Do I really need the rubber boot over the shift coupler?
 

I inerrantly left mine off recently. But when inspecting the boot and surrounding parts to decide whether to reinstall everything is perfectly clean. The boot looks brand new (20+ yrs old) and the chassis area is spotless. What does the boot protect against? (I know it keeps contamination off the coupler but the question is what contamination???)

you should be able to just remove the cover, inside the cockpit, you can undo the shifter rod from the coupler or the coupler from the trani and slip the boot on.

I will confess that I don't have one on my car, but then here in Ca rain is not really a problem, so I only get dust into the hole, and very little, I would be more worried if I lived in a rainy area.

Jim

if the rear boot is still there, the one that seals the hole to the trans, i wouldn't worry about it. the rear boot usually needs a clamp to keep it on the flange. maybe it's there to catch and hold any small amount of gear oil that might leak from the seal, so it doesn't go into the tunnel.

Yes the boot sealing the interior from exterior of the car is intact and fine.

Yes, if the rear most boot is not intact, oil dripping from your tranny/engine will be thrown into the tunnel...eventually leading to a thick, gooie, oily mess inside the tunnel. Don't ask me how I know. However, if you have a VW bug CV joint boot lying around, you can cut it slightly shorter and make it work instead of the factory piece!

oil leaks off a trani? never heard of such a thing!http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/kwijl.gif

i just did a shift shaft seal today, and the tunnel must have had a pint or more all thru it. i removed the little plastic plugs along the bottom of the pan, and had 4 oil pans collecting all the droolage.

John,
Saw your "seeking DKW..." note and wondered what became of the bugster project. Inquiring minds want to know.


PS. LIke the VW bus "face" :)

Ok so now I think I understand why this boot is there. It's to keep tranny leakage away from the chassis. It must be because the large diameter end of the boot slides over the rubber sleeve sealing the tranny to the chassis and then the small od slides over the shaft coming from the shift linkage. So if there's a tranny leak then the gear oil must flow into this boot and stay captured.