Can anyone think of any reason not to use two bottom (hard) shifter bushings (Using them top and bottom) instead of the bottom hard and top soft?

 

I say try it

Be the guinea pig

I really don't see the difference

 

Wow, I just finished replacing my shifter bushings 15 minutes ago!
As warned by Mazdatrix, Mazda had no record of two different bushings. So I talked to two rotary mechanics and they said two identical bushings can be used. I ended up with two blue ones. I figure if it does cause a problem, they're very cheap and easy to repair (cost NZ$22 for two bushings and two springs, took 15 minutes).
For anyone with a sloppy shifter, do it now! It's so easy and the difference is night and day. Interestingly, upon disassembly I only found one twisted and broken spring and no bushings. I presume they're in little pieces at the bottom of the gearbox...

 

Icemark:

Because the nylon is so hard, and thus less forgiving, it might cause a fit so tight that the shifter will bind enough so it won't return to the spring assisted center position.

Jason/NZ:

The bottom bushing is what take all the abuse. Thats why the bottom one is supposed to be the far more durable hard nylon one!

Basically, the blue one will only end up getting ground down to rubber powder and end up on the bottom of your tranny case. Sound familiar?

The white nylon one almost never wears out. My advise is get one of those (used even if you can't find new), pull you shifter, and swap out. You may need to nurse it in a bit slipping it under the metal "nub", but worth the effort.

 

Ahh... I am helping my neighbor swap them out this weekend, and I only had a slightly used white one and a regular bottom kit and inner boot kit.

I guess I will try and see if his existing top blue one is still good (which I doubt), or if I can make the used white one work as a top one. Either way it will get a new white bottom one and I have enough gaskets and boots to do the job.

 

I'm buying my 86 GXL the middle of next week. When driving the car, when it is in gear, the shifter moves so far that it looks like it is in the next gear. Would replacing the bushings fix this? Or should I go with my original plan and buy a mazdatrix short shifter?

 

Ah, that clears it up. Thanks for that, great info. I'll hunt for a white one, but at least now it's not urgent.
Mazda seem know nothing about the lower bushing, which pisses me off a bit. I've got the shifter parts diagram for both US and Japanese market cars, and neither show it! Mazdatrix's how-to has part numners, but the US ones don't match the JDM ones. Typical!

 

The bushings will fix the sloppiness, as to the short shifter, only you can decide if you want that.

 

If it is shifting ok otherwise, then most likely you're in need of new bushings also.

 

If you want, next time I order from Mazdatrix (probably middle of next month), I'll order you the bottom kit and mail it down to you. You can just send me some NZ money back when you get it.

 

Thanks for the offer! If I don't find one before then, I'll take you up on that. Just shoot me a PM when you're ready to order. Thanks again.

 

NZ - Seems that I had the same problem with the local Mazda Dealer ... when we compared the shift kit for the Miata, it had the White bushing that was needed ... so
if they have the Miata set in stock have them pull it out and compare ... or the actual part numbers are:
Blue: 8AF1-17-481
White: M505-99-178
If they cannot get them for you let me know, I have an extra set (new still in pkg) ... would sell for $15 ea plus you pay shipping ... so you may make out better locally.

 

Thanks man, I'll try that out. Cheers!