Just had a simple question that i could not locate in the FAQ... when you have play in your shifter what do the shifter bushings entail? i read a thread where something had to do with playing the tranny apart to insert a metal piece where it would pull shifter into place any help would be appreciated

 

Shifter bushings here: http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

In an FC, to get access to them, you'll nee to remove the shifter **** and surround. There are 3 bolts holding the shifter assembly onto the transmission extension housing. With these removed, the shifter will come free. The bushings may be broken or missing, which will lead to play.

 

If the shifter spring (which keeps it in the center position when in neutral) is broken you don't need to drop the trans to replace it. Simply unbolt the trans from the cross member and jack it up until you can access the pin you need to from inside the car. There is a thread somewhere on the forum with it. I recently have don't this.

As far as the bushings it only takes a good 20min to do the replacement.

 

Thanks guys much appreciated anymore info on the pice inside the tranny would help especially if you found that link!

 

try www.mazdatrix.com/FAQ%5CSHIFTBSH.HTM

 

This seems to be the thread pontiackid was talking about...
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...shifter+spring

 

I just replaced the shifter bushings in my FC a couple months ago, really quick job as as previously mentioned. A word of warning, those boots are old and will probably tear on you, anticipate that you're going to need new ones before starting the job. Also try and get as much of the old bushings out of there as you can, mine were a mangled mess.

Your shifter has a metal ball on the end of it about the size of a golf ball. This ball is connected to the transmission's shifter mechanism via a groove in it's side. Around this 'ball' are the two bushings (upper and lower). They keep the ball from moving everywhere and constrain its motion thus making the gears easier to find. The springs on the other hand pull the keep everything centered, i.e they pull the shifter back to the middle. Hence the slight resistance you feel going over to the 1-2 bay ( or over to 5th/Rev but I believe thats a different spring).

So if you shifter moves around a lot but you can still 'feel' thats you've moved it out of the center its the bushings. On the other hand if the shifter has minimal play but gives you no sense of the center its the spring. However it could very possibly be both.