I purchased CorkSport’s shifter, bronze oil and polyurethane bushings for my 2002 Mazda Protege since my shifter was refusing to go into 1st gear.
Started by removing the solid rubber bushing on the shifter linkage on the transmission side. Which requires a 14mm deep socket to remove the nut and push out the metal insert in the middle of the rubber bushing. Once thats finished I used a flat head screw driver and wedged it in the opening to prey the rubber bushing from its fitting.
Original bushing
Removed rubber insert
New vs old bushings
Next to install the bronze oil bushings on both sides of the shifter linkage; using a 12mm wrench and socket I removed the linkage from underneath the car. In order to access the linkage I had to remove the heat shield designed to protect the underbody/linkages from heat generated by the exhaust.
Shifter assembly connected to the linkage
Disassembled linkage
Shifter linkage
Once the linkage is removed from the car, I had to drill out the 3rd link to install the new bushings. This required drilling out the head of the 3rd link and tapping out the rest of the rivet. Pictures below show a comparison between the stock rubber bushings vs the new bronze oil shifter bushings.
Old vs. new bronze oil shifter bushings
New bronze oil 3rd link bushings
3rd link and linkage removed
Once all the new bushings were fitted then I followed the dis-assembly steps backward to bolt all the parts back onto the car. Some drilling and grinding is required to achieve a perfect flush fitment.
3rd link and poly bushings installed
Bronze oil bushings installed
