Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help

799 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by The_Jerbel, Nov 27, 2001

JBRONCFAN

Discussion Starter · Nov 26, 2001

I want to get the bushing replace kit and was wondering if anyone had experience with this and how can I successfully do this? What kind of tools required and such.
'89 Jetta GL 1.8 SOHC

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

16valve

· #2 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

Its not all that hard. Put your car up on the jack quite high. Make sure its cool too. I roasted the back of my hand on my header.
The only tools I used was a Big Flathead screwdriver to knock the Big Rubber one out. And the wrenches needed to loosen up on that shaft. I think it was a 9mm? Not sure. Other than that, the only thing that took alot of time was realigning the shifter. (First Adjustment wouldn't let me into 5th Gear) If you have that Shifter alignment tool, it sould be quite easy. If not, just have a person test each gear while you make adjustments to get every gear.
Took me half an afternoon and I was doing it all by myself and I didn't have the alignment tool.
It'll feel like a new car. Have fun !

eastcoastdubs

· #3 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (16valve)

quote:[HR][/HR]It'll feel like a new car. Have fun ![HR][/HR]

I hear this over and over, and its hard to believe that just a bushing kit will do so much. I'll be doing this soon as well so I'll let you kow how it goes.

The_Jerbel

· #4 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

you'll need a 13mm wrench and socket, a lot of bolts in there are 13mm. The only thing that's a BI*CH is getting the orange bushing in the shifter box. Kurt and I ended up taking off the rivots and seperating that little housing piece to get the new one in. We used nuts and bolts to get it back together. The only other orange bushing goes in where the shifter rod passes through to meet the linkage and we took off that housing piece from the car to get the old one out and new one in. It's just easier with the housing off the car.
First, you've got to take off the heat sheild under the car that runs above the exhaust. From there, take off the 4 bolts that hold the shift box onto the body. Take off the shift knob and boot inside the car. Undo the bolt that holds the shift rod to the linkage. Drop the shift box with rod. From there you replace the bushing and stuff in the shift box and basically just seperate all the pieces of the linkage and replace whatever bushings are in there. Pretty much every piece of the linkage comes off and gets new bushings. Hope that helps a little.

[Modified by The_Jerbel, 10:41 AM 11-26-2001]

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16valve

· #5 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (The_Jerbel)

Thats a good idea about getting the Big Orange one in.
I used another trick though. After about 15min of fighting with it, I took a milk bottle and cut out a rectangle that would wrap around the big orange guy. Then I took a hose clamp and tightened it down so that it would begin to slide in, then I just slid the milk bottle liner off and the Big Orangy just popped right into place. So, by compressing it down like a cone, it was able to slide in easier.
Another way to getting the big orange thing in, was the way my friend did it. Put orange all the way on and far in as you can go. Then attach a big "washer" and then a hose clamp on the shift rod right in front of the bushing. Then just get in the car and push forward on the shifter. (provided that the shifter is all the way back) Leverage makes it happen. He says his way is easiest.
Good luck and HoseClamps are good for everything!!

The_Jerbel

· #6 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (16valve)

ya, there are a lot of ways to do it I'm sure. The other way I did it was to just use a pair of pliers and squish it on two sides, then use my fingers to fold the flattened bushing in half, fits in the hole EASY and just pops into place when you let go. I found that much easier than the first way we tried, grinding rivots and using bolts etc.

JBRONCFAN

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (The_Jerbel)

My VW dealer said all he had was like a bushing for bushing order and it would take a day to get. Is there any kind of kit I can buy that has it all ready to go?

The_Jerbel

· #8 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

adirondack has a good kit for $60 or so I think, you can give them a call.

A2GTI_8V

· #9 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

http://www.germanautoparts.com

eastcoastdubs

· #10 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (A2GTI_8V)

theres one on ebay for 15 bucks. last time i saw. I big 16. who knows.

MattTheFatCat

· #11 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

Speaking of all this bushing buisness, I got a new bushings kit from a Foreign Car parts dealer in the next city for $6 U.S. And by the way, I'm going to be replacing my buchings too, so thanks or all the advice!

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A2GTI_8V

· #12 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (MattTheFatCat)

i'm doing this soon also, and have a question. the bentley says to lubricate all joints and pivot points with "molybdenum disulphide grease (Volkswagen part no. G 000 602)."
is this necessary??? would a general automotive grease be sufficient?

Numbersix

· #13 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (eastcoastdubs)

quote:[HR][/HR]It'll feel like a new car. Have fun !
I hear this over and over, and its hard to believe that just a bushing kit will do so much.[HR][/HR]

Depending on how bad your current linkage is...believe the hype. I was amazed at how much better it was.
I bought my whole kit from Adirondiack for like $50 (this was 4 years ago though). Make sure whatever kit you get includes the cup and ball for the shifter. You can do all the underhood stuff pretty quickly but doing the shifter requires dropping the exhaust and heat shield. Use moly grease because the bushings are exposed to both heat and water.

[Modified by SeattleGLI, 8:03 PM 11-26-2001]

secretsquirrel

· #14 · Nov 26, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (JBRONCFAN)

Call: 206.878.5230
Auto Sport Imports
have them ship it to you.

DrMSH

· #15 · Nov 27, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (secretsquirrel)

A2GTI_8V: yeah, general grease is fine.. I love VW,, but sometimes things go too far..

The_Jerbel

· #16 · Nov 27, 2001

Re: Replacing shifter bushings(kit) help (DrMSH)

The only problem is that normal grease comes off eventually, try and use waterproof grease like marine grease or something. It will last longer.

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