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View Full Version : DIY aluminum shifter base bushings install



ace of spades
01-29-2011, 06:35 AM
let's see how long this lasts today. the old shifter base bushing thread is outdated, no pics. time for a redo, with pics and complete instructions.

get some crisper, smoother shifting feel for an hour's worth of work.

tools needed:
- 3/8" drive ratchet
- 12mm deep socket
- 12mm shallow socket
- 3" socket extension x2
- swivel attachment
- large flathead
- not so large flathead
- light
- aluminum base bushings

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00108-1.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00097-1.jpg

- just a warning in advance, the confines of the shifter area are tight. if you have larger hands prepare to get them cut up. you do not want to drop anything in the space you're about to work inside so take your time and be precise.

- start by removing the shift know by turning it counter-clockwise.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00084.jpg

- place two fingers into the shift boot, gripping the trim ring and pull up from the bottom to release the clips holding the lower dash/shift boot trim. the lower clips will release.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00085.jpg

- the upper corners are very fragile. so be careful getting them to release. you can either tug on them, or slide a thin screwdriver in and pry them loose. I have done both in the past, but carefully every time.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00086.jpg

- tada
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00087.jpg

- unhook the wires from the back of the hazard switch.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00088.jpg

- with your 12mm socket, ratchet, and various extensions remove the 4 brass bolts at the base of the shifter. I started with the top bolts first, and since the top bolts are nice and tucked away I had to change my tools on each side.
top left- 12mm deep, both 3" extensions. top right- 12mm shallow, both 3" extensions, with the swivel between the extensions. the top bolts can be removed. I loosened the lower bolts, and left them in.
before:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00089.jpg

after top bolts are removed:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00090.jpg

- leave the bottom bolts in (just loose) and remove the upper bushings from the shifter base by taking your large screwdriver and inserting it into one of the bushing sleeves like so.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00092.jpg

- now you're gonna pull the shifter base towards you, while you push in on the bushing sleeve. this will push the bushing sleeve out from the back.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00093.jpg

- grab the bushing sleeve from behind the shifter base. pull the shifter base towards you to give your fingers a little more room once you have it and remove it. the bushing sleeves have a collar on the rear of them that sit in a groove on the rubber grommet part of the stock bushing.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00091.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00094.jpg

- you'll be removing the rubber grommets from the back side of the shifter base as well. what's nice about rear removal is that you can push or pull on the shifter base to help you if you're having trouble in that tight space. if you think you're gonna drop any of this stuff, you can push on the shifter base to wedge it between the base and the frame it bolts to.

- with your smaller flathead screwdriver, you want to pry the grommet into the hole and remove it from behind.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00095.jpg

- grab it from behind the base and remove them both, each on the top.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00096.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00101-1.jpg

- onto the lower bolts. I was able to use my 12mm deep and both extensions on both lower bolts. space is more limited than on the upper bolts. again, don't drop anything. remove the bolts, then the sleeves, then the grommets just like the uppers. all bolts/bushings removed:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00104.jpg

- bye bye
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00107.jpg

- the new shifter base bushings were a breeze to install. here's a way to smooth it out for you. get all four bolts ready by placing one aluminum shifter base bushing on each bolt. place them on your dash vent. attach one 3" extension to your 12mm deep socket.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00099.jpg
the little collars on the new bushings will face each other, so put them on the right way like in the picture.

- starting with the lower bushings, I kept pressure on the shifter as I slid a bushing down from the top and into place. to be exact, I slid it until I could fit my smaller flathead into the opening, then released the shifter and moved it into place with the screwdriver. when it was at the right spot, I reapplied pressure and removed the screwdriver. I quickly grabbed a bolt and tossed it in, then grabbed my 12mm deep/3" extension and tightened it until it had no more toward/away slack in it. repeat this on the other side. then I snugged them hand tight.
lower bolts and bushings:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00105.jpg

- same as the lower bolts, but you will be sliding them up from the bottom like so.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00102-1.jpg
position them with the screwdriver while putting pressure on the shifter to wedge them in and keep them from falling into the abyss of the shifter area.

- once you have the first bolt started, tighten about 3/4 of the way in, then do the other side. you'll need more room with the upper bolts. when you're tightening the upper bolts, wiggle the shifter to ensure the new bushings are properly seated in the shifter base.

- torque all 4 bolts to 16 ft/lb.
after
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00106.jpg

- before you start putting the dash back together, run through the gears to ensure everything's fine before proceeding.

- reattach your hazard switch connection and place the lower dash/shift boot trim panel over the shift lever and clip it into place starting with the top. both top corners should snap into place before the lower clips.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00088.jpg

- reinstall the shift knob by spinning it onto the shift lever by turning it clockwise.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/blueEP3piece/DIY/IMG-20110123-00084.jpg

ep3jd
01-29-2011, 06:36 AM
Free weezy!!!

POOPTOOTH
01-29-2011, 08:14 AM
Nice write up J! I'll be utilizing both the base and cable DIY's when 'part install day' comes around in the spring. Can't wait!

