Solid brass shift bushing, should I install?

Yes. I'd rather the brass shift bushings on a standard shifter, than a short throw.

I just took my brass shifters out and replaced the with the Spherical bearings (You can get from CRW (http://twosrus.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=949 ) or there is an Australia company that also sells them.
 
Having now driven the car I don't get the grinding I used to. Its so much easier to get into 1st + 2nd.
 
You could get away with putting a brass bushing on the top lever, but definitely put a spherical or OEM rubber in the side lever as there is a reasonable amount of binding with this cable and thats what affects the 1st -> 2nd (up & down) gear changes.

Do you have a link to the product from Australia so I know I'm buying the right one that will fit
 
If not I'll order it from twosrus. Just curious though the one advertised by twosrus, does it come as a pair?

 
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.
 

petmr2
thanks for the comment... so confused as to which way to go. people have different views on the best setup

Maybe you could inspect your current rubber bushes and see what sort of condition they are in? If they are okay just leave it?

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.

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.