Gear shift selector bearings! Well worthwhile!!!

[J-1]

I decided to change the gear-shift selector bushes today, and seeing as there has been a great deal of interest in the request for a 'How-to...' , I thought i would create one. Can one of the mods create a 'Know Your 2' thread?

Job duration: 1 hour
Tools required: Jack(s)/ramps/axle stands, thin plain screwdriver, 10mm spanner or socket and rachet
Conclusion: Straight forward task that has a really noticeable improvement on the gear changes, that does not cost alot of money. Well worthwhile!

First of all, get the rear end of the car off the ground by means of ramps (like mines) or a couple of jacks with the addition of axle stands. (Yes, i am also a shameless pic whore! Just look at that Blitz and ARB!! )


Now remove the undertray using the 10mm spanner/socket


Here is the two gear shift selectors. The bottom one is forward drive, and the top is reverse.



Now remove the safety clip/pin on the top, and slide the bush off the pinion.



Using the thin plain screwdriver (and a bit of force) remove the original bush.



Upon inspection mines were pretty buckled!




When the original bushes were out, i cleaned the bush/bearing housing, original washers and pinion. I also sprayed a bit WD40 on the pinion to aid the insertion of the new bearing. Once this was done i fitted the new bearing in the housing. It wouldn't fit first attempt, so i had to gently chap the bearing in the housing with my rachet!


At this point i had to rebore three 5mm diameter repair washers to 7-8mm by using a drill. I then used a grinder/wire buff to remove any excess shards of the washer to ensure a perfect fit.
Before:

After:


I then fitted the washers, the new bearing and the safety/security pin.




I then repeated these steps for the reverse (top) gear-shift selector bush/bearing.

Here is the finished article!


Hope this has helped.

I will create a for sale thread as I also have sets of the replacement bearings available now, for sale at £2.50 delivered.

[RobCrezz]

Thats really good! Does it make alot of difference to the gear change?

[J-1]

Thats really good! Does it make alot of difference to the gear change?

Without a doubt mate, definitely!!

I was well surprised after i done mines!

[raptor95GTS]

can't see pics in work but where did you get the bearings from?

[J-1]

Still got some bearings left!

[C50]

my bushes were fine but i still changed them and now have trouble engaging gears

[ant@sbits]

hi we sell the kits up at sbits if needed

[toxo]

I've got an sbits kit sat on my desk right in front of me, it's been here for a week Washers are the right size too, so no reboring for me!

Last time my car was in the garage Luke replaced one of my selector bearings cause it was oval shaped and that made a big difference, I'm hoping the change to these ones will be as good.

One point though, you say that one of the cables is forward drive and the other is reverse - aren't the cables 1 for forward&backward and 1 for left&right movement of the stick?

[J-1]

Anyone else done this yet? I've got a couple of sets of bearings left.

[toxo]

Yeah, did mine shortly after my last post. I fitted speedsource solid bushes for the shifter platform as well and the difference is awesome. Gearbox feels so much more solid and the gearstick gives more positive feedback.

[J-1]

I'm down to my last few sets of these bearings so if anyone wants a set, let me know!

[dazzz]

I'll take a set please buddy.

I'll pm you.

[tranx]

PM's about bearings!

[malcster]

Looks like www.twosrus.co.uk are out of stock at the moment.

Any ideas where else to get a set?

[cosmos]

These shift bearings work great they rotate as the selector rods go through several angle changes and we all know how tough bearing materials are!! Possibly the rotary bearing is better than a solid bush for this varying angle application.

[Ren0W]

What's the difference between these, and the speedsource ones?

http://www.infinityperformance.nl/shop/ ... prod_id=47

and

http://www.infinityperformance.nl/shop/ ... prod_id=52


I really don't know the differences, so I hope you guys can help me out on this one.

[toxo]

They do the same job as the parts in your first link, except these ones you have to pad out with washers a bit. Both the bearings in your link, and the bearings we are talking about go on the engine-end of the gearchange cables, where they attach to the gearbox.

The items in your 2nd link replace the rubber bushings that bolt your gear stick assembley to the centre tunnel. Makes the platform that the stick sits in more solid. I have them fitted to my car.

[Ren0W]

Cool, thx!

Will just buy the speedsource ones then.

Prefer perfect fit direct bolt on above hassle.

[toxo]

Edit: Scratch that.

BTW, the speedsource ones are solid. These ones are bearings which are sealed for life. I'd have thought the speedsource ones will wear down the shifter pin etc because they are solid... if that makes sense?

Possibly the rotary bearing is better than a solid bush for this varying angle application.

[Ren0W]

I do hope so, I just bought them

I've included a small piece of sandpaper cloth so that you can properly clean the shift pin before installation.