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Hi, I took my console off to replace my head unit and noticed a torn gear lever boot. It seems to be held on the gear lever with a nylon ring. I could not find an obvious way to remove the nylon ring.

How does one replace this boot. Is there a boot below it is as well. Should this be replaced as well. Should i do anything else while I am doing these things such as lubricate the gear lever linkage?

Does anyone know what the cheapest source for these boots is in Melbourne. How much would I be looking to spend.

snshami wrote: Is there a boot below it is as well. Should this be replaced as well. Should i do anything else while I am doing these things such as lubricate the gear lever linkage?

Yes, yes and yes. See link: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=398211&highlight=gear+lever+boot

Buy the boots from Mazda or import them.

Thanks. Any idea how much Mazda charge for them.

from memory

i got my last set from mania for $30 and $45 for the bigone

best way to find out what they cost is ask Mazda and or the MX5 factory ( just a phone call(s) ) - cost will not dictate the need for replacement. I really good idea for diy is getting a repair manual.

Mr Morlock wrote:best way to find out what they cost is ask Mazda and or the MX5 factory ( just a phone call(s) ) - cost will not dictate the need for replacement. I really good idea for diy is getting a repair manual.

You are right, of course. I wasn't trying to be lazy. Unfortunately Mazda Spare Parts closed at 12.00 noon today and MX-5 Factory don't have their parts people working on Saturdays either. I was merely wondering whether it would make sense for me to have the parts sent from overseas or buy them from here.

The mania newsletter this month has both boots and the nylon bush for $84 for the 5 speed

I most certainly did the bush when i did my boots. All are 'consumables'

MX5 factory is likely to have them ex stock and some of the Mazda spares centres are likely to have them as well or within a day or two. I would guess MX5 factory prices will be much the same as Mazda.

I ended up buying them from a member of this forum for a great price and installed them today. Installation was a breeze. I think I may not have pushed the white ring on the big boot down low enough on the shaft because the boot makes a kind of a popping sound when changing in and out of 3rd and 4th gears. The popping sound is happening because the boot is changing shape.

snshami wrote:...the boot makes a kind of a popping sound when changing in and out of 3rd and 4th gears. The popping sound is happening because the boot is changing shape.

Mine did that too and I fashioned a tube out of a paper towel roll inner (toilet roll might work too) and reinforced it a little with race tape. That keeps the boot shape and stops it "popping". The original set-up had a a cardboard tube type of thing that fitted over the gear lever and the top of the boot - see photo.

An update:

When I got home today I took the console off and lowered the nylon collar by about a 15mm. After that I tried it and the noise was gone. Hopefully this will help someone.

The noise occurs because the collar was not low enough, as you discovered. A simple fix that's easy on the mind.

Be careful; pushing the collar down too far will cause the boot to get squished on every gear change it may rip again after a fairly short time.

JBT wrote:Be careful; pushing the collar down too far will cause the boot to get squished on every gear change it may rip again after a fairly short time.

I have put the foam sleeve in place that should help a bit. I also have liberally sprayed the rubber with lithium grease and wd40 so it cannot abrade itself.