Torn gear shift boot - help please

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:23 pm

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.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:32 pm

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.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:36 pm

Thanks. Any idea how much Mazda charge for them.

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:04 pm

from memory

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

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:58 pm

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.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:13 pm

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.

Bauer · Postby **Bauer** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 6:32 pm

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'

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 7:02 pm

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.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:37 am

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.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:45 am

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.

broady · Postby **broady** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:08 pm

search.php

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:13 pm

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.

CheyneX5 · Postby **CheyneX5** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:18 pm

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

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:54 pm

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.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:31 pm

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.