I just changed out the shifter bushings and the lower rubber boot today and filled the shifter with fluid. It shifts smoother, now that it actually has fluid, but the gear lever won't stay fully forward or backward when in gear.
for example, i'll put it into gear (any of them) and i'll be able to push the lever forwards (in 1,3,5) or backwards (2,4,r) a little bit. I assume i didn't reassemble the whole thing correctly.

does anyone have any suggestions?

also, fwiw the shifter isn't popping out of gear.

 

maybe didn't get the shifter retention spring in the correct position?

 

is that the J shaped spring? i couldn't figure out exactly how to set that up.

 

bumpzilla?

 

If that's the funky shaped one that wraps around to the left side, I don't see how that could affect the direction of movement you're talking about- you would just not have any resistance going to 5th and Rev, but who knows...

How tight did you bolt down the collar on top of the new bushings?

BTW- mine does the same thing ("bounces" back a little from selected gear), but I don't know exactly how much yours is doing it, so I'm hesitant to call it "normal"...

 

my shifter has a little bit of play while in gear also, maybe like 1/2 inch or so
think new bushings would solve this? sorry to hi-jack..

 

sounds exactly how you describe it. i bolted them down tight, the shifting was hard, so i untighted them and went about 5ft-lbs

 

mine has a little play in it atm - question since i am going through this process atm - the bottom two bolts on the metal plate overtop of the bottom of the boot - how on earth were you able to get those back in?

 

You don't have to take those out to get the shifter out, just the 3 10mm bolts on the "collar"...

 

so can anyone explain how to re insert the shifter properly?

 

Mazdatrix has a write-up including pictures on shifter installation. Check it out

 

it doesn't say how to align the retention spring.