BeaterEP
01-29-2011, 08:34 AM
LOL wtf?!

Anyway, again, great write-up! Glad someone could take the time to post one with good pics! Hopefully this will answer a lot of questions.
:thumbu:

ace of spades
05-26-2011, 08:07 AM
very helpful, thank you

thanks

should this be stickied???

27rocks
05-26-2011, 08:50 AM
Great write up!!!

I think its safe to say that you could also just use some washers. As long as you tighten everything on straight i see no reason why it would be any different.

JaydmEp3
05-29-2011, 12:25 AM
nice write up..like the new aggresive feeling?

apexracing
07-05-2011, 10:03 PM
Great write up thanks for the pictures, thumbs up!

Andrew
07-08-2011, 01:03 PM
excellent write up, very deteailed imo

i am also excited to do this! i have put off my bushing kit and short shifter for years now -_______-

lemonhead228
07-22-2011, 02:31 PM
Has anybody did this and the cable bushings? If so how's the results

apexracing
07-22-2011, 02:42 PM
Has anybody did this and the cable bushings? If so how's the results

The results are great. Smooth notch free shifting.

MattG80
07-22-2011, 02:45 PM
Has anybody did this and the cable bushings? If so how's the results

I have done both. I did the base bushings first and the cable bushings a few weeks later. Big difference. Shifting is so crisp. I will do this to any car i purchase in the future that is manual.

Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

ace of spades
07-22-2011, 03:35 PM
Great write up!!!

I think its safe to say that you could also just use some washers. As long as you tighten everything on straight i see no reason why it would be any different.
Thanks

nice write up..like the new aggresive feeling?
Yeah, feels so much better.

Great write up thanks for the pictures, thumbs up!


excellent write up, very deteailed imo

i am also excited to do this! i have put off my bushing kit and short shifter for years now -_______-
Thanks. Glad it was helpful.

Has anybody did this and the cable bushings? If so how's the results
I've done both. Combined, it is a lot better over stock bushings.

bearcat91
07-23-2011, 12:48 AM
Great write up!!!

I think its safe to say that you could also just use some washers. As long as you tighten everything on straight i see no reason why it would be any different.
Tempting..its free! Would you stack a couple washers or just put one?

27rocks
07-23-2011, 07:15 AM
Tempting..its free! Would you stack a couple washers or just put one?Stack them. You want to keep the same gap as oem.

ace of spades
07-25-2011, 04:54 AM
you could use washers, but for $16 just pick up the bushing set.

brennaneli
08-14-2011, 07:49 PM
you could use washers, but for $16 just pick up the bushing set.


Where did you find your bushings for $16? Ebay?

05 hatch
08-14-2011, 09:33 PM
Where did you find your bushings for $16? Ebay?

This ^^

Cheep3
08-15-2011, 04:27 AM
If anyone ever needs just 1 spacer, I have an extra. Long story -

ace of spades
08-16-2011, 07:31 AM
Where did you find your bushings for $16? Ebay?


This ^^

I found mine for sale from a member on clubep3, but I've seen them on ebay.

SHHEP3@UB
08-21-2011, 06:34 AM
If and when it is rereleased, I'm planning on getting the BCSS, but does it include any new cable or base bushings, or should I go ahead and get these?

hueyhy
08-21-2011, 07:34 AM
Will this harm the tranny and the cable? Some mechanics told me not to install the aluminum cable bushing on my dailydriver coz it will make the tranny wear much faster. Not sure about the base bushing. if it will hurt too, I'll just sell it...

ace of spades
08-21-2011, 09:56 AM
If and when it is rereleased, I'm planning on getting the BCSS, but does it include any new cable or base bushings, or should I go ahead and get these?
I don't think the BCSS comes with any mounting hardware.

Will this harm the tranny and the cable? Some mechanics told me not to install the aluminum cable bushing on my dailydriver coz it will make the tranny wear much faster. Not sure about the base bushing. if it will hurt too, I'll just sell it...
no idea

sippyyy
08-21-2011, 06:55 PM
did this the other day, super easy and made shifting much tighter. found the bushings on ebay for about $15, they seemed pretty good quality.

also I found it was much easier to take off the upper dash panel as well to give yourself a little more room to work with.

ace of spades
08-23-2011, 01:32 PM
I just saw a guy on clubep3 post a thread about selling base bushings for less than $20. not aluminum though...

wowitztai
02-16-2012, 06:45 PM
just ordered a set for myself...waiting for them to be delivered.

ep3noobster
04-29-2012, 11:19 PM
Just installed aluminum bushings to my ep3. It's really worth it. I suggest everyone do it. One thing I noticed right away was I didn't have to push the shifter into gear as hard as usual. It slides into gear more fluidly.

P.S. I didn't order my bushings from Corsport. I found some ebay ones for only 15 bucks no shipping. Well worth the purchase!!

fdnyjon
06-04-2012, 07:41 PM
going to be doing this one soon. well after i get myself a new clutch :(

Eddie Murphy
05-21-2013, 04:10 PM
Nice write up. Can you please re-post the pictures?
Thanks.