MX-5 Upper/Lower Shift boot replacements

vv4rhead · Postby **vv4rhead** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 3:50 pm

Hi, i've searched for info on this topic and can't find much other than than how great replacing the originals is, i've also posted to the facebook group unfortunately to no avail.

Approx 3 years ago i replaced my shift boots and rebuilt the shifter (New bushes, upper and lower boot, new oil in the turret) and it was one of the best thing i've done for the car, i used mazda genuine parts and figured i'd probably never have to change it again. Unfortunately i recently realized my lower boot has been totally disintegrated for some time (Fluid has been leaking out of it for quite some time) and the upper boot even has a tear in it. I'm looking for a stronger than OEM replacement as the $100 odd that the rebuild kits cost seems a bit much to spend every few years on keeping a basic rubber piece intact. Does anyone have any reccomendations? The jass performance boot has come up a few times but it's only an upper boot and it's around $125 shipped, I.L Motorsport was another name but theirs don't appear to be any stronger than stock and carry a similar pricetag once shipped ($135~) 5X racing was recommended but they seem to use OEM parts and Mx5Doctor appears to make a reasonable quality lower boot but a very shoddy upper boot.

Another question being is it worth grabbing one of the brass shift bushings over my (Presumably still intact) plastic OEM piece?

Thanks in advance.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:07 pm

Boots can't help, it seems all you can do is pick from a few diff flavours of crap.

Shift Bush, keep the oem (ie replace it with same)
The oem one is nylon/Teflon and designed for low friction and to be a replaceable wear item, the brass ones will add wear to the shifter itself, being far harder than nylon.
Plus, it will wear faster, due to the metal on metal (think why suspension has bushes and not just metal on metal joints. It's life vs stiffness)

vv4rhead · Postby **vv4rhead** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:15 pm

I see where you're coming from with the bush, i'll leave the current one in there (Assuming it's in once piece).

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:19 pm

The next time I service my shift turret I plan on fitting this delrin bushing - https://miataroadster.com/miataroadster/miataroadster-shifter-tip-bushings/g-63717.aspx

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:29 pm

A few years ago a UK ebay seller was offering teflon(?) lower & upper(?) boot replacements. Had a quick look on here, but couldn't find the post I recall. Will try to have a look later today or tomorrow.
Replacing the OEM plastic bush with a brass bush was quite popular on here in the mid-late 2000s, but seems to have lost it's popularity. Seems to stem from concern that the brass bush could/would cause more wear than the plastic one.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:26 am

While not a replacement for the OEM boots the following posts on the big forum covers a members attempt to reduce the impact of heat from the catalytic converter on the boots. Don't know if this had any long time benefits.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.php ... ount=23942
https://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.php ... ount=23943

With regards to the shift bush. I'm one of those that tried the brass version. After a couple of months I found that the brass bush was wearing in a few places and decided to go back to the OEM version.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:39 am

According to Jass Performance, their upper boot replacement is meant to last the life of the car.

https://www.topmiata.com/shop/jass-perf ... hift-boot/

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:51 am

93_Clubman wrote:A few years ago a UK ebay seller was offering teflon(?) lower & upper(?) boot replacements. Had a quick look on here, but couldn't find the post I recall. Will try to have a look later today or tomorrow.

I believes that it was Doctor MX5 in the UK that had a teflon boot replacement. His website does not have it listed, so appears to be no longer available.

There is a youtube video from 2012 showing the teflon boot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brb8N88ZYwM

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 12:03 pm

Did find this in Doctor MX5's shop, but upper boot is more transparent (older one was mid grey) & seems thinner:
http://www.shop.doctormx5.co.uk/gear-sh ... 8145-p.asp
Looks like Doctor MX5 has had slightly different versions over the years:
https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/2 ... vt-wheels/
Also looks like someone on ebay had a similar design to Doctor MX5:
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=113287

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 1:33 pm

I'm surprised that you only got 3 years out of genuine boots. Genuine boots last 8-10 ears on mine. Maybe you were sold copies?

I bought a set this year from Amayama for $64. This was for the large and small boots and the nylon cup, all genuine, all Made in Japan.

The old nylon cup seemed to be in perfect condition but I replaced it anyway and it gave me a significant improvementin shift feel.

wasp47 · Postby **wasp47** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 5:14 pm

I've used the Delrin bushes on two SE's and they are the best value for $50 I have seen. A far better shift and defined gate. They are a completely different set up to the std bush, far superior in design in my humble opinion
Cheers
Steven

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:12 pm

wasp47 wrote:I've used the Delrin bushes on two SE's and they are the best value for $50 I have seen. A far better shift and defined gate. They are a completely different set up to the std bush, far superior in design in my humble opinion
Cheers
Steven

Thanks, Steven - great to get feedback from someone who's actually used one.

LiteIsRite · Postby **LiteIsRite** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:15 pm

manga_blue wrote:I bought a set this year from Amayama for $64. This was for the large and small boots and the nylon cup, all genuine, all Made in Japan.

That's good value. I paid $56 for just the small boot a month ago at my local dealer. :cry:

Tigger · Postby **Tigger** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:12 pm

Keeping an eye on this, too. I used genuine Mazda and got 4 years out of mine. I went to replace the nylon bush only to find the lower had spilt completely open and the upper had a year in it.
Mx5 parts in the UK have the three piece set for a pretty good price. Wish I had have known that before buying just the bushing.

aSimpleLife · Postby **aSimpleLife** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:48 pm

I just changed both boots on my 5spd 98 for (I think) the first time in 20 years. Both inner and outer boots were stuffed. I've had it 7 years (rarely dríven it) and they were probably gone when I bought it from the original owner. I now know why I was getting that gear oil smell in the cabin and extra heat. I only stumbled on to this because I wasn't happy with the notchiness in the shifter. There was almost no oil left in the shifter. These were the best prices I could find;
Cup Bush - Mazda (ebay) - $9.97 inc gst + freight
Outer boot - Mazda (ebay) - $48.52 inc gst + freight
Inner boot - MX5 Mania (ebay) - $43.55 inc gst + freight