Hey all

While trying to install the short shifter today, I found the bolt (yellow circle in the pic below) to be really hard to get out. So I sprayed a bit of the mechanics super juice (WD-40) and had another go at it..and after a firm tug, the bloody bolt broke!



Problem is, the entire shaft of that particular bolt is now lodged to the thread. At the moment, the retainer plate now is only held on by the two (remaining) bolts.

Any idea if this is a serious issue and how urgently do I need to see someone to try and 'cut'/drill the remaining bolt out? Also, what kind of $ are we talking about in order to get it removed?

I've seen drill bits being sold at hardware shops that you can use to drill through the broken bolt shaft (in reverse thread direction) but i've never used one and am not game enough to try it myself...has anyone here used these before?

BTW, the short shifter installation was an enjoyable and pain-free operation apart from that one retainer bolt that wouldnt budge and is broken now

 

very odd that it broke. i wounder if the bolt or the treads in the hole were bad????


as to the shifter, aint it cool. put some syn trans fluid in and it is like butta.

beers

 

Wow, that really blows. I wish I had some answers for you, I'd probably take a drill and start hacking at it, with a shop-vac to pick up the mess I'd be making.

 

Thanks swoope, i'm kinda feeling better now lol I really have no idea whether it was the thread of the bolt, dont think I'll find out until I get it out.

If I do 'forget' about rectifying the issue, is there any chance that the retaining plate will 'curl' slightly favouring its right right side and cause problems with the reverse tang causing reverse to be selected by mistake while shifting into 6th?

 

slim to none. and make the switch to syn....

beers

 

I reckon as long as you don't shift to violently it should be ok to drive.

before going nuts with the drill. try and find someone with an appropriate sized easy-out. they are like a thread tap. you drill a small pilot hole and tap them in. they are reverse threaded so when you wind them in they bight and undo the snapped bolt.

I'll try and get a pic on Monday of what they look like we should have some at work.

 

Kunz,
If it were me I CERTAINLY wouldn't be leaving it. Get it drilled and the thread retapped. Should be right as rain then. Shouldn't cost too much either.

 

as TT said, i wouldnt leave it as is.....
get an easy-out thingo and drill the remining thread out of the hole.
you can either get a replacement from Mazda (they will probably be like... WTF...) or take one of the good ones out and go to hardware store to find a matching one.
whatever you do.... dont damage the thread (hole)

 

Thanks guys keep those suggestions/comments coming in - makes me feel much better lol.

rotarenvy: Thanks, looking forward to the pic =)

Tim Tam: Any idea what sort of place would specialise in getting it right the first time around? I'd rather pay a bit extra and get it done properly by someone who has done these sorts of things before than going to a mechanic/dealer around the corner who will have an apprentice hacking away with it to get it out.

EZZY: Thanks bro, have you used one of those ezy-out drill bits before? How 'easy' is it to get it to work?

 

no, never had to use one of those.
i have seen them at tool shops and bunnings....
apparently they go in in reverse and you un-screw them out the usual way....

 

Thanks Kalli hopefully someone can point out someone who does this sort of a thing for a living, if all else fails i'll try the drill bit everyone is suggesting

 

kunz, any half decent mechanic "should" have the reverse drill bit/ezy out thingo, and "should" be able to perfom the task.
it'd replace the bolt instead of re-using it.
its going to be abit difficult to find a half decent mechanic on a sunday.

 

Courtesy of google... easy out instructions here:
http://www.crustyquinns.com/tech/easyout.html

Glad you got your shifter... sorry to hear about the hassles.

 

Thanks sco.. have you heard anyone else with a similar problem? You'd expect the bolts mazda uses to be strong and not break unless excessive force was used hey? :S

I'm guessing the factory over-tightened it initially and it must have cracked slightly and totally gave way when I loosened it with WD40 and tries taking it out

 

what size rachet were you using Kunz?

 

10mm - the other bolts came out fine with no struggle at all

 

Any update on the news... sorry to hear that..

 

Sorry to hear you had issues with the shifter installation. I asked my other half and he concurred that any decent mechanical shop could fix your bolt misdemeanor. If you were in Adelaide he would do it for you. I have broken several bolts on the Alfa that he has come to the rescue...:-( I am not a good mechanic!!

Good luck...let us know when you can try out your new shifter properly would be interested to see how short it makes the throw feel...I thought it was already pretty short coming from a Honda!!

 

Thanks guys will take it down to the local mechanic tomorrow =)

Rotor Convert: I hvnt had much of a play with it but the difference is really noticeable. I used to own an integra before and I immediately noticed how short the rx8 was when I started shifting during my test drive and loved it. Cant wait to redline it in the next couple of days :P

 

Me too... I came from a Subaru.

Doesn't the short shifter offset the gearstick from it's neutral position? I have seen pics of it and thought that the Japanese made that kink on the original shifter assembly so as to make it easier for RHS drivers to gate the gears (ergonomically speaking). My thoughts are that the short shifter would be more beneficial to US LHS driving as it moves the gearstick closer to them. Buhhh... I dunno! Gotta get in one to see what it feels like.

 

The kink in the original shifter is there to position the **** vertically when neutral is selected.

The change in location when the SnickShifter is installed is not at all noticeable.

 

Kunz,

Any decent engineering shop should be able to do it. I even reckon my mower man round the corner would have the bits to do it. I wouldn't recommend to drill and tap the existing thread just yet. The Ezy-out should get the broke off portion of the bolt out without touching the thread. If the thread is busted, the best way to fixing that without having to go to an bolt, is to use a helicoil. I don't reckon that will be necessary.

And you wont get a replacement bolt like that at Bunnings, as these bolts have a special washerless head. (D'oh - can't remember the special name for them. Something for google-guru sco to go look up.) Maybe from a specialist bolt company, or you could go the whole hog and get a genuine Mazda bolt

And it is really wierd you had this, cause just today I noticed a problem with something from when I installed my shifter initially. Ive posted with some pics on this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...97#post1229797

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

It is quite kinky to say this but you are welcome to feel the stick in my car

Hey BTW I am back in town and we can resume training.. but can I tempted you to miss one day and travel with me and try out new car parts

Taka

BTW^2: This Sat ... astro?