Energy Suspension Shifter bushing

[blsfrs]

Has anyone tried to install this brand of rear shifter bushing? I could not get the thing to slide onto the shifter rod even with dish soap as a lubricant.

In videos of other brands, the thing seems to slide on with minimal effort.

Energy Suspension is going to send me some of their special lube, but any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Transmission in neutral and parking brake released? I struggled for half an hour until I realized that.

[DocWalt]

I didn't use that brand, but I found it easiest to lube it up, sort of jam it between the shifter bracket and body, then bench press the shifter bracket up into place which pushed the bushing onto the bracket.

I couldn't get enough force into to push it onto the bracket otherwise.

[blsfrs]

Thank you these ideas but I'm not understanding either of them.

The rod and bushing are horizontal so I can't make sense of the bench press scenario and I don't see what influence the parking brake will have.

Energy Suspension is sending their grease and suggested heat the bushing with a blow dryer.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

I'll ask again, is the transmission in neutral and parking brake released? If not you won't have enough room to slide the bushing on, no matter how much lube you use. It will feel like it can't go on, but that's just due to misalignment between the shifter carrier shaft and the transmission tunnel and driveshaft. Note that leaving the transmission in gear and having the parking brake engaged doesn't interfere with removing the stock bushing.

[blsfrs]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I'll ask again, is the transmission in neutral and parking brake released? If not you won't have enough room to slide the bushing on, no matter how much lube you use. It will feel like it can't go on, but that's just due to misalignment between the shifter carrier shaft and the transmission tunnel and driveshaft. Note that leaving the transmission in gear and having the parking brake engaged doesn't interfere with removing the stock bushing.

I was installing the bushing during my transmission reinstall. The driveshaft was still out of the car. There was plenty of room to line up bushing with the rod. The problem seems to be the size of the hole and hardness of the hardness of the bushing material.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by blsfrs

I was installing the bushing during my transmission reinstall. The driveshaft was still out of the car. There was plenty of room to line up bushing with the rod. The problem seems to be the size of the hole and hardness of the hardness of the bushing material.

Interesting. So I guess the different makes do make a difference. This concludes my usefulness here. Best of luck with your problem.

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by blsfrs

Thank you these ideas but I'm not understanding either of them.

The rod and bushing are horizontal so I can't make sense of the bench press scenario and I don't see what influence the parking brake will have.

Energy Suspension is sending their grease and suggested heat the bushing with a blow dryer.

When you remove the bushing, the bracket assembly can swing down a bit. Grease up the bushing and place it on the end of the bracket. Push the bracket upwards and the sloped rear end of the tunnel will push the bushing onto the bracket.

I'm not sure how else to explain it.


Are you sure you're installing the bushing right side up?

[blsfrs]

Thanks guys. I'll give it another shot this weekend and let you know how it goes.

[DocWalt]

FWIW it was *not* easy at all, definitely harder than I expected.

[nickmerronesucks]

Yeah I just did this, it takes some great force to get it past that first "wall". Did it with a lift and it still kicked my butt a little

[cueball89]

Is the shifter bushing a worthwhile modification? I've changed it out on other subarus but was under the impression it didn't make a huge difference on these cars.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by cueball89

Is the shifter bushing a worthwhile modification? I've changed it out on other subarus but was under the impression it didn't make a huge difference on these cars.

Hard to measure the impact of any single drivetrain mod. Most people add a bunch at a time or add them in different order and it skews the impressions.

I will say that I find replacement bushings and inserts for the transmission and differential to be very noticeable, eliminating all the movement of the shifter. I was unhappy with the amount of slop and lash it had stock, particularly when letting off the gas in lower gears and higher engine RPM.
I did most (if not all) drivetrain bushings (except engine mounts) and am very pleased with the result, but it wasn't until the last mod that it really made a big difference. It might be that the last one (the diff bushings) are the important ones, or that all the bushings/inserts are needed together.

I did Perrin rear bushing, Whiteline front insert, Torque Solutions front carrier bushings, Whiteline rear subframe inserts and Whiteline diff inserts.

[cueball89]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I will say that I find replacement bushings and inserts for the transmission and differential to be very noticeable, eliminating all the movement of the shifter.

Agreed, those bushings and inserts make a huge difference. Rear subframe, rear diff and transmission insert are what I've done. I'd like to get some stiffer engine mounts in the future.