Ok I'll have a look tomorrow and see how it looks

Reddtarga
 
A solid brass bush should be fine for the top cable end, to take out some slack in the feel at the gear lever.
 
However because of the shift lever geometry at the transmission end, the lower cable is the one that does all the flexing (and is also the one that tends to break) so I believe the stock rubber bush is the best option there.
I would not recommend fitting spherical bearings.
 

Why would you not recommend the use of spherical bearings? they arguably have more movement then the rubber bush does.

Well when the mechanic was installing the engine mounts he mentioned that the bolts that are holding the bracket for the shift bushing thingy is snapped off... Could be the reason why it's hard to get into gear cos it's not firmed secured... I think the bushing is worth a try cos he's not sure if he can remove the snapped bolt due to location

petmr2
Well when the mechanic was installing the engine mounts he mentioned that the bolts that are holding the bracket for the shift bushing thingy is snapped off... Could be the reason why it's hard to get into gear cos it's not firmed secured... I think the bushing is worth a try cos he's not sure if he can remove the snapped bolt due to location

Seems odd the bolts have snapped, there is no reason why that should happen unless someone has tried to remove them.
 
Anyhow yeah if the bracket is able to flex that will impact on your shifting as rather than moving the gear linkage if will try and push the cable away from it (outer sleeve), so that really needs fixing.
 
That aside replacing the end bushes/rubbers and the square bush is worthwhile regardless.

I have used all three. The deltaV bearings were the best. The brass are a PITA. Do not waste your time with the brass.

I have the DeltaV and think they are a huge improvement on the old worn bushes.

Still shocked people are using solid bushings in these cables after all these years of people knowing the cables need to act dynamically not fixed. 
 
Purchase one of the spherical options on the market over anything else as far as i am concerned.
 
 
 

tiff_lee

Reddtarga
 
A solid brass bush should be fine for the top cable end, to take out some slack in the feel at the gear lever.
 
However because of the shift lever geometry at the transmission end, the lower cable is the one that does all the flexing (and is also the one that tends to break) so I believe the stock rubber bush is the best option there.
I would not recommend fitting spherical bearings.
 

Why would you not recommend the use of spherical bearings? they arguably have more movement then the rubber bush does.

Shift lever pin wear:
Although the idea behind these is a good one, the problem with their design I found is that the spherical bearing part tends to stiffen up, as happened with 2 different sets I tried (from different manufacturers)
When that happens you get it's steel center rotating on the steel pin of the shift lever (steel on steel ) - not good for wear.
I discovered this when I checked the installation after they were only fitted for a very short time in both cases, and it was not noticeable at the gear lever.
 
The SW20 shift lever design is a compromise especially with the lower shift lever where the cable tends to flex, so I suspect Toyota got it about right with the stock rubber bushes. They have the necessary flex and the brass center won't wear the shift lever pin.  Solid brass bushes in the lower cable end of course will shorten the cable life

Hi All,
I have been following this post with interest. I have Delta-V sphericals, & like them.
I asked a while ago as to what people were lubricating them with & no-one responded.
At every oil change I have been spraying all of the moving bits of the shift linkages with a Teflon spray lubricant & mine are quite loose.
I very much respect Redtarga's knowledge & experience, & think that I might have to have a close look at the lower cable flex & consider putting an OEM bush back there.

Reddtarga

tiff_lee

Reddtarga
 
A solid brass bush should be fine for the top cable end, to take out some slack in the feel at the gear lever.
 
However because of the shift lever geometry at the transmission end, the lower cable is the one that does all the flexing (and is also the one that tends to break) so I believe the stock rubber bush is the best option there.
I would not recommend fitting spherical bearings.
 

Why would you not recommend the use of spherical bearings? they arguably have more movement then the rubber bush does.

Shift lever pin wear:
Although the idea behind these is a good one, the problem with their design I found is that the spherical bearing part tends to stiffen up, as happened with 2 different sets I tried (from different manufacturers)
When that happens you get it's steel center rotating on the steel pin of the shift lever (steel on steel ) - not good for wear.
I discovered this when I checked the installation after they were only fitted for a very short time in both cases, and it was not noticeable at the gear lever.
 
The SW20 shift lever design is a compromise especially with the lower shift lever where the cable tends to flex, so I suspect Toyota got it about right with the stock rubber bushes. They have the necessary flex and the brass center won't wear the shift lever pin.  Solid brass bushes in the lower cable end of course will shorten the cable life

While I can't speak for the reliability of the spherical bearings you used how is the steel centre of them on the gear shift pin any different from the steel centre of the rubber bush?