Changing gear gaiters

[Ricolas]

Quick guide for that job that has to be done sooner or later as the rubber tears and the gearstick and surroundings get hot!

For the start you'll need 10mm socket, and a 10mm spanner, a philips screwdriver, (optionally a pair of pliers, turkey baster, some gearbox oil, vaseline.)

This car is a UK standard spec MX5 1991. The later six speed gearboxes are different!

First unscrew the central tunnel cover thingy:

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Five philips head screws

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Obviously one on the other side from the above picture and finally:

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Unscrew gear knob

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Lift off central tunnel, due to the wiring for the windows etc (which I don't bother detaching - be careful though!), it is easiest to pop this into the drivers seat/footwell.

Between the upper leather gaiter and the upper rubber boot there is some soundproofing wadding. Put it to one side and put it back in when putting it all in together. I normally forget this and get everything back, and notice it sitting there on the seat...

Unscrew the four bolts holding the upper gaiter and get the thing off. A couple of them lie slightly under the central bit of the dash where the radio etc is, might be easier to use a spanner here.
You may need the pliers to snap the plastic ring that is around the gearshift level itself.

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Now you can see the lower gaiter and unbolt the three bolts:

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Once that is done, lift it out onto something plastic as it may well drip oil everywhere!

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Remove the old gaiter from the gear stick, might need to tear it off; you do not need to dissemble the gear stick to do that though!!

Check there is oil in the base, and it is reasonably clean. If not, turkey baster out, empty it, and refill with 80-90ml of gear oil.

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[Ricolas]

Nearly there!

Fit new lower boot to the gear lever, and as it is a bit tight, some rub vaseline on it to help it slide on. Given that grease and vaseline and rubber are not best friends, I used a spot of red rubber grease. I imagine the difference is so marginal it makes no odds though!

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Line up the groove on the gear level with that in the lower housing of the gear stick, and pop it back in. Tighten up the lower boot bolts.

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Finally bolt on the upper boot, either the original Mazda, or the DrMX5 one as seem here:

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Central tunnel back on being careful of the wires. Job done!

[Ricolas]

MM - you may want to move this somewhere else, and if there is anything obviously wrong or I've forgotten - let me know and I'll change it!

[Lazza]

Good stuff. I'll just add that as the turret oil doesn't lubricate anything other than the linkage and doesn't mix with the gear oil you can actually use any oil you have handy, it doesn't have to be gear oil. A drop of left-over engine oil will do just as well.
Also, this only applies to the 5-speed. The 6-speed doesn't have turret oil as it's lubricated from the gear oil :)

[Hamish]

Nice one Ric.

[Ricolas]

I also forgot to mention the soundproof wadding in there. I'll add that in a tick.

[paggers]

[Yolo]

Some of the attached pics didn't show but I get the idea and you have answered some of the questions I had asked elsewhere. Good job!

[Ricolas]

Thanks for the tip off, Yolo - I'll see if I can edit it out once I am done with this car stereo wiring on my lap!

[flea]

Good man

[Mazda Mender]

A Mazdamender in the house, Ric this will be made a sticky buddy and then locked into the new how to section, well done
M-m

[jackieham]

Many thanks for the info. Gaiters now changed and turret oil replaced. Gear change is a lot better now.

[Mazda Mender]

did you do it yourself Jackie ?
M-m

[jackieham]

My fella and I sorted it. What a difference.