I was thinking about making a solid shifter bushing when I came across this on a Sentra forum. It uses Energy Suspension sway bar bushings. Part # 9.5101
I paid $20 for a set of two. Only downside is that you can't buy them individually.

The shifts don't feel as smooth, but they do feel much more solid. I do feel a bit more vibration in the shifter. These impressions are with ES Motor mounts and NWP TQ Link installed. Overall I'm very happy with this mod.

Only one modification is needed. You need to cut off the lip on one side of the bushing, otherwise the support rod won't fit back in. I also used one of the washers these bushings came with under the bolt on the rear of the shifter bushing.

Some of the pictures suck, I'll retake some when I get around to it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839691045/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839705015/


Stock bushing vs unmodified ES bushing (I had already installed the modified one)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839698287/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839702663/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839700427/


Stock:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839701569/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839703871/


Energy Suspension:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839695095/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schmellyfart/6839696803/

 

That's great,Only problem I see is keeping the bushing from backing out without the lip. Probably would have been better to enlarge the bolt holes in the bracket.

 

I thought about that too. I'll be keeping an eye on it.

In retrospect, I could have just cut out the center section and kept the lip on the sides of the bushing.

 

cool deal!

 

not a bad idea i remember a few yrs back when i had my 99 there was a group deal of 10 aluminum shifter bushing that was awesome and very rare to come by now

 

Nice little upgrade...

 

I don't know. It looks to me from the photo that the new U-bracket is interfering with the radial movement of the shifter bracket. Everything is fine until you torque down the center bolt and pull it into the bushing. There's 360-deg. clearance on the stock one. If there was a way to move the U-bracket away from the shifter you could put a small diameter spacer on the thru bolt and then have clearance all around. Otherwise, it acts more like a hard mount. Or, maybe I'm just not seeing it right...?

 

What bracket is that ? If it's included , il take it

 

Remember that this bushing attaches to the support rod, not the actual shift rod. The support rod is in the same location as with the stock bushing, it is not being pulled out of position by the bolt going through the bushing. Not sure why you see the need for a spacer though.
The bracket came with the bushing. It is a sway bar bushing (think rear sway bar brackets/bushings) I'll PM you my paypal.

 

[quote=schmellyfart;8355471]Remember that this bushing attaches to the support rod, not the actual shift rod. The support rod is in the same location as with the stock bushing, it is not being pulled out of position by the bolt going through the bushing. Not sure why you see the need for a spacer though.

Since the bushing allows longitudinal as well as radial movement of the shifter bracket, it looks clear to me that there is going to be metal to metal contact between the U-bracket and the shifter bracket. I would say no wonder you feel more vibration

 

I'd attribute the vibration to the polyurethane bushing. I don't recall the shifter bracket contacting the U bracket, but I'll double check.

Edit: I checked it out and two corners are contacting with the U bracket full time. I may try cutting two notches in the bracket to see if that helps.

 

Grinding the corners down looks easier than notching the bracket. Gee, must be nice not working with rusty bolts & such

 

It probably is, I'll see whats up next time I crawl under there.

It is.

 

Keeping the improvised Swaybar bushing it's full size and elongated the bolt holes to slide the swaybar bracket away from the shifter channeled L bracket is the real ticket! You can use a couple of large area washers under the nuts to keep the swaybar bracket more secure! You only need to grind about 1/8"-1/4" of material and it should fit perfectly!

 

Thanks schmellyfart! I just ordered a set. I wish my car looked like yours underneath. Working on my '97 se 5mt beater. So rusted I was able to pull down on the shifter and the bushing came down and seperated from it's bracket. One of the studs snapped before that while I was trying to remove it correctly. Had to drill out one of the shifter bolts. Removing the shifter turned into a 3 hour job alone with all the rust. This was after I drilled out 4 y-pipe studs that snapped off. So while doing the ws-y I got lucky and found a b&m shifter NIB the night I was on ebay and about to buy a knockoff. I just wanted to let people know that the cheapest place to buy these from with the fastest shipping is from the source itself, energy suspension. Paid just under $20 shipped for the pair. The next closest place was a website with ten day shipping and it was about $23. So I should have it in 3-5 days. Also I plan on enlarging the bolt holes and using washers. Also I plan on cutting some of the bushing bracket off at an angle so the area where the shifter support rod bracket mounts will have no contact with the shifter bushing bracket. I'll post pics when I'm done.

 

I've purchased nearly all of my ES parts from energysuspensionparts.com.

If you are going to elongate the bolt holes to keep the lip of the bushing on the side closest to the front of the car, I would suggest getting a longer bolt to run through the bushing.

Looking forward to your pictures!

 

I've Got this 98 ZX2 (Escort) with pathetic designed shifter. I think I'll get a junkyard unit and try to build something bulletproof for it's shifting bushing BS....It feels like a broomstick in a bucket right now!

 

This car's a rust bucket. All hardware is being replaced because it busted in half. I bought all chrome stainless. Only thing I need to get from the dealer is the shifter pin/bolt. I'll take pics just so everyone can see the rust I had to deal with. You car is brand spanking new compared to this beater.



I'm going to miss the dump truck shifter, I think.

 

My bushings just came in. Just called nissan dealer and there are only two shifter bolts left in the country. Ordered one, should be here in a week.