I just got my set of new bushings/springs from Mazdatrix, and I just realized I put them in upside down (blue on bottom)... thanks to the blue one that was already in there, and the absense of a white one.

Are these made of different materials? Will either of them fail more prematurely than normal when reversed?

The shifter feels perfect now, so if it doesn't matter, I'll happily leave it like that.

 

Why not just take it apart and put them in the right order? It's not like that little triangular gasket at the top does much for sealing anyways, and you can always just scrape it off and replace it with silicone if it makes you feel better.

 

it takes 15 minutes to remove, reinstall, clean and reseal, put it back together.

that gasket is a joke, next time when I take it apart I just gonna remove it and put silicone.

 

I'm not sweating taking it apart, I was just wondering if the two bushings were made of different material I suppose. The fit apparently doesnt matter!

 

I don't think it really matters. Maybe you can be the guinea pig and let us all know how it works out after a while?

 

I think the experiment is well worth the 20 bucks... so I'll just leave it and see what happens!

 

I recall reading somewhere here that the white one is harder, or more durable.

 

If thats true, then it would make sense to use white on the TOP. My top one had disintegrated, unless the PO just decided to not use one. My bottom one (blue in my case) was nearly intact.

Now that I think about it, the top spring wasn't there either. Maybe the PO just didnt know what it was for and left it out? Who knows...

 

The white bushing is a much harder material than the blue, and the bottom bushing takes the brunt of punishment. There is a reason Mazdatrix lists the white bushing as the bottom bushing.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm


Having the blue on the bottom will wear out / fail sooner than you'd expect, but I've never seen a white one wear out/fail.

If you search you'll find threads where forum members used two white ones to maximize durability, but found shifting became reallllly stiff as a result. So not really a viable alternative.

 

I can verify that the white is MUCH harder than the blue. I switched them around.

I still dont know why I would have a bottom bushing but no top, if the blue is softer/less resistant to wear (and takes less abuse)...

 

So bveing said that the white bushing is much harder than the blue and they are practically symmetrical, can you get 2 white bushings so they wont wear out as quick? Someone needs to start making these out of Delrin!

 

^^I repeat........... shesh.

 

Sorry man, didnt see the bottom part.

 

Hey thanks for the links. Very easy install. Shifts like new and doesn't flop around like a limp dick lol.