Need help shifter being weird
#1
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Need help shifter being weird
Hey so I just brought a S4 FC RX7 turbo and everything is amazing but one thing the shifter sits really odd. It feels almost like the whole transmission is leaning to the right. In the photos you can see neutral is really far right, pushing the shifter as far to the left as possible puts it where neutral should be but it won’t move any more to the left. It still shifts fine and feels great but hard to drive because to go into 3rd and 4th I have to move shifter to the left then up or down. Any help would be really good. Photos are neutral full left and full right throw. Thanks again
-Cam
Neutral
Full right throw
Full left throw
-Cam
Neutral
Full right throw
Full left throw
#2
Have RX-7, will restore
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The first thing to check and replace are the shifter bushings. The bushings center the shifter and allow smooth and precise movement of the shifter. There should be two bushings and a wave washer. The shifter is removed from the top of the tailshaft housing and is secured with three 10mm bolts. The bolts are 6x1.0. Access to the shifter is gained by removing the shift boot and bezel and then the insulators on top of the shifter. A new upper and lower insulator may be needed and they are items you should consider replacing while you have everything apart.
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Natey (05-20-22)
#3
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The first thing to check and replace are the shifter bushings. The bushings center the shifter and allow smooth and precise movement of the shifter. There should be two bushings and a wave washer. The shifter is removed from the top of the tailshaft housing and is secured with three 10mm bolts. The bolts are 6x1.0. Access to the shifter is gained by removing the shift boot and bezel and then the insulators on top of the shifter. A new upper and lower insulator may be needed and they are items you should consider replacing while you have everything apart.
#4
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (19)
Do you feel heat coming from the shifter? if so it's definitely the shifter bushings. Relatively cheap, pretty easy to replace and it made a huge difference in my FC. This is a common issue, no need to trip. Congrats on the RX-7! It's pretty cool to see the stock stereo.
https://mazdatrix.com/86-92-shifter-bushings/
https://mazdatrix.com/86-92-shifter-bushings/
#5
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Thanks. So i removed the shifter and it appears that the shifter is bent(see photo) is this normal as I have a spare S5 trans and took that out to use that and it also is slightly bent. only weird thing is that if i pull the shifter straight down from neutral it wont go into 4th it misses it and i have to push the shifter to the left a bit then it will go in. also would that bushing fix the issue that the shifter wont actually go very far to the left full left barely goes past where neutral should be. Also i stuck S4 out of the car into the S5 trans and it doesn’t seem to lean though i didn't tighten it down. One thing i found was that the S5 had a bushing in the part that the end of the shifter ball goes into where the S4 doesn’t which apparently no S4 had that nylon bushing in the bit the shifter actually goes into. Not sure if im over looking something jus
t seems really odd that straight down from neutral isn’t 4th and straight up isn’t 3rd. Thanksss
t seems really odd that straight down from neutral isn’t 4th and straight up isn’t 3rd. Thanksss
#6
Rotary Freak
I was one of the guys talking to you on reddit. That shifter is definitely bent. From the factory they're completely straight.
The S5 shifter is also slightly different from the S4. The pivot ball is smaller and includes a bushing, which you already noticed. Also the thread pitch on the **** is M10x1.25 instead of M12x1.5 like the S4. There is no functional difference other than that.
About the shifter direction, are you saying that when you leave it in the "neutral" position, straight up isn't third? And when I say "neutral", I mean wherever it rests without your hand on it naturally. How far left or right do you have to push it to get to third?
EDIT: I see now you described that it has to be pushed " a bit left" to enter third or fourth. Maybe the weight of the shift **** is holding the shift block just slightly right of the 3rd/4th gate? I'd be surprised since the spring on the shift block is fairly strong, but based on what you're describing that sounds like what's happening
The S5 shifter is also slightly different from the S4. The pivot ball is smaller and includes a bushing, which you already noticed. Also the thread pitch on the **** is M10x1.25 instead of M12x1.5 like the S4. There is no functional difference other than that.
About the shifter direction, are you saying that when you leave it in the "neutral" position, straight up isn't third? And when I say "neutral", I mean wherever it rests without your hand on it naturally. How far left or right do you have to push it to get to third?
