Plastic guide thing on lower part of gear stick

[Deefadog]

Just ordered the kit from VW dealer! ?12 the kit comes with all the pins nuts etc where as German & Swedish was ?5 and only came with the ball and housing!

[VeeDubGTI16v]

all you really need is the housing, cos thats where the damage will be, but you might as well have fresh everything

[Deefadog]

Yeah may aswell  How much grease did you put in, as much as possible?

[VeeDubGTI16v]

yer just a thick coat round the housing

[Deefadog]

Job done Took me and my mate 2 hours :  I can't feel my hand (for pushing the ball up to get the pin out) and my back is in bits but worth it! She slips into gear like a 50 year old prostitute

Only problem I had was getting that damn pin out, use mole grips and battered it with a small hammer!

Thanks for the help on this guyz

take care

[Deefadog]

Update! after driving properly today, I noticed that getting in to first is a bit stiff, I have to really push the gear stick left and up, the natural action (what I would like) when push left and up goes into third, seems really close? is this normal after this replacement? Is there anything I can do to sort this?

Cheers again

[rubjonny]

It sounds like a previous owner tried to adjust the linkage to make up for the worn gearstick housing, best bet is to reset it.  Don't ask me how though, but I've seen a fair few posts on here telling you how to do it  Mines the oposite its a b!tch to get into fith but I'm too goddamn lazy to fix it, probably because I hardly ever do any motorway driving!

[Deefadog]

Thanks for the info mate, I can't find any threads on linkages though I'll keep looking!

Need about 2mm left and I will be happy

Take care

[rubjonny]

Right, I found a post on here (dunno where sorry  ) that gives this method:

1) Remove the knob, gaitor and plastic surround
2) Put something 10mm wide between the stick and the left side of the housing and hold it there with an elastic band or summat
3) In the engine bay loosen the clamp bolt on the end of the gear lever
4) Centre the linkage in the engine bay and retighten the bolt

This should get you close, you might have to fiddle with it a bit to get it just right.  I wish I knew about the 10mm trick when I did it, I just had to keep frigging with it untill it was ok, first is still a little stiff, but I think its supposed to be (to stop you changing into 1st unless you have stopped)

[Deefadog]

I got ot sorted in the end, I replaced all the bushes etc, got my garage to do it,  only cost ?30 labour and it is great now!

Thanks for the info though.

take care