Hey, I did it! Shifter bushings replaced!

qcwang · 12-27-2003, 12:59 AM

Just wanted to write and thank everyone who posted threads related to shifter bushing replacement over the past few years. I replaced them today and used Wayne's book and many of the tips and hints you all provided.

Took about three hours and cost $26.50 for the bushings from our host Pelican Parts. (Much cheaper than a rebuild!!)

The car shifts much better now! Biggest improvement is the lack of lateral play the shifter had when in gear. Now it is "locked in" when in gear. Cycling through the gears is now smoother also.

The ball cup and shift rod bushing did not seem to have any wear other than a yellowish age color change compared to the new ones. The shift coupler bushing did have some looseness which probably accounted for most of the ambiguity of the shifting.

I don't have a drill press machine so using sockets of different sizes (described in previous threads) to hammer out the the pin holding together the shift rod coupler was very helpful. It saved me $80 in buying a new one! I did ruin my 1/4" short extension for my socket set as I used it to hammer out the pin. I couldn't hold the socket well to hammer it so I used the extension instead and dented it just enough that it won't fit sockets anymore. Oh well, it will be easy to replace.

Best advice learned: Mark the relation to each other of the shift rod and shift rod coupler before uncoupling them. This saved me time in that I did not need to do any adjustment when reassembled. I took a piece of athletic tape and wrapped it around the male end of the shift rod coupler right where it met the shift rod. This showed me how far to slide back on the shift rod when I reassembled it. Using a pen, I then marked how the two were aligned. This combo worked for me and no linkage adjustments were needed when I was done!

Just wanted to share the fun I had today!! Happy new year everyone!

Quincy

Doug E · 12-27-2003, 05:00 AM

Congrats and thanks for the tips. I'll be doing mine soon so a recent success story is always nice to hear

Silveresrty911S · Silveresrty911S's Garage

Nice work Quincy, good to hear the old threads helping. Did you change your trans fluid to Swepco yet? After the bushings this also made the 915 a little smoother shifting.
You only have 100 projects to go!

Rick

qcwang · 12-27-2003, 11:46 PM

Yes, I still need to do the Swepco fluid change, so that is on the list for the future. Maybe next summer as I recently had the chain tensioners upgraded (had a P-car mechanic do it as I definitely would have messed something up if that were my #1 of 101 projects) and had the car serviced. I don't think they used Swepco 201 for the fluid change. To get my feet wet, I did do the pop-off valve when I first got the car.

Having fun getting to 101!!!

Q

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Its well worth the $50 that you will pay ($40 for Swepco and $10 for hand pump).... to change it now rather than wait til next summer.

Silveresrty911S · Silveresrty911S's Garage

Ditto what Sonic said, and if you do decide to change the fluid make sure you can get the side 17 mm hex refill plug off first. I've read posts where guys drained the tranny and couldn't get the plug off to re-fill

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

I've spent a ton of money replacing almost everything that normally wears out on my car. By far the best improvement per dollar was changing the shifter bushings. I never realized how much play my shifter had until I changed the bushings. Nice job.

My two cents, change the tranny fluid now.

John

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

I changed my shifter bushngs and my motor mounts about a week apart and the combination is amazing. I highly suggest you look at your mounts too, the difference new mounts make will amaze you. The tranny will shift much easier, much more predictably, it really changed the attitude of my car. I used sport mounts BTW

qcwang · 12-28-2003, 03:05 PM

I will change the tranny fluid soon since the concensus is to do so. I'll do it with my next oil change in about 1000 miles. I have to replace the oil sender unit in the oil tank as it went out on me about amonth ago. Oil level gauge goes all the way up when the ignition is turned on. Tranny fluid change to Swepco will be added to the things to do list at that time too!! Thanks for making more work for me!!! :-)

I was going to purchase some car ramps to back up the car on to get access underneath. Will the tilt allow all the tranny fluid to drain?

Or, would it be safe to buy four ramps and just drive it up on all four and maybe use some wheel chocks to prevent it from rolling back?

Q