RP Short Shifter Installed (first impressions)
Originally Posted by Richard Paul
You're the second one today to complain about the noise. OK Gomez, say it together with me: Did you take out the green fuzzy thing?
Btw, Gomez, great instructions, worked really well for me, Kudos
Originally Posted by Gomez
Hmmmm, you send a copy of my DIY out with the shifter don't you Richard?
You want me to amend it somewhat?
You want me to amend it somewhat?
No, I just let them get it off the forum. Save the trees.
Ok, if you want to reduce the noise there is a green/grey insulator pad under the leather boot. You can see it by removing the shift ****. Remove the console and take it out. I know it sounds crazy but it was discovered by men in Oz where the whirlpools turn backwards.
Originally Posted by Richard Paul
Immediately take your car to someone with some automotive experience. No one has broken those bolts off before. They have lost them, but you had to have overtightened them a bunch. I use 1/4" tools on them.
That glue will not last long. Your new best freind will have to remove the "tower" that the plate screws into. It is the part with 4 bolts holding it down. He will then put the part in a drill press or mill and drill out the old bolts. Then reinstall it.
That glue will not last long. Your new best freind will have to remove the "tower" that the plate screws into. It is the part with 4 bolts holding it down. He will then put the part in a drill press or mill and drill out the old bolts. Then reinstall it.
WHere should i take it?? to the dealership?? cuz i drove my car todae and the glue came off. i felt the shifter coming out. i was trying to be careful wit it but im scared something bad will happen. What kind of shop should i take it to?? and do you guys know how much it'll cosT?? BTW, the screws taht got broken, are the ones holding the shifter inside the gear box. The screws were broken while trying to take them off to put the new shifter.
Take it to anyone who works on cars, doesn't have to be a dealer. As long as they know which way to turn wrenches.
There is nothing special about putting it in. It goes just like stock.
They will need three metric screws, I can't remember the size but I think 6x15. Gomez will know, You might get them and bring them with you.
There is nothing special about putting it in. It goes just like stock. They will need three metric screws, I can't remember the size but I think 6x15. Gomez will know, You might get them and bring them with you.
Originally Posted by peterisurhero
WHere should i take it?? to the dealership?? cuz i drove my car todae and the glue came off. i felt the shifter coming out. i was trying to be careful wit it but im scared something bad will happen. What kind of shop should i take it to?? and do you guys know how much it'll cosT?? BTW, the screws taht got broken, are the ones holding the shifter inside the gear box. The screws were broken while trying to take them off to put the new shifter.
If you have a decent automotive shop around I would take it there first.
If I didn't have anyone I knew that could help and no reputable shop I would bring it to the service department. What is your local? If it is in Minnesota I could help you out.
GOOD NEWS GUYS!! I GOT IT FIXED!! it cost me a bit hto. $100 to get the broken screws out. haha is that supposed to be the ranging price?? BTW, it was all three bolts taht were broken. hahah
Originally Posted by peterisurhero
GOOD NEWS GUYS!! I GOT IT FIXED!! it cost me a bit hto. $100 to get the broken screws out. haha is that supposed to be the ranging price?? BTW, it was all three bolts taht were broken. hahah
What did you use to tighten the bolts when they broke?
hahah i couldn't tighten them wen they were broken. i had to go walk to the nearest supermarket and buy krzy glue to hopefully stick it together. it worked for around 30 minutes. but after that, it kinda fell off. hahah im juss very glad and happy i got it fixed
Originally Posted by Richard Paul
No, I just let them get it off the forum. Save the trees.
Ok, if you want to reduce the noise there is a green/grey insulator pad under the leather boot. You can see it by removing the shift ****. Remove the console and take it out. I know it sounds crazy but it was discovered by men in Oz where the whirlpools turn backwards.

Ok, if you want to reduce the noise there is a green/grey insulator pad under the leather boot. You can see it by removing the shift ****. Remove the console and take it out. I know it sounds crazy but it was discovered by men in Oz where the whirlpools turn backwards.

