GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

just a question about how to make this dang shifter not feel so cheap... lol, feels like plastic on plastic and is not very smoothi have heard about putting metal bushings in there somewhere to replace some plastic pieces, and i was wondering if anybody has done this, or knows where to get the proper bushings, or perhaps has a write upthanks!-Ryan

I replaced my rubber bushings on the transmission linkage with brass bushings I got from ebay. I didn't notice much difference, but my car was still new when I replaced them. I'm sure an older car with worn bushings would gain more of a benefit. I think I only paid around 30 bucks for them, so I would go for it. All you have to do is pull out the retaining clips, remove the rubber bushings, install the brass ones, and reinstall the clips. Very easy.

Seehttp://www.twmperformance.com/bushingkits/for example. I once put plastic bushings in a Neon with amazing results.

Yup. That's what I have.

Yup, I did this to our Vibe a few weeks ago. Bought the bushing set on eBay for around $10... $14 w/shipping.Note: The two bushing are exactly the same on our cars so ignore TWM when they discuss one w/a larger hole.My impression was that it did make the shifts feel slightly different in a noticeable way, but not necessarily more precise. The shifter still feels plasticy but more direct, for lack of a better description. To eliminate that, you will have to go the full route of $250 (+ shipping) and replace w/TWM's short shifter assem. That has a mild steel base plate and should eliminate the plastic feel of the OE.

Quote, originally posted by carfreak967 »just a question about how to make this dang shifter not feel so cheap... lol, feels like plastic on plastic and is not very smoothi have heard about putting metal bushings in there somewhere to replace some plastic pieces, and i was wondering if anybody has done this, or knows where to get the proper bushings, or perhaps has a write upthanks!-RyanThere's a reason it feels like plastic: I replaced it with Check out this thread:http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...age=1 and regarding the bushings:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=40072

http://newsite.monkeywrenchrac...5_227

Quote, originally posted by mac99d »http://newsite.monkeywrenchrac...5_227Their prices seem awfully steep. As I'd said, I got mine for $14 including the shipping. And you can get a complete new shifter & housing from TWM for a little more ($250) than their modify whatcha' got TRD kit.BTW Herb: How does that thang feel anyway?

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »BTW Herb: How does that thang feel anyway?Overall I like the mod. However since I did it all at the same time, I can't tell you how much of a difference either did.The feel is more precise to me, though some have mentioned that it feels notchy to them. It's not sloppy at all and it took me less than an hour to install.The throw has been reduced by 40 %

Quote, originally posted by Herb »Overall I like the mod. However since I did it all at the same time, I can't tell you how much of a difference either did.The feel is more precise to me, though some have mentioned that it feels notchy to them. It's not sloppy at all and it took me less than an hour to install.The throw has been reduced by 40 %The bushings alone can increase that notchy feel to some extent, so that's part of what you're feeling. I didn't tell the wife I installed them because she wouldn't understand, but she hasn't complained either. Overall though, they did nothing for the feel of the shifter itself. It still feels like plastic because it is.I installed a TWM in my Mazda3 a few years ago and it does take some readjustment. Shifting coordination times is one of them. I've shortened the throw on a number of cars I've owned over the years and think I can say that any time you do that, especially by that much (40%,) the feel is liable to be notchier as its literally more direct. You feel the detents and syncro dogs more acutely than before.Even if I'd like it, and I'm sure I would, for that reason I don't think I'll be doing the TWM on her car any time soon.

lol! thats some gnarly ABS plastic they use... no wonder it feels like buttholeanyway, that shifter might be outta her pricerange, id buy it if i had the vibe, but im trynna buy a new block for the regal this week and i just paid to have some heads shipped to Dartthanks for the links, ill browse through some of those, that is a NICE shifter tho