Shifter Lower Gaiter Alternatives
 

So many of our cars have completely wrecked shifter lower gaiters (or all of the rubber shifter boots). It seems to be a poorly designed part.

I did some digging and the inner dust boot (M513-17-480A) is a part used on a few of the Mazda cars, including the MX5 and B2000. Everyone complains about the quality of this part, its seems that having it rip within 12months of replacement is common.

The MX5 aftermarket has a few alternatives which are direct fit replacements that we can use. Best I've seen so far is this one from RSpeed ($28 USD) or DoctorMX5 (£8.25).

What are other people doing to mitigate this common problem? How about the upper boot?

Attachment 751703

what do i do? i leave it alone and stop looking at it. even if it is ripped it doesn't really collect junk unless you are rally crossing the car.

Doesn't it make the interior smell like gearbox oil?

You can smell that over the exhaust?

I haven't had a problem with that piece failing.

I mean, I had a big oil leak in my car like the one shown in your pic and a failed "Gaiter". Fixed the oil leak and put in a new "Gaiter" and it was good for 15 years.

The oil leak is killing the rubber. Its not doing your other rubber components any favors either.

But at least you probably don't have a rust problem under there!

Get the later Miata inner boot. Part number R501-17-47Z it's around $12.

Bolts right on and works great, much cheaper than the FD part.

Also, put a little baby powder inside and outside of the rubber part of the boot. Reduces friction from the boot rubbing against itself and can increase the life of that boot.

Dale