I just finish installing the shifter base bushings and I just thought I let you guys know a few hints that might help you out..

1. the driver side kick panel should be pushed forward to the firewall before you attempt to pull it free, since the tabs are VERY easy to bend and break (don't ask)

2. if you relocated your radio down to the cubby hole, remove the entire radio and panel from the bottom BEFORE you start tearing the car apart, since it will get in the way and you will not be able to take the center console out

3. the two push in pins that hold the center console in is VERY easy to break if you yank them with force.. be gentle or be prepared to go to the dealer to pick up some spares

4. the Kartboy bushings are too big to fit in the hole correctly, i know some people don't even bother to check and just tighten them down, but you will notice that they are too big to fit in the hole.. i justed a metal file to take away approximately 1/8" all around the smaller side. they should then pop right in with a little push, they should sit flush with the top of the shifter base

5. use a flat head screw driver to gentlely push out the metal sleeve from inside the stock bushing, don't use too much force, keep pushing all around evenly and it should just slide out from the bottom.. if you use too much force you might slip and take out a chunk of the car or your hand..

6. use a needle nose plier to squeeze the stock bushing, then gentely push it out of the bottom, the other posts i saw said to use the flat head screw driver.. i found this way much easier..

7. disconnect the left linkage by pulling the collor pin, but make sure it doesn't go flying.. you will need to then push the linkage under the shifter to get to the one bolt on the top

8. if you plan to either install an alarm system, turbo timer, etc down the road that requires you to tap into the hand brake line, it's now a good time to do it while you got the whole car apart

-joe

 

drove the car for a while yesterday and today.. the shifter is tighter and there isn't any slop to the shifts. just click-click-click

I can't wait to put in the linkage bushings.. this is the best bang for the buck..

just have to spend the time with the filing of the bushings that's all

-joe

 

Quite interesting.... great review too btw. I have one other question though, do you have just the bushings or do you have a short-shifter kit also?

 

I have all three..short shifter, under hood, and base. Definately an awesome upgrade. The speed source brass bushing fit in without any filing, and hold superbly. Super tight and super short. I did all three at once, so i'm not sure which bushing made the best improvement.

 

The bushing that made the biggest difference was the underhood. the shifter bushings cleaned the shifts but nearly all of the sloppiness was removed when i did the underhood.

But really....do both. Its so cheap and easy and you get such great results. The shifting feels like a rifle bolt cocking. I dont have a short shifter (yet) but i can imagine that only improves the experiance.

Also, i suggest the speedsource brass bushings over the other ones. Perfect fit and they are a little heavier which should give the shifting just a little more feel, imho.

 

cool cool, doesn't the B&M come with base bushings? Or was it cable-end bushings... dunno.

 

i got the lancershop.com kit. comes with the speedsource bushings (base and underhood), short throw shifter, and a nice new GReddy counterweighted shift knob. put it all in at once just like mitsuskot did, so i'm not sure either which was the biggest diiference, all i know is that the whole thing together is kick ***. i love it. wicked upgrade for very little cashola.

oh yeah, and the GReddy knob is super nice too. i love holding my new knob.......

 

^^^I got the exact same kit, and yeah, i love my knob too

 

i considered the brass ones but i got a good deal on the kartboys and i also have the underhood kartboy bushings, they are going in today..

i didn't get a short shifter, just got the stainless braided clutch line from RRM left, i will put that after i flush the system

if anybody in the toronto area needs help, i be glad to help you do this awesome mod

-joe

 

i had the bushings in for about 3 weeks without putting the shortshifter in. the kit made things more crisp, but the new shifter made it even crisper and SOOO fast. I think the shifter made a bigger diff over all, but i dont think it would have been as big a diff without the bushings. The combo is the way to go. best $100 you will spend!

 

Hell yeah, the lancershop kit is the best mod for the money I've seen on the RA thusfar. Shifts slot home every time, no slop or rubberyness.

The knob gets damn cold in the mornings, but give it a good rub and it warms right up.

 

By replacing the bushings, both under hood and under shifter itself, did it make the 1-2 shift cleaner ?

On my 04, If I shift near 6000 rpm quickly, when getting up to speed on an on-ramp or screwing around... 2nd gear will grind or just not let me shift into it. *Or* or is this more of a sloppy motor mount issue ?

I've been driving for 20 years, lol, I'm certain my clutch is completely in when i shift. I'm still doing different combinations of "grinding shift" "wont shift" "sloppy shift" in the search. 'tis how I found this

 

Yes, it did make the 1-2 shift cleaner, and there's a lot more positive feel to the stick. I haven't ground a gear since I put the new bushings in. Filling the motor mounts (which I will do this spring I hope) should make the shifts even better.

 

thanks. ;thumby;

 

Just a heads up for you guys putting the kartboy underhood bushings on they require grease or WD40 or they squeak really bad and shifting becomes very tough. This was after about 10000kms of driving. Once you oil them they are ok but if you don't keep them lubed expect tough shifting.