14, 2007
#4
  • Apr 14, 2007
  • #4
rj05gt said:
I've read what seemed like a hundred posts praising the tri-ax. "Never miss third again" and so on. I've had a tri-ax for 18 months (1st mod) and have hit the "brick wall" so many times I've stopped speed shifting to third. I figured it was just me. Good to know someone else has had the same problem. I'll be ordering an MGW real soon.
Click to expand...

This use to happen to me on my 01 GT. Misery loves company,
 

anthony05gt

Active Member
Mar 18, 2006
1,262
1
37
Maryland
Apr 15, 2007
#5
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #5
mustangmike6996 said:
whats the cost and where can i purchase one from???

any special mods required? (just making sure there is no "additional" requirements)
Click to expand...

Call MGW LTD direct at 706-793-1770. It's just a replacement shifter kit complete with dynamat and all related parts for a neat, clean install. Just need some hand tools and jack stands.
 

BlackRod

Member
Apr 8, 2005
55
0
7
Southern California
Apr 15, 2007
#6
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #6
I have a B&M shifter. It's great. You should look into that one.
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
Apr 15, 2007
#7
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #7
The MGW shifter is something like $320 bucks. I guess the stock shifter wtfpwns the Steeda Tri-Ax then because I rarely hit the "brick wall" when I'm speed shifting at around 6300rpms.
 

anthony05gt

Active Member
Mar 18, 2006
1,262
1
37
Maryland
Apr 15, 2007
#8
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #8
You only get what you pay for guys. The B&M is just OK. This thing is a work of art when it comes to design. The proof is in the shifts, period. I don't know how aggressive you guys get while shifting, but an all out speed shift without letting off the gas creates a true test for a shifter, clutch set up and driver technique. This shifter provides one less issue on that list.
 

Ordie

Member
Nov 23, 2004
0
0
7
Key West, FL
Apr 15, 2007
#9
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #9
Since the website hasn't been posted yet

http://www.mgwltd.com/mustang_2005-present.shtml


From the look of the website the 05-up shifter hasn't been released yet. But it does say March 07.
They do have video of the shifter being used....



I have one in my 02 GT and I love it.
 
T

TGJ

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
1,049
4
0
Apr 15, 2007
#10
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #10
The Steeda Tri-Ax is $279.99 + Shipping. The MGW is $320.00 + Shipping. I recently purchased the MGW for my car and have also purchased a Steeda Tri-Ax. It will be the MGW in my car...

From what I have seen the MGW is the best shifter you can buy with the Steeda Tri-Ax and Pro 5.0 are tied for 2nd, they are pretty much the same thing. Hurst is 4th and B&M is a distant 5th...
 
T

TGJ

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
1,049
4
0
Apr 15, 2007
#11
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #11
I have hit the brick wall in 3rd with the stock shifter in my car and sometimes the car was not always at high RPM. Anthony05GT you are the first I have heard anyone do that with the Tri-Ax/Pro 5.0. That is a common complaint of the B&M and Hurst shifters though...
 

mustangmike6996

5 Year Member
Nov 10, 2005
483
6
29
clinton twp, MI
Apr 15, 2007
#12
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #12
why are there no picture anywhere on the internet for the 05+??? and especially on their site... it makes me a little ify. is there something that i am missing? is this the best place to buy it?
 

anthony05gt

Active Member
Mar 18, 2006
1,262
1
37
Maryland
Apr 15, 2007
#13
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #13
You can only buy this shifter directly from MGW in Georgia. 706-793-1770.

TGJ, I've experienced the lost 3rd gear shift several times. My biggest complaint with the Triax was high rpm shifts could not be done fast enough. It was like you had to wait before the thing would engage. That would completely throw off my timing. I'm used to banging gears with my gas foot on the floor between shifts. The MGW shifter allows this.
 

mustangmike6996

5 Year Member
Nov 10, 2005
483
6
29
clinton twp, MI
Apr 15, 2007
#14
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #14
anthony05gt said:
You can only buy this shifter directly from MGW in Georgia. 706-793-1770.

TGJ, I've experienced the lost 3rd gear shift several times. My biggest complaint with the Triax was high rpm shifts could not be done fast enough. It was like you had to wait before the thing would engage. That would completely throw off my timing. I'm used to banging gears with my gas foot on the floor between shifts. The MGW shifter allows this.
Click to expand...


i really do think i am going to purchase this shifter but i want some pics of it first..

anthony05gt do you have any from your install??
 

bigcat

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is
May 1, 2005
3,015
1
79
7200 feet
Apr 15, 2007
#15
  • Apr 15, 2007
  • #15
mustangmike6996 said:
i really do think i am going to purchase this shifter but i want some pics of it first..

anthony05gt do you have any from your install??
Click to expand...

yeah! you did a step by step write up, didnt you?
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
Apr 16, 2007
#16
  • Apr 16, 2007
  • #16
They might not have gotten around to getting pictures. From what I remember reading on another board is that MGW is first and foremost a government contractor and secondly a Mustang shifter company.
 

Ordie

Member
Nov 23, 2004
0
0
7
Key West, FL
Apr 16, 2007
#17
  • Apr 16, 2007
  • #17
are the pics really gonna matter... its gonna be covered up by a center console and shifter boot?
 
A

AREJAY

Founding Member
Jul 2, 2002
83
0
6
Snohomish, Wa
Apr 16, 2007
#18
  • Apr 16, 2007
  • #18
I had the Steeda shifter on my 99 Cobra. I liked it but quite honestly it took awhile for the damn thing to notch in before I could feel comfortable with it. The MGW unit is class all the way. I have it on my 03 Cobra. It takes about 10 minutes to put it in and was ready for the road. Anything I've ever bought from MGW is full-on quality engineering. If you dont like somthing you call them and they fix it. No B.S. or runaround from some idiot customer service person. You might consider adding one of their shift knobs to it as well. They look nice and again, quality built. No, I dont work for MGW, I've just used and installed alot of their products on two cars over several years and have never been disatisfied.
 

anthony05gt

Active Member
Mar 18, 2006
1,262
1
37
Maryland
Apr 16, 2007
#19
  • Apr 16, 2007
  • #19
I'm going to try to post a link here. I don't know if it's allowed, but here it is.

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/...er-installed-first-impressions-wow-78992.html

George at MGW is a class act like others have noted. The comment about him doing contract work for the government is true and Mustangs/Vipers are his passion. He makes parts for them as he has time to develop them, but the government work is priority.
 

V. Barbarino

noob
Mar 6, 2007
21
0
0
Apr 19, 2007
#20
  • Apr 19, 2007
  • #20
Just got my tri axe put in today, love it! Very little noise difference between stock and this shifter. Some rotation vibration at certain rpms but nothing to get mad about. I'm sure mgw is great, but you could save a few bucks with the steeda. Paid 259 and 160 install done by steeda.
 
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