My shifter has been rattling like a **** for the past several months. Ive changed out the **** a few times and the wrattle doesnt go away. Without the ****, the rattle is still there. The previous owner installed a short shifter (most likely a Miata shifter considering budget). I was wondering if it could just be worn out bushings or insuficient fluid? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Its in an 86 Sport BTW.

Alex

 

From what I gather, short throw shifters rattle and there are a few people investigating fixing it, but no good conclusions. Perhaps AaronCake will join in and school me.

 

Yeah, Iv heard on Mazdatrix's site about how their C's shifter even rattles, but my rattle has progressively gotten louder. The Shifter was brand new when I got it.

 

Worn out bushings definitely will make it loose. If you notice that your throw is getting longer that could be one of your signs to get a new one. They're cheap, and you could get one from a local dealer.

 

bushings . . . . my stock shifter vibrates and rattles and i know for a fact my bushings are shot.

 

change the bushings...

For me, my transmission didn't start to rattle until about a month before it completely grenaded on me (shot bearing). I had a short shifter.

 

Well to change the bushings for a Miata shifter in a RX7 tranny, do I use RX7 bushings or Miata bushings?

 

Here..read Karack's thread..Since you are a Little "new" ..Welcome. https://www.rx7club.com/search.php?searchid=2774595 and this is all you really need to know about shortthrow shifters!

 

The rattle doesn't always come from sloppy shifter bushings. Doesn't the size/wear of the ball on the end of the shifter have something to do with it? I know this is not 2nd gen shifter, but my 83 shifter is sloppy as hell, but there is no give or play from the bushings themselves, just some crazy play from the end of the shifter. Meanwhile the shifter in my other 83 is very nice. Is it possible to install some sort of coating on the ball that sits down into the shifter housing to absorb some of that noise/vibration?

 

The link to Karack's writeup was dead. Still anyanswer on whether to order Miaita or RX7 bushings from Mazda?