How To: TWM Shifter Bushings & Console Disassembly

[catchphrase]

I couldn't find any specific guides with pictures for disassembling the 2010 MS3 center console (it is a tad different from gen1) for installing the TWM Shifter Bushings. Luckily it wasn't that hard, but for someone who's never really modded a car before, even pulling apart plastic housing can seem a little intimidating. Until you put in some elbow grease.

Anyway, this guide is primarily for a buddy of mine with some conjecture and should just be used as an accompaniment so there shouldn't be any surprises. This is a very minimal install and does not require disassembling and removing the entire console, though it may be necessary if you have large hands or don't have access to someone with small hands. :P

First time pulling apart the center console, pull the e-brake up as high as possible, start with the cupholder open, stick your hands inside and pull as straight vertical as you can. The sides and front actually came out for me first, with the back last. But ideally the back should come out first as clip holding it in is different from the rest, and if you're lucky, the motion will loosen the shifter housing as well.



If not, no big deal. After removing the cup holder, took off the shift knob, and then I stuck my hand in and stretched the inside console housing a little to free the bottom clips of the shifter cover.



At this point, gently tug from the bottom and lift up slightly. The whole thing should come out. Remember to raise the shift boot over the threaded shift lever.



The areas in the green circle pop right out when you insert a flathead screwdriver. My guess is they're for heated seats which we don't have! For the 12V DC adapter, take off the blue housing, and look for a vertical slot along the beige housing. Plop in a flathead and it's all clear.



For the ball-socket circled in blue, I used needle nose pliers wrapped in electrical tape and lifted rather than using the edge of the housing as a fulcrum. Do both. Also, pull the shift cable joints out of the housing circled in green. They're in a bit tight, left one came out easier than the right one. Pull as straight vertical as possible. They click in and out.



I had to tug and remove the cable circled in red. Takes a fair bit of force. One of three things will happen: the ziptie will pop out of the plastic housing, the ziptie itself will undo itself (this happened to me), or the clip will break. Also you see the two 10mm bolts.

After everything was removed, took out the four bolts. Removed each thrust washer with a very small flathead screwdriver as a wedge. To remove the rubber bushing, I stuck my hand underneath the housing, grabbed at it, and used needle nose pliers to pinch the top of the bushing and force it out the bottom while pulling on it simultaneously.

When installing the new shifter bushings, be very gentle when sliding them under the shift housing as they can fall under the carpet along the sides. Align them as best you can, put on the washer and realign each hole with the 10mm bolt. Tighten down evenly as if you were changing a tire, and reverse everything above.

Then go for a ride! Shifter feels absolutely amazing now. It almost pops right into the gear with minimal effort and less focus. Definitely feels more bouncy as the rubber washers dampened that effect, but missed 2nd-3rd shifts seem mostly eliminated for me.

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Additional resources:

Santiago's gen1 MS3 pictorial

Redline Goods Guide in PDF

[E.Tinker]

Nice writeup! Seems like a nice inexpensive mod that can yield good results.

[NeiL331]

I just installed mine today using these instructions. Thanks for the 'How-To' by the way! it's a great mod and the shifting feels more crisp, but when i took it out for a test drive on the back roads i still have the shift from 2 to 3 problem. I've got a rear motor mount to help fix this issue, but have yet to install it. I will install it when my UR downpipe and test pipe come in next week and do it all at the same time.

[catchphrase]

Yeah, I'll be picking up a CP-E 75 duro rear motor mount sometime next month. Hopefully this'll make the shifting feel even more smooth and precise. But for $30, these are definitely a worthwhile upgrade and good experience in getting into the console if you ever decide to swap to a short throw shifter.

[09mpshatch]

Jbarone has shifter bushings for 25 shipped. I picked up a set last week and installed them saturday. they rock.

[16-driver]

I don't see the bushings that needed to be replaced in the pics. I'm sorry, but I'm new to this.

[HomieJaime]

They are underneath the 10mm bolts in the last step, all they are is a rubber grommet with a metal insert, you have to pry out the metal insert, then pull out the rubber part, it's kind of a pain but it doesn't take too long

[catchphrase]

From the additional resource referenced at the end:



It is not necessary to remove the shifter assembly from the chassis but this gives you a clear view of what it looks like.

[16-driver]

Thanks HomieJaime and catchphrase, I just ordred a set from Jbarone. I'm glad you guys are here to make things clear for someone like me who haven't done things like this. Heck, I'm even more thankful because Jbarone's website install instructions are very vague at best for someone who is new to this. The last picture posted makes things clear!

Anywasy, my parts are on it's way (hopefully), but I have one more question. Is it easier to take one bolt/bushing at a time, or is it best to take them all off at the same time?

[catchphrase]

Take out all four rubber/metal washers, then slip the new metal bushings underneath the shift housing. Just need to get them in the general position, put the washer on top of the shift housing, and align it with the 10mm bolt by hand tightening to prevent cross-threading before ratcheting them down.