I'm new at manual. At my shop class I let one of my classmates sit in my rx7. He compliments my car, and shakes the shifter, than pulls it up, we can jiggle it up and down slightly, not much to at all, maybe under half an inch, and when you put it in gear, it swivels to the left if its 1st or 2nd, and right if its 5th and Reverse. He says that this is effecting my driving when I shift and such. Is this a problem, I'm going to film this in a minute so you guys can give me a better answer. Be right back...

 

The video:
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i141.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/lonetlan/DSCN0926.flv">

 

bump!

 

It looks like you shifter bushings are worn out. I replaced mine some time back. It is very easy--buy the bushing kit and it is done from inside the car the car. Just remove the boot, a few bolts, the remove old bushings and replace with new. Took less than 30 minutes.

Hope this helps.

 

Do I need the upper and lower bushings? I looked these up on Mazdatrix. I want to order all the bushings in one sitting? Am I missing anything?

 

You just need the upper and lower bushings, Mazdatrix's install page does a pretty good job of explaining.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

 

hey my shifter is like that!

yea i know i gotta replace the bushing.

blah

 

I ordered the upper and lower bushings today for my shifter, they should be here in 3days.

 

You may want to check and see If the PIVOT PIN is actually IN the transmission too.
Try this,grasp the Shifter.IF you can spin the shifter and shaft around "roughly 360 Degrees",then the pin has fallen out or something.
You will notice the Shifter Shaft has a slot on it,when you take the shifter out,(after you have undone the three 10mm headed bolts).Look on the inside of the Hole in the trans for a PIN that the slot uses,to keep the shifter Straight,and from rotating.
Sort of a bad explanation..OH>.go to www.mazdatrix.com and see how they install a short throw shifter.You should be able to see that pin.Good luck .

 

I should get the bushings tomorrow. I'll check the PIVOT PIN. Do any of you guys know how to check orders on Mazdatrix. There website is kinda "loose", like it isn't done yet.

 

call them, theyre very helpful for me when I have questions.

 

I just installed the bushings yesterday. The only thing I had to fish out was a spring. I couldn't fine the old bushings, or the lower spring were the clutch goes. I notice thats its REALY stiff. If I'm in nuetral, and I move the shifter to the right, it springs back to the middle. If I move it to the left, It doesn't spring back to the middle. Also, When I am shifting from 5th, to 2nd its hard to get into 2nd gear.

 

The Video:<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i141.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/lonetlan/DSCN0942.flv">

Why is it soo stiff now?

 

That isn't stiff. Mazdatrix short throw with new bushings is stiff.

I take it you are new to 5 speed trans cars or have driven ones that weren't sports cars or were newer. It is hard to get into any gear until the trans is warmed up a little bit in my rx7.

Plus you shouldn't be going from 5th straight to second anyways unless at a dead stop then it would be 5th to 1st anyways.

 

My guess would be that the other spring (that you can't see from above) is worn/missing. Same thing with mine.

 

Yes I'm new at manual(u came off a little too strong). I'll make a video in the day time of a quick drive. The 5th to 2nd downshifting scenario was when I was going 45mph in a 45(short highway) and a car didn't give me the right of way, I was pressing the brakes, and I engined braked to slow down in time, I had the clutch fully pressed and it was as if there was something blocking the 2nd gear slot.

I'll check to see if I moved the spring. It probably got knocked when I was cleaning out the hole for the lower spring, and I just pulled at whatever I could grab in that small hole.

 

Didn't mean to sound like an ***.

At 45 my car would lug really bad in 5th gear. Hell i barely even use 5th unless cruising on the highway @ 70ish. At that speed going into second is fine(i can hit 45 in 1st gear). Just let the clutch out slowly. I engine brake 99% of the time because i feel like I have more control over the car and i can stop quicker.

 

No problem jfpimp91elkland