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How does one know when to renew the rubber shift boots without examining them ? Is there an average mileage or age of car factor ? Or is there noticeably more sideways 'play' in the gear lever in neutral than when new ?
MX5 Mania say in their listings that "The boots require replacing regularly."
Can someone please shed some light on this mystery ?
Cheers from slowpoke

when they are ripped/torn/broken, is when they need replacing.



The larger one, when it is torn you can see the ground, the gearbox and the drive shaft.

The smaller one, when torn- you can see the gearbox stuff.

slowpoke, the MX5 Garage Chat are for threads about people's cars, not about the maintenance of cars in general

SORRY.
Where should I have put it ?

MX5 Engines, Transmission & Final Drive

another tip is to try the Search function in the top right hand of your screen, when you're looking for some answers. most of the time you'll find what you're looking for

slowpoke wrote:SORRY.
Where should I have put it ?

No stress dude, have moved the thread

I recon' they last about 50,000 kms.

I just did mine in the NA6 a couple of days ago.

50,000 is a long time for those things.

I had my NA6 for 66,000ks & did the lower boot twice (upper once). But yeh, just replace them when they are needed.. It doesn't take too long to take out the centre console on a weekend.

The first set in my NB lasted about 60k km the second set is still going strong 85k km later so I'm not sure there's a fixed distance when they fail. If in doubt pull the console and have a look. It's also a good opportunity to check the oil level in the turret if you have an NA/NB8A or grease the gear stick pivots/check the turret bolts if you have an NB8B+. I do know that the gearchange feels better after you replace the torn boots though.

might go for a drive and pick up some new boots today. my smaller one is torn

Its not expensive nor is it hard to replace. So take out the console and have a look. The previous owner hadn't replaced the boot...I think ever and it was horrbily mouldy and gone. Replaced it and shift felt better, less heat from the gearbox as well!

if in doubt on how to install, miata.net offers excellent step by step advice.

I had a bottle of meguires tyre rubber rejuvenating stuff that I managed to step on crack the bottle at the same time I was replacing the shift boots on the NB8A so I decided to smoother the top rubber boot in that gooey stuff. So far the boot hasn't torn.

Also when doing the install make sure the boot is at the right height on the shifter so that it doesn't buckle. This will make more sense when you're installing it, try every gear, the rubber pops up into a peak if it's stretched too far.

What's the downside of driving around with broken ones?

Extra heat from the exhaust?

Does the lower one prevent oil from escaping ?

I remember replacing a broken lower shift boot on an NA, the oil inside the turret was really dirty.
I think it prevents stuff going in aswell as stuff cummin out.