Fijensen

I had my tranny out, and noticed I had no bushings at all. I also don't have any inner boots, except for the big s.o.b. with the ridges on it. The big one is in 2 pieces (should it be?). I have a new set of bushings, but I'm wondering if they will do any good without the little inner boots? I dont want to spend 60 bucks on a piece of rubber. My car shifted pretty good without bushings, so I'm wondering if I really need to do this stuff.
Has anyone else been down this road? Your input would be appreciated. Why so many boots anyway? I noticed at Mazdatrix, they have 2 different things they call inner boots. 1 is a 3 piece set for 52 bucks, the other is a single piece for $28. Kinda confusing. Thanks, Fred

Icemark

You need all four boots for heat and oil and placement.

There is the first three (J in the picture):

Which are there to control heat and noise and fumes from getting into the cabin, and to help keep the shifter in position.
Then there is the final one (C in the picture) that keeps the oil and oil fumes in the tranny and also helps with shifter feel.

Any of these 4 missing will result in increased wear on the other 3 and possible other issues.

Fijensen

Can you explain what you mean by oil, and placement? I'm guessing the little round ones seal the top to keep gear lube from coming out? I was thinking about using some synthetic grease on the bushings, rather than gear lube. I hate the way that stuff smells. I found all of those parts at a place called RX7 World for less money than Mazdatrix wants. I can't see how that stuff can be so important, if I've been driving around for a couple years without it, with no problems? I hate spending a ton of money on an 18 year old car. I'm not a racer or anything. I drive it to work, and putt around on nice days with the top down.

raptor22

My shifter boots are getting worn, and alot of heat leaks up into the shifter. I have a custom metal ****, so it gets very hot, and is actually becoming an issue.

--Alex

Fijensen

I've never noticed any heat to speak of. Maybe I'll put some insulation on it, and make a boot out of an inner tube? I don;t feel like sending Mazdatrix 90 bucks.

Icemark

The heat that it keeps out is from under the car. If the boots are ripped the heat from the cats, and exhaust forces its way into the car.

"C" in the pictures seals the gear lube in the tranny shifter. It also helps with feel and placement.

As far as placement, with any of the boots missing or damaged, the shifter bushings are forced to do all the placement duties of keeping the shifter in the in assembly. If the boots are ripped the bushings take a major beating and tend to fail early. Of course when the bushings fail then you start wearing out the tranny sooner as well.

I personally think its pretty dumb not to get them. But then maybe you like the heat, smell of gear lube and what ever else is burning under the car, and you like changing out shifter bushings every couple of years.

t-too

inner tube ha ha... thats the best idea i've heard! finally, someone with the cheap mindset like me... I replace the shifter bushings because the shifter felt like crap. it was all over the damn place. if your shifter falls to the left, your centering spring is broken and now that your tranny is out, itd be a good time to replace that too(seems to me that alot of them are broken).

Fijensen

Icemark, I had the 3 big middle boots. In the diagram that I had they looked small. The only one I didn't have was the one that's connected to the cap (shift tower 3 hole cover) It's back together, and sealed up tight. Thanks