How would I be able to tell if my shifter bushings are toast? The push to 1-2 is really easy- although if I push the shifter over towards 5-R then I get resistance. Clutch in, clutch out - moving, stopped - doesn't matter. I guess combined with that - where can I get new ones and how hard are they to install? Thanks.

 

www.Mazdatrix.com and extremely easy to install.

 

Shifter bushings are really easy to ID. You will have so much free play in the shifter that in any gear it feels like your in neutral.

Instead of a centimeter of play you will get like 4cm.

BUT I don't think that's what your asking.

I think you mean Syncro's.
The Reverse on my GTU was always a little tricky but I didn't care. Unless you want to rebuild the tranny you better learn to live with it.

Generally you can tell bad syncros from shifting quick and either getting a feeling of something is blocking your shift into that gear or you hear grinding.

 

Oh yeah you can fight the syncro's by Double clutching into the gear. Do a search on that to learn how. It is better for the tranny anyways.

 

There is supposed to be a heavy spring to center from 5-R, and a light spring to center from 1-2.

 

these are very common wear items in FC's...mine was so bad I was able to spin my shifter in place once

 

Your shifter will have so much play, its not even funny..

 

mine shifter is spinning