Which Shifter Bushings?

[08cosmic3]

I'm ordering the bushings and want input on which set to buy. I will save $5 and get the SU's if there is no difference. I don't mind paying the extra $5 if the TWM bushings are better. Your thoughts please.

TWM $35.00
SU $30.00

 

[CWPspeed3]

They are the same thing, I thought the SU ones were $25 though. anyway it wont make a difference so I'd go for whatever you can get cheaper.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

As Matt said..bushings are bushings.

Anything is better than those odd-ball ass bushings the stock shifter sits on. What garbage!

 

[Hank3]

Thought I revive this as I'm looking to upgrade the stock bushings. The SU ones are $30 and the TWM ones are $32.55 shipped from TWM. Is there a difference? The TWM ones look to be hard urethane while the SU ones are machines metal?

 

[phillyb]

whatever's cheap

 

[08cosmic3]

I ended up getting the Mazda3mods bushings for $20 shipped.

 

[hectik1]

I got the SU bushings....definitely recommend them!

 

[Hank3]

I ended up getting the Mazda3mods bushings for $20 shipped.

I don't see it on their Web site. I just purchased a used set of the TWM ones for $22.50 shipped. Now I'll need to source the CS inserts in black

 

[PCspeed3]

do the bushings come with install instructions? I would like to pick come up but have no idea how to put them in.

 

[derspi]

^^

TWM has an install guide with pics on their website. But to answer your question, they're both about the same really. I got mine from SU for $25 when they first came out so I guess they upped the price.

 

[karl hungus]

just bought some on twm's website fo $24.95. they were nice enough to put together a pretty noob-proof install manual so i figured i'd give them the business.

 

[prmspen]

just bought some on twm's website fo $24.95. they were nice enough to put together a pretty noob-proof install manual so i figured i'd give them the business.

+1.

I'm the sort of noob that manual is targeted at, and I just got done installing them. Easy job.

 

[Nutari]

Thought I revive this as I'm looking to upgrade the stock bushings. The SU ones are $30 and the TWM ones are $32.55 shipped from TWM. Is there a difference? The TWM ones look to be hard urethane while the SU ones are machines metal?

Reading is fun

Our new MazdaSpeed 3 short shifter also available with aluminum shifter base bushings. These bushings replace the stock rubber bushings and provide a much more solid and direct shift feel

 

[Peter B]

+1.

I'm the sort of noob that manual is targeted at, and I just got done installing them. Easy job.

Yeah well im so noob I don't really know what shifter bushings do!

....so yeah im asuming they smooth out the feel of the shifter?

Anyone?

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

If you've ever taken apart your center console and shifter, you'll notice they sit on rubber bushings. Aluminum bushings stabilizes the shifter base and allows for better shifting since theres less slop moving around.

 

[Peter B]

Whenever I shift into 6th gear it feels a little... crunchy? Not like im grinding gears, more like the shifter is rubbing on something or catching as I slide into the gear. This only happens when the car is moving, if im sitting at a stop it seems much more smooth.

Would bushing help this? And if I don't like them, can I put it back to stock?

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

You could always put it back to stock, but to be quite honest..

If you're going to do the work of replacing the shifter bushings, you might as well do the TWM Short Shifter. The car feels fantastic with it and it's seriously a Must-Have mod for this car. That and the rear motor mount.

 

[MikeHTally]

Grind down the stockers. Works just fine.

 

[Peter B]

What?

 

[MikeHTally]

You can remove the stock units and grind 'em down. I did that, taking off about 3/16" Stiffens the platform pretty well. If you go this route, make sure you keep track of where each one was -- they're all slightly different.