Just got owned by a shifter bushing....
 

Hi All,

First post here, but I've been wrenching on cars for over 20 years. I picked up MTEC shift and clutch Springs, and an Energy Suspension Shifter bushing. The MTEC springs went in easily enough, (pretty nerve racking putting that 27 mm detent back in though). Moving on to the bushing, the stock one came off without any issue. But sweet jesus, for the life of me I couldn't get the ES bushing back on. Not even close.

Does anyone know if the ES bushing is a harder durometer than the Perrin's or other brands? I couldn't even get the bushing to START going on, much less force it all the way. I even had my brother come over and both of us pushing on the bushing got us nowhere. We even boiled it to heat it up to see if it would help any. No dice. Finally after hours of mangling my hands I gave up and put the stock bushing back on. Having a lift would help, but honestly that ES urethane has ZERO play it in. Can anyone share their misery with me?

I assure you the Perrin is just as much of a PITA to install. Keep trying or just stay stock. You use some silicone grease to lube it?

Well thanks for confirming they both suck to install lol. Yes I did try lubing it up with silicone grease. Only other thing I may try once it warms up (was an idiot for doing it right now, freezing outside) is either grinding down the "knob" at the end of the shifter support or slightly enlarging the hole in the bushing. Making the bushing larger is much easier obviously but I could very well ruin it by making it too large.

Yeah the temperature isn't going to help one bit. Could try getting a pot of boiling water and leaving it in there for a bit then install it or install at a later date when it's warmer.

Edit: Missed the part where you said you boiled it and it didn't work. I would install it in the future. And like cjd said I wouldn't mess with grinding the shifter carrier or enlarging the hole in the bushing.

Heat will be your friend. I would not grind the knob or drill it out. Heck, just bringing the bushing from inside and install immediately should help.

Rubber mallet.

Pretty hard to get a mallet in there with the driveshaft & exhaust in the way. Not to mention not much room in the transmission tunnel to go swinging.

So, I was able to get mine (Perrin) on by hand after working it quite a bit and a lot of grease.

Something you might try is to use one of those vise-type ball joint pullers. Got mine from harbor freight, and it's rather useful when you have to press, crush, or pull things in tight spaces. Not sure if it would work in this application, but might be worth a try?

I just removed the four bolts on the rear trans mount, unbolted the front pipe hanger and a few other small things, and dropped the rear of the transmission down enough to drive it on with a rubber mallet against a wooden dowel. It’s been a few years since I did it so I can’t recall all of the details, but it worked.

Take out the brass bushings in the mount. Install it on the shaft upside down, and spin it around. Taking out the bushings allows some flex to clear the chassis when you rotate it. Then reinstall the brass bushings.

Hi, humfrz here ..... :)

Back-in-the-day, when things had lots of bushings, I found it made things fit easier by "cleaning up" the shaft and the inside of the bushing.

I would hit the shaft lightly with a piece of emery cloth, then clean the inside of the bushing, making a few extra spins on the inside edge of the bushing where it would go onto the shaft.

Then clean both with kerosene, dab a bit of 3-n-1 oil on both ...... then tap that puppy on.

I would then treat myself with a tall glass of buttermilk and take a quick nap before proceeding (the nap is optional.....:D).


humfrz

the nap is mandatory, if you are paid by hours.

I have not installed this bushing is it a 2 part bushing one half on each side? Does a bolt run through it? Could you use a long bolt and big washer to pull it in?

I had to do all this and also had to loosen the drive shaft rear joint. No mallet required for me though. Wicked PITA

I had a hell of a time with the Whiteline bushing until I did these steps. I really did not want to mess with that joint but loosening that gave me the room I needed. Worth it though, I love the way the shifter feels now.