EDIT: I see now you described that it has to be pushed " a bit left" to enter third or fourth. Maybe the weight of the shift **** is holding the shift block just slightly right of the 3rd/4th gate? I'd be surprised since the spring on the shift block is fairly strong, but based on what you're describing that sounds like what's happening
Last edited by WondrousBread; 05-21-22 at 05:55 AM.
#7
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I was one of the guys talking to you on reddit. That shifter is definitely bent. From the factory they're completely straight.
The S5 shifter is also slightly different from the S4. The pivot ball is smaller and includes a bushing, which you already noticed. Also the thread pitch on the **** is M10x1.25 instead of M12x1.5 like the S4. There is no functional difference other than that.
About the shifter direction, are you saying that when you leave it in the "neutral" position, straight up isn't third? And when I say "neutral", I mean wherever it rests without your hand on it naturally. How far left or right do you have to push it to get to third?
EDIT: I see now you described that it has to be pushed " a bit left" to enter third or fourth. Maybe the weight of the shift **** is holding the shift block just slightly right of the 3rd/4th gate? I'd be surprised since the spring on the shift block is fairly strong, but based on what you're describing that sounds like what's happening
The S5 shifter is also slightly different from the S4. The pivot ball is smaller and includes a bushing, which you already noticed. Also the thread pitch on the **** is M10x1.25 instead of M12x1.5 like the S4. There is no functional difference other than that.
About the shifter direction, are you saying that when you leave it in the "neutral" position, straight up isn't third? And when I say "neutral", I mean wherever it rests without your hand on it naturally. How far left or right do you have to push it to get to third?
EDIT: I see now you described that it has to be pushed " a bit left" to enter third or fourth. Maybe the weight of the shift **** is holding the shift block just slightly right of the 3rd/4th gate? I'd be surprised since the spring on the shift block is fairly strong, but based on what you're describing that sounds like what's happening
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#8
Information Regurgitator
It's not much more money if you are going to buy a shifter to get the short throw shifter Mazdatrix sells.
#9
Rotary Freak
S4 is supposed to have the bushing as well. 86-92 Shifter Bushings | Mazdatrix
It's not much more money if you are going to buy a shifter to get the short throw shifter Mazdatrix sells.
It's not much more money if you are going to buy a shifter to get the short throw shifter Mazdatrix sells.
The Mazdatrix article is referring to the white bushing that fits on the larger ball, along with the blue one. Those are good to replace too, but AFAIK there is no nylon bushing for the ball/shift block on the S4 shifter.
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I think OP is referring to the bushing on the little ball at the bottom of the shifter, not the one on the upper ball that rotates. The very bottom bushing is cup shaped and pops onto the ball, then fits into the shift block. This bushing is S5 only.
The Mazdatrix article is referring to the white bushing that fits on the larger ball, along with the blue one. Those are good to replace too, but AFAIK there is no nylon bushing for the ball/shift block on the S4 shifter.
The Mazdatrix article is referring to the white bushing that fits on the larger ball, along with the blue one. Those are good to replace too, but AFAIK there is no nylon bushing for the ball/shift block on the S4 shifter.
#12
Information Regurgitator
I think OP is referring to the bushing on the little ball at the bottom of the shifter, not the one on the upper ball that rotates. The very bottom bushing is cup shaped and pops onto the ball, then fits into the shift block. This bushing is S5 only.
The Mazdatrix article is referring to the white bushing that fits on the larger ball, along with the blue one. Those are good to replace too, but AFAIK there is no nylon bushing for the ball/shift block on the S4 shifter.
The Mazdatrix article is referring to the white bushing that fits on the larger ball, along with the blue one. Those are good to replace too, but AFAIK there is no nylon bushing for the ball/shift block on the S4 shifter.
That must be what you're thinking of. I have seen other cars where it stays on the ball though like my Ranger IIRC.
Last edited by Dak; 05-22-22 at 01:51 AM.
#13
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There is no bushing on the small ball of the S5 either. There is this bushing in the shift block though. SHIFTER BUSHING BOTTOM, 89-92 NYLON CARBON FIBER | Mazdatrix TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL, LEVER END 89-92 | Mazdatrix S
That must be what you're thinking of. I have seen other cars where is stays on the ball though like my Ranger IIRC.
That must be what you're thinking of. I have seen other cars where is stays on the ball though like my Ranger IIRC.
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