So the other part I went looking for at my local Mazda dealer is the bushing for the automatic shifter linkage. It is not even shown on the parts microfiche/computer screen. The exploded view simply shows the washer and the cotter pin for criminintly's sake!
The assistant parts manager even tried to argue with me that there is even supposed to be one there....
So I finally asked him, "What is a person to do to replace this, because without the bushing the entire shifter doesn't operate correctly..." and he said, "I don't know."


So I spent about an hour at a plumbing supply house (don't laugh) and actually found a bushing that will work with a little lathe work.
I called and left a message with Ray Crowe at Malloy just for grins, too. I am sure if ANYONE on the planet can help...it is Ray.

Pictured is the offending bushing, or pieces thereof, in the shifter linkage.

 

Hey Bajaman, it just does'nt stop with these cars. (LOL).. If you get one to work will you get me one?. I am sure I will need one in the near future.

Jeff

 

I would order J001-46-051 it is only around $2, all though it is listed as a washer I have often found Mazda's descriptions to be off base.

As an example they list the secondary fuel injector diffusers as a gasket in their description


Dan

 

If the bushing you got doesn't work i found that a small piece of coolant hose works well. Its not factory but i found it to work well on the nissan shifters that the bushings melted away or just fell apart.

 

you mean you don't have to buy the entire shifter to get the washer..(LOL).. a $2.00 FD part I can't believe it!! Thanks for the info I'll call Ray after hearing from Bajaman.

Jeff

 

I think Mazdatrix has a brass or aluminum version of it that is quite inexpensive and longer lasting. Rx7.com might have one too iirc

 

Baja, your local junkyard will have a ton of those things. That's a real common bushing on linkages. Just start looking on auto cars and I am sure you'll find what you want. Start with Mazdas.


Later

 

Or second gen. Probes.

 

Ray rocks. Hes defintely one of the pillars of the rx7 community.

 

I just checked with Ray and he too is baffled by this.

Thanks for all the advice on getting a replacement part. You know as time goes on and more and more parts become unavailable...we will all have to become 'proficient scavengers'...lol!

 

That is the god's honest truth

 

Well...I just decided to make a new bushing using some aircraft-grade nylon (hey, if it is good enough for an F-22 Raptor...it is good enough for an FD!)

But I think I will go scavenge some salvage yards...er, "automotive recycling facilities" to see what I can find that is close to stock also, for future reference.

On the left is a bushing that was in the 'new' shifter I had bought several years ago, the one I am cannibalizing the indicator panel off of, it too was not in the best of shape. On the right is the one I made. What has yet to be seen is...will this material have enough 'give' to get it to fit thru the hole in the shifter.

 

keep us posted!

Jeff

 

Let me know if you still need this. I have an auto I'm parting out and I still have the shifter assembly.

 

This man is correct

 

Quick update as I am heading to the gym....the nylon piece did NOT work, it was far too rigid to go into the hole...sigh.
However, I found a perfect substitute that I will post about later.

 

when I did my steering rack bushings on my old car, they had a slit in them to fit over the rack. try that. once it's in it's final spot, I don't see it moving even with the slit.