The popular shifter bearing mod

[No_Skillz]

Once again, something goes wrong whenever I do any kind of work or modification, no matter how simple. I took the bearings off one of my old pairs of skates and tried to fit them on the transmission under the hood. They neither fit on the peg nor on the ring of the shifter cable. It seems to be just off, like 1mm. Any ideas?

Fast replies are appreciated since my car is sitting there with no shift capability...

 

[MrBoxx]

You need to use a Dremel and a sanding wheel to clean up the inside of the ring that the bearing goes in. It takes a little work to get it to fit right. Also, make sure that the steel sleeves that fit inside the old bearings and slipped over the post isn't still seized on the post. One of mine did that and I had to grind half the bastard off, then grab it with vice grips and yank it. The other one slipped off easy as pie. Weird. But if that sleeve is still on there, there's no way you'll get the bearing over it. Even if the post is free, you may need to use some emery cloth or sandpaper and clean off the post of any dirt or grime to get the bearing to fit on it.

 

[khill8469]

what does this mod do?

 

[knighteclipse1]

http://www.vfaq.com/index-main.html check out the section under shifter khill8469. It explains all the the mod's for the shifter. MrBoxx is a 100 percent correct. It just takes alittle work, but it fits with alittle sweat...

 

[MrBoxx]

Basically, it's supposed to make the shifting feel better and more precise. But to tell the truth, I really didn't feel much of an improvement; maybe 5% better than before I had done the mod. Now, I could always assume that since I had the Symborski shifter base bushing kit and a B&M short shifter, the shifting was already about as good as it could get, so the effect of the bearings was overshadowed by the previous mods. OR I could assume that it works better on some cars than it does on others. I could see the room for improvement, though, especially considering the first rubber bushing I took out of the shifter arm tore off the metal inner sleeve with almost no resistance. I'm pretty sure it was on it's way out anyway, so replacement would have happened soon regardless.

In short, if you have some spare rollerblade/skateboard bearings lying around your house and a Dremel tool in the closet and some spare time on your weekends, go ahead and do this mod, if only to replace bushings that may or may not be deteriorating. It might improve your shifter feel; it might not.

Keep at it and good luck.

 

[Gamble97]

I didn't need a dremel or sand paper or anything. I just used some pliers and it fit right in.

 

[No_Skillz]

So... I didn't bother to come back and read this thread (smart of me) and here's how I eventually did it:

I just took two bearingss, pressed em in on both sides using pliers. Man are my hands sore. Then I manhandled them onto the peg. Everything's said and done, the process wasn't pretty but the end result is pretty nice. My shift feels noticeably nicer. Gears that I used to have to fight slip in easily. For the couple bucks cost of the bearings, this mod is very worth it.

Btw, the stock bushings are plastic pieces of crap with slots in them to decrease feel and increase free play. Useless.

 

[Gamble97]

I did the same w/ pliers. Then i just used a socket and an extension and hammered it to fit properly.

 

[carl5463729]

I recently did this mod, but i bought the kit and put in the metal washer shifter base kit. they didn't seem to help much at first but about after a week i could feel that it was shifting much better. i didn't think that anything would really have to set in but their was a difference after a while.

 

[Gamble97]

I could notice a diff right away. No need to wait a week. I also don't see why everyone is putting washers in there. Just put the codder pin in and your good to go.

 

[skinnykenny84]

the added washers is for added stiffness. I have never heard of the skate bearing trick though, pretty cool. I bought the kit took a lil sanding to get em in but thats what you want. I dont understand however, why the shifter is stiffer from mid to right but from the middle to the left is a little looser??? anybody understand what I mean or have the same thing going on?

 

[DSMunknown]

http://dsmtuner.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217699


personally, i noticed a difference right away. as soon as i moved the shifter from side to side i could feel how much stiffer/firm it was compared to the oem rubber chewed gumball bearings that were there before.

EDIT: my bearings also did not slide on without them putting up a fight, but the vice grips work wonders. see my post on the thread.

 

[siceclipse]

is there any downside to this?

A friend of mine put the brass bushings from eBay i his talon and when he missed the gate he stretched the shifter cables. he said if he left the rubber ones in the play that they have would have saved him some $$$$, to which i replied "no, better shifting would have saved you $$$$"

 

[MrBoxx]

I used the roller blade bearings and have seen no bad side effects. Shifts are crisper and firmer.

 

[jongreene]

This mod basically saved my tranny. 1st would grind constantly, 2nd would too if I was shifting too fast. Now 1st will go in smooth as butter if i dont push too fast and 2nd doesnt grind at all anymore.