I removed the green wadding in my shifter, but there is definitely an increased noise after the install. I never did try the short shifter with the wadding though. The noise doesnt bother me, but it is much more audible when shifting. I just turn the radio up and enjoy the rifle bolt shifting, it's all good.
So they were broken before you put the shifter in?
Or did you loosen them the wrong way?
Righty tighty lefty Loosy...
When I took mine out it wasn't tightened down that hard. The torque specs are 69-95 inch lbs that is only 6 to 8 foot lbs.
That is why I ask what was used.
If they were broke before you put the RP shifter in I would have put the stock shifter back in and took it to the service department.
Or did you loosen them the wrong way?
Righty tighty lefty Loosy...
When I took mine out it wasn't tightened down that hard. The torque specs are 69-95 inch lbs that is only 6 to 8 foot lbs.
That is why I ask what was used.
If they were broke before you put the RP shifter in I would have put the stock shifter back in and took it to the service department.
Originally Posted by Gomez
Reading between the lines I think he had the 'ol lefty loosey righty tighty bit **** about.....
.
.4200 posts, what a *****.
There is some excuse for this. If you had never worked around mechanical things and went to turn a screw then that screw turned, you'd turn some more. These screws are not very tight and someone without experiance might not have the feel for it so if it turns tighter he doesn't know that. So it breaks, not discuraged he does the next one.
We excuse you because Mazda uses cheap screws in there and they are to soft to tighten very much. Since they are soft they can be turned more then they can stand. If they used hard screws you wouldn't be able to turn it tighter unless you used a bigger wrench then normal.
BTW, before you guys stat flaming me for calling them screws, that's what they are. We all call them bolts including myself but they are screws. Nothing is a bolt until it gets a nut on it. A screw becomes a bolt when you give it a nut. No BS this is true. Trivia I know, but it might win you a drink in a bar some night.
Last edited by Richard Paul; Aug 9, 2006 at 06:47 PM.
Originally Posted by 4 years to Supercharge
So they were broken before you put the shifter in?
Or did you loosen them the wrong way?
Righty tighty lefty Loosy...
When I took mine out it wasn't tightened down that hard. The torque specs are 69-95 inch lbs that is only 6 to 8 foot lbs.
That is why I ask what was used.
If they were broke before you put the RP shifter in I would have put the stock shifter back in and took it to the service department.
Or did you loosen them the wrong way?
Righty tighty lefty Loosy...
When I took mine out it wasn't tightened down that hard. The torque specs are 69-95 inch lbs that is only 6 to 8 foot lbs.
That is why I ask what was used.
If they were broke before you put the RP shifter in I would have put the stock shifter back in and took it to the service department.
i think wen i tried takin them off, i broke them. Im PRETTY sure i was turning left. hahaha i guess they were juss screwed on REALLY hard from factory. O well, at least its fixed now and i can enjoy it!!
Originally Posted by peterisurhero
i think wen i tried takin them off, i broke them. Im PRETTY sure i was turning left. hahaha i guess they were juss screwed on REALLY hard from factory. O well, at least its fixed now and i can enjoy it!!

If my Dad didn't pound that into me and have me do stuff on his cars I would have done the same thing. At least you tried and learned.

I have some friends that wouldn't dare try and therefore they never learn and have to pay the piper when they charge what they do.
Good job man, for the effort.
RP good point on the screw thing. No flame coming on that. Guess it takes an engineer to remind everyone what a screw is.
So if she bolts does that mean she got the nut?!
sorry 'bout that
I received my shifter yesterday and the black plastic part is not greased up as the one in this photo. The ball inside it has some grease Should I spray some white silicone on the outside?
Originally Posted by expo1
I received my shifter yesterday and the black plastic part is not greased up as the one in this photo. The ball inside it has some grease Should I spray some white silicone on the outside?
Richard stopped greasing them ages ago. That is an old pic of mine.
Number 3 off the production line, that one!! Philodox got #1 (to test). Who got #2, Richard??


