gear change problems

[whiter_than_white]

hi there, i was just wondering what is causing my problem?
i have an 86 8v gti and i have found that i dont need to push the gear lever down to select reverse gear, so i have to be really careful when selecting first,
now i had planned to replace all of the gear selector bushes and was wondering if this would solve this problem or if there was something else worn/broken

many thanks in advance
will

[Steve_B]

That'll be either the reverse gate or your gearstick cup and ball that have worn down, look in the maintenance section for the gear linkage thread, tells you everything you need to know 

[whiter_than_white]

cheers steve, just read that  but it says that the bottom cup could be worn but how would you replace that, it doesn't seem very obvious in the guide, or i'm being a bit dumb 

[Ben Lessani]

The info should be in the guide mentioned before. You need to remove the exhaust heat sheild, undo the support bolts and manipulate the gear stick down and out.

It will be obvious once you start dismantling it.

When replacing the ball, you need to hold the ball in place (as it is sprung), push the slide pin out and release it, then repeat in reverse for a refit.

I gloss over it vaguely in my project thread.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=49436.msg497188#msg497188

[fishnchipsx2]

Are yoou finding 5th difficult to select?  If so, the linkage might just have rotated itself a little bit where it clamps together next to the bottom of the zorst manifold.

If this is the problem, the solution is:
1. Take gaitor off gearstick.
2. Select neutral.
3. Get under car and undo clamp.
4. Get friendly helper person to hold gearstick the width of a cassette tape away from the reverse gate.
5. Tighten up clamp.
6. Keep adjusting for hours until you tighten the clamp up in such the position that you can select all the gears.

[whiter_than_white]

hi, no 5th is fine, it just goes into reverse too easily, i think that the ball is worn as there is a lot of play in the lever up and down.
going to get the bush repair kit and a new ball and socket and replace the whole lot together