My shifter is kind of loose. when in neutral, the shifter is kinda easily moving when i touch it.. My friend's shifter in the civic is pretty solid and rigid.. is my shifter loose? or is this normal for a 88' manual rx7?

 

your shifter bushings are probably worn. grab the shifter and try and pull it up and down. if it moves they should be replaced. there is a write up and info at www.mazdatrix.com

 

There should be a little play, but the shifter should not be that loose... Sounds like you need to replace your shifter bushings. It happens a lot on the FC. Go to www.mazdatrix.com. The kit costs about $25, if I remember right. They also have a GREAT write up with video to show you how to replace them! It takes about 20 minutes to do it, and the shifter feels so awesome after. Good Luck!

 

hey.. i visited Mazdatrix like you said.. but there are different type of bushings.. which one should i buy? Here is the link. http://www.mazdatrix.com./g4.htm

 

ooooh i found the correct link.
Thanks! I guess i'll try it!

Is it bad to drive around w/ a worn out bushing?

 

You should be fine until you can change them, no biggie...

 

Yea, I had to get new bushings for my GXL when I first bought it, it would move up and down like an inch I bought new bushings and rubber boots too, cost me like $80, but felt oh so good when it was done. Took me about 30 min.

 

well yeah, $5 to fix, no harm done if you continue as it is.

 

I like your new girl MaxRx7

I replaced my shifter bushings, didnt help much. it's a little smoother, but still really loose. i take it this isnt good...am i right? There werent really any lower bushings, is this the reason?

Thanks,
Jameson

 

you need both the top and lower bushings. its the same damn kit. you just buy two of them. theyre both blue things. costs about 12 bux from your local dealer.

 

Everyone seems to be forgetting that there are a couple of small springs in there to "force" the stick in the center position. If one of these springs is worn out, then all you have to do is replace the bushings AND change/tighten the little springs...

 

Can someone gimme the link? I can't find it.

 

The springs might be cheap..
HOwever getting to them is not at all a quick and easy job to do..

 

Those springs in the shifter can't be changed without removing the transmission, unless you're one of those people who is good at building ships inside a bottle.

 

got my shifter bushing kit from mazda for 10 bucks or whatever, was told it was the whole kit, all i needed. Yeah, it includes 1 small blue plastic thing and a metal piece that clips onto it... So i need to buy another of the same thing?


~Jesse

 

I'll have to replace my bushings too, although it does something completely different. When you push it up and to the left to engage first, occasionally it'll go well past first, toward my knee, into some sort of gearbox fairy-tale land.

Oh, the joys of aging 80's sports cars.

 

hey, I need to do this bad. so what exactly are the mazda part numbers for ALL of the parts needed to do this. I want my car to feel tight and precise like a sports car, not like a truck. I was thinking I might try to get a short shifter kit at the same time. which would you say is the best? I also heard about a rattling or something with the shifter. any word on that? thanks

 

Mine does this as well, adn it is because of the bushings. Mylocal Mazda dealer was actually out of these (said someone came in and bought 2 sets the day before) So I have myself a set on order I'll post the total $ spent, and the part numbers when I actually get them.

 

I have been doing some work and research on these shifters and have made 3 'short shifters' so far ... 2 for '86-88 and one for '89 + ... there is several differences with the '89 + (one of which) ... Mazda put a nylon insert in the keyway between the two bushings which can be repalced but the '88 and older have metal to metal, and if you continue to drive with bad or no bushings you will cause alot of wear/damage to that keyway ... then you will never get all the slop outa your shifter, no matter how many bushings and wave washers you install. Look at the bottom of the keyway (first into the trans) ... see if the keyway looks beat-up or not .. if it looks pretty good and not much wear on the sides you are ok. ... install new lower bushings, upper bushings, and new lower boot (you will play hell getting the old lower boot off without tearing the rubber). The lower boot is the one with the 3 10mm screws and holds the shifter inplace ... upper boot will proball need to be replaced also but it is expensive.
Mazda P/N: 8AF117481 upper and lower bushing kit (need 2) cost appx $15 ... P/N: M50917480A lower boot (86-88) @ $22 ... P/N: M51417480A lower boot (89 +) and P/N: FB0164490B middle boot (3 pcs one of which is almost square shape which metal piece held down with (4) 10mm screws) @ appx $40. PS be sure to add some trans fluid into hole before installing shifter ...

I do sell the short shifters/kits ... and they are tight ... E-mail me ...

Sorry such a long post

 

WRONG!! Check the Mazdatrix site. They spell it out right.

The bottom bushing is a very durable white nylon design. The top bushing is softer blue material. The round springs come with each bushing as well as a gasket for the shifter cover.

You put the blue one at the bottom and it will be ground up into rubber dust after several months. And, a real mess to clean up afterward.

 

Amen Brother HOZZMAN.

 

Saw that on Mazda trix also ...
So ... send me mazda part numbers please for those lower
white bushings ... local dealer sells upper and lower as the
same ...

P/N: ???

 

I've done 6 shifter rebuilding job. Here is what you need

An upper bushing kit
An lower bushing kit

Also there are a few parts that you might forget

Lower Boot
Upper boot

These 2 parts are usually torn. You have to replace them, but they are expensive