HOW TO: shift rod bushing replacement

Joel · 2008-03-16T09:54:26+00:00

ok heres the $9 + 2hr way to completely transform what your VW is like to drive ask anyone who has done this simple little repair how much the difference is amazing most people assume that vw gearshifts are just naturally shitty cos this job rarely gets done so most average VWs have nice sloppy gearshifts it seems like a fairly scary job to someone who hasnt done it b4 which is why im putting this howto up so people can see its really not that bad and certainly well worth the effort im doing it to my 74 Lbug but all beetles, type3, KG are the same and even kombis are fairly similar to from memory i already replaced the gearshift bushing in my bug about 6 years ago but i learned the hard way dont lubricate the new bushing with ordinary wheel bearing grease only use a white lithuim grease anything else will cause the rubber to deteriorate rather quickly as i found out ive got a 20mm quick shift kit in my bug so i hadnt noticed any slop but the rattling when i accelerate through the gears was shitting me no end so get yourself a new bushing and it may pay to check the condition of the coupler as well as this can also have a dramatic affect on shifting quality too ok first step is rip out the seats u could do it with them in but it would be a PITA to work around them and they would surely end up covered with lots of greasy hand marks also the base of the back seat needs to be removed too.

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 10 May 2011, 11:06 pm

#840631

dude, i could kiss you! ok not quite that but close, but you know the best bit, i get to take it back out & shorten it! yaaaayyY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT.

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

bnicho Wolfsburg Wizard

436 posts · joined Feb 2009 · 12 Jul 2012, 1:33 pm

#912272

I did this job this morning. Thanks to this guide it was all very easy and only took about 90 minutes including a coffee break.

I did not use any string or wire, instead I used a boroscope down the tunnel from the rear end (stop sniggering you!) to track the progress of the rod back through the tunnel. It didn't hang up on anything because I could see what to avoid. I also found a million spider-webs in the tunnel and a worn out bush from a previous replacement, before I owned the car.

The shift is soo much nicer now. 🙂

Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive 😎
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder