Shifter bushing

[Mazdababy]

Anyone know if the bushing at the very end of the shifter is the same in the NA shifter as it is in the NB shifter?

[RotorNutFD3S]

Depends on the transmission, I don't know about NA 5-speed -> NB 5-speed, however, I did find out that there were two different size bushings and levers for the NB 6-speeds (changed August 2003) and the NA 5-speed lever is too small for the 6-speeds.

[Mazdababy]

Alright, I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I'm swapping in a 2003 5 speed form DecoyOctopus and he broke the bushing lol. I'm going to try to reuse mine from my shifter. If not, is it bad to drive it for a day or two without it since i'll have to order it.? or is that even possible lol

[scandmx5]

shaban ragged that **** out :lol:
i hope you didnt pay a lot

[Mazdababy]

Nah i didn't pay a lot. It drove great before he took it out lol.

[RotorNutFD3S]

If you can pop yours off and it fits onto the lever from his transmission, you're in good shape. You can technically run them without a bushing, although I don't really recommend it unless you really really have to.

[mustangtomiata]

they are the same, the only difference between the two transmissions is the bellhousing have slightly different alignment holes for the starter.

[DecoyOctopus]

Nah i didn't pay a lot. It drove great before he took it out lol.

i gave yo soft *** a deal. that tranny is mint. i broke the bushing when i took the shifter out that day.

[DecoyOctopus]

they are the same, the only difference between the two transmissions is the bellhousing have slightly different alignment holes for the starter.

oh yea you left the tranny plate idk if your gonna need it. but if you do...i have pay pal muwhahahaha

[Mazdababy]

haha you better bring that over today!

[Mazdababy]

Just thought I'd post that the bushing does fit the '03 shifter perfectly.

[RotorNutFD3S]

We're talking NA 5 speed to NB 5 speed correct?

[Mazdababy]

yeah

[GaryMJ49]

I just replaced all the shifter bushings in a 2002 6 speed manual transmission. The only big problem is how to get the lower main pivot bushing in place below the 2 anti-rotaion pins? I practically had to break it to get it past. Does anyone know the proper procedure or technique to do this?

[RotorNutFD3S]

Are you talking about the nylon bushing at the very bottom of the shifter? The bushing should slide straight into the turret, sometimes it gets crooked and becomes difficult, just reset it straight and try again. Or take it off the shifter and ensure that it actually fits in the turret. As I posted before, there are two different size nylon bushings and levers.

[Cool Cat Racing]

The lower bushing is easy. You just take a socket extension and a hammer, tap the pin to the outside, swap the bushing, then tap the pin back in place. That's for the bushing in the turret. The lower shifter bushing just pops on and off.

[GaryMJ49]

I am referring to the lower pivot bushing just below the locator pins. The non-rotation locating pins (there are 2 of them) in my '02 6-Speed are very solid...not something you could easily tap in and out.

I contacted someone who works on Miata's for a living, and he says he has had problems as well getting them in, but he has found a bushing that is more flexible. Perhaps Mazda recognized the problem and has a better solution now.

The end bushing (the one that snaps on the end ball of the shifter) is no problem at all.

Thanks,
Gary

[RotorNutFD3S]

Ah, I know what bushing you're talking about, sorry, had a tired moment last night. Follow CCRs suggestion of the socket extension and a hammer, in the dozen or so 5- and 6-speeds I've worked on, it always works. They are made to slide in and out.

[Cool Cat Racing]

^try what we're saying. It works. It seems like they're pressed in but it's not a tight press fit and they will move.