I just replaced this (the inner most boot, that bolts to the tranny shifter housing) about a year ago with a new one from the dealer. I don't really drive the car all that much so it's frustrating that the rubber has broken again. I think the previous one lasted about the same time. Is there something wrong with the part? Am I not putting the right magic sealant on it? What gives?

 

Nobody? Am I the only one having this issue or are other people dealing with this?

 

where does it break?

 

yes there is something wrong with the part, the part was made when your car was built and has been sitting on the shelf since that time. rubber does not have an infinite shelf life.

parts have not been produced for these cars since shortly after the last FC rolled off the assembly line almost 20 years ago.

people have even bought brand new coolant seals from mazda, tried bending them and they crumbled into pieces.. new? yes. really new? no.

 

It's not like you can see it.

 

Really? Then what about OEM oil filters, thermostat, coolant hoses, and many of the usual OEM parts we use?

Although I have already got a set of RB silicone coolant hoses, it's still scary to think that most of the parts have been sitting there for a very long time....

 

maintenance items are usually a different story, manufacturers don't make 10 of an item a day they make 10s of thousands because it is more cost efficient to focus on a single item than to make a few here and there. most items were mass produced and then the machinery used to produce those parts put away or reconfigured and used for other purposes.

same reasoning applies to why you see group buys offer discounts, it's easier to do a run of items versus dropping everything while assembling an engine to make a single product then get back to work on what you were doing.

 

I've had my car 14 years and this part never lasts very long. The last one I got may have did better since it is the part Mazdatrix started selling that covers all 81 to 95 cars. The other 2nd gen specific part didn't last as long. I basically replace it when I have to replace the shifter bushings. Once the rubber has broken it stays that way until bushings are due again. I don't think I've ever had one last more than a year or two. Out of sight out of mind.

 

you'd almost be better off making something work, like a heavy duty work glove with a hole cut for the shifter slipped over the housing.

 

Oil filters and belts may be used on multiple models. Thermostats and hoses not so much maybe.

 

It's out of sight, but I can hear a "squick" noise every time I shift and I can smell gear oil. Plus, it's slowly working it's way up into the outer shifter boots. I think I'm going to take a shot at making something out of silicone and see how it lasts. Even if it only lasts as long, at least it's not $20 or more a shot. I hate paying for crap I know is going to break.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Mine doesn't make any noises. I also don't recall smelling gear oil in mine. I would be more apt to do something about it if it did. Unfortunately I gave up on this part long ago as it seemed like throwing good money after bad replacing it. Never really thought of fabing something else up though.

 

Well call me dumb. I finally got around to making a silicone sleeve for the shifter and when I got in there to clean up and put it on, I found that the inner shifter boot wasn't broken after all. For some reason that I can't fathom, it's just slowly leaking gear oil up and out of the shift lever box. Weird.