5 Speed Manual selector rod removal and adjustment.

**Dos::Avants** · 03-03-2010 06:17 PM

Hi fellas and fellettes,

I am going to be installing the JHM short shifter this week with the linkage and bushing upgrades on the selector rod and the push rod.

I have never messed with my shifter at anytime, but I noticed that in neutral, there is about an inch of play forward and backward without any tension, as opposed to the noticeable tension on a side to side motion. I only noticed it AFTER replacing my OEM snub mount with a Neuspeed mount a few months ago.

So, I also looked at the connection area next to the tranny under the car today and noticed that there is a "set screw" type of bolt on the selector rod connected to another rod going inside the tranny, and IIRC, it had a regular hex head. As I moved the rod forward and backward while underneath, I believe at one point I was able to shift it to 4th gear inside the car while still underneath moving the rod. The suspected slop underneath is also about an inch.

I am not sure if the slight play on the actual shifter inside the car is related to the slight play under the car with the push rod, or what? I will make sure to mark all the original locations at the connection points, but before doing this swap, I want to know whether this "play" on both ends are acceptable, or is there a way to adjust things if this is abnormal and caused due to wear and/or the rod slipping out of position at the locking set point.

Lastly, if anyone has done this before, do I need to remove the heat shield and slide the drive shaft out of the way to remove the selector rod as I will have to put it on the bench to replace the upgrade linkage.

Thanks!

**Dos::Avants** · 03-03-2010 10:24 PM

Croikie mates!

I guess I'll be calling JHM then.

**A4SoftWalker** · 03-04-2010 05:34 AM

JHM had videos on his site that helped me.

**Dos::Avants** · 03-04-2010 05:36 AM

I watched their video on the push rod, but they don't have one for the selector rod which replaces the rubber part with the metal one. They just show in word format with pictures how to do the swap on a bench.

Talking about this part.

**Sales@RAI** · 03-04-2010 05:39 AM

Wait what? I can put it in 4th under the car too, you just push the rod in. Use a 10mm, take the linkage off the shaft, and push/pull it in and out, see if it seems normal. It should kind of "slip" into an exact place once you push/pull it. If thats normal then you probably have to align the shifter

**Dos::Avants** · 03-04-2010 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by [email protected].

Wait what? I can put it in 4th under the car too, you just push the rod in. Use a 10mm, take the linkage off the shaft, and push/pull it in and out, see if it seems normal. It should kind of "slip" into an exact place once you push/pull it. If thats normal then you probably have to align the shifter

1) Were you being sarcastic about the 4th gear thing?

2) Does the 10mm bolt thread into the rod that is connected to the transmission or is it just a friction lock?

3) Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "It should kind of 'slip' into an exact place once you push/pull it"? Is this a reference to the play on the shifter or on the linkage itself?

Thanks~

**mrbacardi35** · 03-04-2010 05:53 AM

All you need to do is loosen the "set screw" and the rod will slide out. Don't worry about the rod position since the shaft is indented to where the "set screw" will sit.

**Dos::Avants** · 03-04-2010 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by mrbacardi35

All you need to do is loosen the "set screw" and the rod will slide out. Don't worry about the rod position since the shaft is indented to where the "set screw" will sit.

Okay, sounds logical. I will mark the original spot exactly, but from what I gather, I may not even have to because there is only one set place and way the linkage can be reattached? And what about the removal of the drive shaft and heat shield in order to get the whole assembly out?

**mrbacardi35** · 03-04-2010 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dos::Avants

Okay, sounds logical. I will mark the original spot exactly, but from what I gather, I may not even have to because there is only one set place and way the linkage can be reattached? And what about the removal of the drive shaft and heat shield in order to get the whole assembly out?

No need to remove drive shaft. Once you remove the hex bolt holding the rod(inside the car), you can slide the rod out of the boot from under the car. I recommend spraying the boot a little bit of lube.

**Dos::Avants** · 03-04-2010 10:48 AM

^^^ Great, thanks for that information!

**Dos::Avants** · 03-04-2010 02:34 PM

Anyone wanna take a stab at the possible issue with the back and forth play on the shifter while in neutral, and the back and forth play on the rod at the transmission?

**Dos::Avants** · 03-24-2010 01:25 PM

Just finished installing the JHM short shifter. Love it, love it, love it!

I still have the front to back play on the shifter in neutral though. It's about 3/4"-1" play. Is this normal with the rest you you 5 speed folks?

**Sales@RAI** · 03-24-2010 03:40 PM

is it bothering you a lot? I don't know if thats a big deal at all. Yes I was being serious I can put it in 3rd and 4th under the car. There is only 1 spot on the bottom that it connects to and the spot has about 1/8" of play, so you're probably just gonna have to live with it

**Dos::Avants** · 03-24-2010 04:19 PM

I can't say that it's bothering me a lot, but I only noticed it about a month or two ago. I guess I never really cared before that. I had been getting squeaking/creaking noises on my OEM shifter so I thought it was just worn out plastic parts, but I noticed that it was like that underneath the car as well.

Anyhow, I just checked and it's actually only about 1/2" play front to back and side to side on the shifter itself.

I can live with that.

Thanks.

**Dos::Avants** · 03-26-2010 12:17 PM

Just an update...

I drove around for an extensive period yesterday and I can hear the turbo spooling? I never heard that before...

I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the JHM shifter and linkage swaps or what? I made sure to install all the sound deadening material correctly around the shifter base, so I'm not sure why it's louder in the cabin than it was before the switch.

Is this normal?

Any idears?

**Sales@RAI** · 03-26-2010 12:21 PM

lol a little more noticing your car can go a long way huh? There are storage bins under the seats too! haha

**Dos::Avants** · 03-26-2010 12:29 PM

Dude WTH?

I'm being serious...

I thought I was hearing shit, but it was quite noticeable yesterday. I was thinking that maybe because the parts that were replaced are metal and stiffer plastic bushings, they may be aiding in transmitting more sound into the cabin or something.