Bronzeoil install problems

[Black Majik MSP]

I am posting a new thread since the other one is full of people who...

A. Don't even know what these are
B. Thought that having Kartboy bushings prevented you from using the Bronzeoils
C. Have no undercar pictures of the shifter at all

Here is Corksport's picture of 2 Bronzeoil bushings compared to 2 of the stock ones.

Anyway, here's my story. I got my Bronzeoil bushings today from FedEx after some mixups with Corksport, but they have good customer service & we worked it out. I am rather displeased that the only things in the FedEx box were the packing slip & the bushings themselves. I checked the Corksport website & tried searching on here & came to the conclusion that the instructions just plain don't exist. I jacked up the front of my car at our local meet tonight & got underneath it to take a look. The rear linkage is pretty straightforward with a 12mm bolt going through with a lock washer & a nut on the other side. I took that out, removed the stock bushings (green & rubbery) & put in the Bronzeoils.

I didn't lube the bushings at all because Bronzeoil is supposed to be self-lubricating & I didn't think it was necessary. The driver side bushings went in without a problem, but I had to tap the passenger side in with a hammer. After both were in, I lined up the bottom of the shifter with the shift linkage & put the bolt back in. I tightened it back up, but only until it gave resistance...I didn't torque it or anything (I've learned better from working on my Mazda). You'll see from the pictures that there is no conceivable way to get the front bolt out, so I got out, took the car off the jack stands, & anxiously got in to try out the shifter. What I found was that my shifter is now about 10x harder to get into gear than stock. I'm saying that I have to REALLY push to get it in & I ended up driving home through 1, 2, & 5 because 3 & 4 are now VERY hard to find & get into.

From what I read in the other thread, the lube only helps to get the bushing into the shifter. I did have to tap one in, but I still got it so I don't see how that could cause a problem. Another explanation could be how I tightened the bolt, but like I said, I didn't do it hard at all, so again I don't think that's it. I am going to try taking it apart tomorrow & hosing everything in WD40, but I am basically stumped as to the cause of this & also about how to install the front 2 bushings. I thought I would do everyone a service & take a bunch of pics since no one seems to have a clue about the actual design of the linkage & the placement of the bushings. I followed the diagram that the person who posted as Corksport drew, so I don't think I installed them in the wrong place. The fact of the matter is these bushings need some DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! (rant) Someone please help me. (nervous)

Pictures...
1. rear linkage point
2. middle section of 2 bars
3. close-up of Kartboy & front linkage point
4. Kartboy & front linkage point
5. bottom of shifter with linkage bar & bolt removed

 

[Black Majik MSP]

more pics...
1. bottom of shifter with linkage bolt 1/2way out
2. Bronzeoil bushings installed in bottom of shifter
3. rear view of front linkage "bolt"
4. passenger-side view of "bolt" head
5. driver-side view of smaller "bolt" head

 

[Black Majik MSP]

BUMP for new day

 

[macklum]

when I installed mine i had to hone the bushings so they would slide easily on the bolts . I had no stiffness ,my shifter was just tight no freeplay . The same for the front . Ive had mine in for 3 years now ,Other than having to replace the nut and tighten it up evey so often no problems .
Other people have commented on how tight my shifter is ,personally I like it .

 

[Black Majik MSP]

1. I was under the impression that Corksport just released these a few months ago, so how have you had them for 3 years?
2. How do you hone the bushings?
3. How did you get the bolt out to install the front bushings?

 

[macklum]

1. I was under the impression that Corksport just released these a few months ago, so how have you had them for 3 years?
2. How do you hone the bushings?
3. How did you get the bolt out to install the front bushings?

1 i used the ones from the 1st gen ,the shifters are the same
2 A half round jewellers file
3 to remove the front bolt , get a new one from the dealer
take the nut off ,use a flat tipped drift smaller than the bolt ,and drive the boltout , remove the bushings ,install the new ones and the new bolt

 

[Black Majik MSP]

I hosed the rear linkage point down with WD40 today & it made everything about 1/3 better (read: the car is now driveable), but I'm still shifting like I just learned stick. I was able to get through every gear, but it's still requires a lot of effort, which makes it slow & irritating. I know that not many people have these bushings, but I would expect more of a response than this. I am going to email Corksport & include a link to this thread...I don't know what to do besides that.

