Okay, a slightly different questions that I've seen asked frequently.

I bought the complete set of bushings from Mazdatrix.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

and I'm using their FAQ to try to do this install.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

Well, I feel like an idiot because it's still not making complete sense...

Part C in their boots/bushings page is the "inner boot" (Mazda part # M513-17-480A. It appears to me that this boot actually went up inside the shift lever -- like between the silver "ball" piece and the top black (threaded) piece. But the one off of my car is slightly different than the one I received from Mazdatrix and it actually has an M514 # on it, not M513. The holes line up, so I'm thinking it's not a huge deal, but I'm not sure. Also, it's slightly different than the pic on their website too.

So the question is, do I have the right piece? If so, does the "boot" part of that piece actually fit up INSIDE the shift lever? If so, how? Does the shift lever come apart? -- not counting the handle which I've already removed, does it separate into 2 pieces?

It appears that Mazdatrix says the just lube it up and slip it over the whole thing -- crap I'm not sure it will fit. I don't want to rip the dang thing, but right now, that's the only way I see it going on... Only possible thing I can see is a 'roll pin' that might hold the black threaded top to the silver ball on the shift lever... Don't really want to take that out just to see, but if that's the key, I will...

anyway, if someone can clear up the confusion, I would appreciate it. I'll try to post some pics of the various parts I'm talking about. Hang tight for those to come in the following posts...

thanks in advance!!

 

This is what it looks like on Mazdatrix's website. This brass colored ring apparently is the bottom of the "inner boot"




and here is what I have.
Lever on left, new "inner boot" from Mazdatrix on right.
See the difference in boot and what I'm talking about in the top half of lever and bottom half...

sorry for the large size...

 

That is the new inner boot. You have a couple of options using it.

What I have been doing is razor bladeing the old boot off the old metal piece, then using the small gasket between it and the new inner boot. So from the top/threaded side down, you have new inner boot, gasket, old brass ring, gasket, transmission.

To get the new boot on. You will be sliding it down from the top/threaded side of the shifter. What I use is liquied dish soap. Dish soap will allow it to slide down just fine and not rip the boot, as well as won't damage or melt the rubber (something that oils often will do) as well soften your hands and leave a pleasent scent.

Now people claim that you can not use the old metal piece and just screw down the new inner boot, but I just have't tried that yet.

 

I did my shifter and I think I'm missing something cause it still feels sloppy when in neutral.

 

The rubber will stretch enough to slide down the fat part of the lever.

There is supposed to be a plastic insert in the shift ball pivot slot - to keep the lever from spinning.

Here is the illustration from the FSM.

 

That picture shows a 84-85 tranny, not a FC tranny. The FC M-type trannys don't have that lower bushing.

 

I'm missing the upper bushing, in case anyone's interested. LOL

 

Yeah, I've got the plastic insert -- no worries there.

So it sounds like the inner boot will slide over with lubrication, that's cool... But still unsure about where it goes -- does the soft part of that boot actually fit up inside the shift lever? Right now I have quite a bit of rubber up there and I'm pretty sure that was part of the old boot. Do I dig that crap out of there and try to stuff the new one in? Or do I just leave it there and just let the new boot rest against the 'separation-point'?

Mark, I had thought about using the old ring as you had suggested, so I'm glad I wasn't way off-base there. Actually your idea was improved tho -- I was thinking old ring under the new boot, not new boot under (and thru) old ring as you suggested. I think that makes more sense!

thanks for the help so far!

 

bump...

any thoughts on my last question? (bushing up inside the lever?)

 

The illustration came from the s5 manual.
Are we talking about the same bushing?
Every one I have seen has a plastic cup bushing that takes the slack out of the bottom end of the shift lever.

 

I replaced mine as soon as I bought my car. I did not reuse anything. I slid the part pictured above over the top as ICEMARK said and follwoed the rest of the instructions from mazdatrix.

I am a little confused about your question but let me see if I understood. Take the " Inner Boot " ( Pictured above ) slide it over the top with some sopa or whatever liek Icemark mentioned. Now are you asking how far down you have to slide it? I cant remember exactly how I did it... but stick it back into tranny to use for a guide. I did not reuse the old ring from the original piece. My shifter works great. Good luck buddy.

 

No my question is should the boot actually fit up "inside" the shift lever. Reread my descriptions above -- there is actually 2 pieces to the shift lever. My question is should that boot actually fit up between the top threaded portion and the silver ball lower portion. There is significant rubber there now that I believe was the old boot...

 

I know its an old thread but this is my exact question too, and since I don't see an answer... I'll sort of rephrase it:

Can the shifter come apart? Is there any way to easily take it apart? And if not, is the rubber that's inside it the remnants of the old boot/bushing thing that Tray is talking about or is that something entirely separate?

I too have the mazdatrix kit and was going to do the replacement and did a quick search before asking the question all over again and found this thread... if anybody has any clue about this please let's try to get an answer here for posterity at least. Thanks!

 

OKay, I'm wondering about the old rubber too that is stuck under the shift lever. I just replaced the boot, but I'm still getting leaking from the top of the boot where it meets the shift lever. I'm wondering if the old rubber pieces are causing a poor seal, but I didnt' want to dig it out if I wasn't suppose too.

 

The only way to disassemble the shifter is to melt the rubber isolator internally... but then you would always have vibration in the shifter, or be forced to use the lower piece without any of the stalk