 

[rktktpaul]

Ryan -

macklum is right; the instructions I received with the bushings I ordered from srdperformance.com indicated that some fitting would be necessary. Here is a link to the instructions I've received:

http://www.msprotege.com/members/rktktpaul/Bronzoil%20Shifter%20bushings%20installation[1].pdf

 

[rktktpaul]

OK, sorry guys but you have to type or copy the whole link into the browser. I can't get the link to work right.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

OK, I'm going to try loosening the nut on the rear bolt & if it's still bad, I'll take it apart & try those instructions Paul. I'm still lost on the front linkage point though. Macklum said this:

take the nut off ,use a flat tipped drift smaller than the bolt ,and drive the boltout , remove the bushings ,install the new ones and the new bolt

but if you look at my pictures, you'll see that it's different from the rear bolt. Both sides are flat & there doesn't appear to be any way to get it out (no nut or hex heads). I can't imagine this would be MSP-specific, but neither of you 2 seemed to have a problem. Anyone have an idea for how to remove my front, well whatever the hell it is (not a bolt)?

 

[Black Majik MSP]

I went to Mazda today to order the front bolt & nuts...total came to $9. I'm not sure if it's what I need, but I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[1338]

ordered these aslo. just seeing how the rest of install goes.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

yo you dont need any new bolts. Its not the bushings on the horizontal bar, its the bolts on the vertical one. Take that bottom nut off, and take out the same green bushings as were in the back. I just installed these myself into my b&M and it was very tight, but it is loosening up now. 4th picture over in the 1st post you made. you will see its the nut that has the orange/red paint on it.

 

[I'm Allen]

yo you dont need any new bolts. Its not the bushings on the horizontal bar, its the bolts on the vertical one. Take that bottom nut off, and take out the same green bushings as were in the back. I just installed these myself into my b&M and it was very tight, but it is loosening up now. 4th picture over in the 1st post you made. you will see its the nut that has the orange/red paint on it.

(werd) It's the vertical one like Mike said. Take the bottom flanged nut off and the bolt just lifts right up. Replace the 2 bushings and you're done. This one was the easy one for me. The ones in the back were a PITA. I cut myself a couple times on the heat shield. I too torqued the back ones too much and it was really hard to shift. I loosened them up and put some lock-tite on the nut so it won't work it's way out. Hope this helps and good luck.

Allen-

 

[Black Majik MSP]

FINALLY...thanks guys! I'll go by Mazda after I do this & get a refund...those damn parts are overpriced anyway.

I know what you mean about the heat shield...I took mine off before I even started.

 

[sk8er0i]

For those of you who wanted the PDF manual here is the link that works...

you can open or save whichever you prefer. If you save it to disc then you can open it up later again. Otherwise if you open it print it off so you don't loose it.

the link was too long to display so I had to put it as 2 lines. copy and paste each line into your browser's address bar and it should work. top first then bottom immediately folowing it with no spaces inbetween

http://www.msprotege.com/members/rktktpaul/
Bronzoil%20Shifter%20bushings%20installation[1].pdf

 

[Black Majik MSP]

OK, I followed all of the instruction given to me by the helpful people who posted in this thread. I found the front bushings & installed them without any problems (both bushings fit perfectly). I took the rear bushings out & used a metal file on the one that didn't go in easily before. I had to test fit it several times until I finally got it to go in easily. I didn't use any lubrication other than generous amounts of WD40. The steel wool step isn't necessary IMO. I put everything back together & tried out the shifter...PERFECTION! Now that I've spent so much time under the car working on this, I could do the entire install (including filing down the bushing) in under 20 minutes. It's really not very difficult at all, but the lack of instructions from Corksport is what caused all of the confusion.

Quick summary: I'm using all 4 Bronzeoil bushings & the shifting is smoother, quicker, & easier. Together with the Kartboy bushings & Redline MT-90, this is a great trio of mods for improved shifter feel. I give it 3 thumbs up. (2thumbs) (thumb)

 

[rktktpaul]

For those of you who wanted the PDF manual here is the link that works...

you can open or save whichever you prefer. If you save it to disc then you can open it up later again. Otherwise if you open it print it off so you don't loose it.

the link was too long to display so I had to put it as 2 lines. copy and paste each line into your browser's address bar and it should work. top first then bottom immediately folowing it with no spaces inbetween

http://www.msprotege.com/members/rktktpaul/
Bronzoil%20Shifter%20bushings%20installation[1].pdf

Thanks for straightening that out; didn't have the time or patience to screw with it at work, lol!

 

[FrozenMazda]

(werd) It's the vertical one like Mike said. Take the bottom flanged nut off and the bolt just lifts right up. Replace the 2 bushings and you're done. This one was the easy one for me. The ones in the back were a PITA. I cut myself a couple times on the heat shield. I too torqued the back ones too much and it was really hard to shift. I loosened them up and put some lock-tite on the nut so it won't work it's way out. Hope this helps and good luck.

Allen-

Is this the location you're talking about for the other set?

 

[Black Majik MSP]

Is this the location you're talking about for the other set?

You've got it.

I spent nearly 4 hours yesterday taking my friend's Honda Civic short shifter out & putting the stock unit back in. Believe me, ours is a WHOLE lot easier.