gearbox help

[SoundillusioN]

cheers mate, will i need to change the ball on the bottom of the gear stick aswell?

the kit i put on here for you looks just like the one i got, they are the bits that once worn out make your shift sloppy... i very much doubt you'll have to change the ball joint.  You don't need to take anything apart inside the car, its all underneath and access is pretty good.

[andc1]

ok great stuff, that kit will fit this type of box yea? i believe its a mk1 gti box

[SoundillusioN]

If its a mk1 box then yes, most of the pictures you've taken are from under the bonnet, gearbox area, this side is usually OK, the kit is for the rods directly under the selector (gearstick) underneath the car.  You would need to to drive up some ramps or jack your car up and put it on stands to see them.  The kit covers the area shown in the picture which is the weak spot.  The picture makes it look more complicated than it is as all the parts shown are not connected.  I got the Haynes book out and it took me about an hour to figure it out and swap the bits over.

[rubjonny]

under the car at the bottom of the stick there are only 2 plastic bushes to replace, the equivilant of the 'MK2 housing' is underneath the centre console and can be swapped out from above. what you do is remove the gear knob, the polastic trim from the lever then undo 2 bolts and a circlip and the entire lever bush slides off the top of the stick. can get a new one here:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&product_id=593

[andc1]

ok cheers guys, picking up the kit today

[andc1]

Well I have put all my new bushes on and a new ball joint, now I can't find 1st, 2nd and just about reverse!!! What's going on? I've tried adjusting the pinch bolt but still nothing

[rubjonny]

need to adjust it again, till its right!
put it in 3rd, loosen the pinch bolt off a touch. try all your gears, if you cant get 1st, put it in 3rd and move the stick left or right to move the pinch bolt round, then retry. once happy do up the bolt and recheck

[andc1]

Ok cheers I'll give it a go tomorrow, just bought new rods aswell today as I noticed the ball socket ends where all cracked! Would this of stopped me selecting gears too? 

[rubjonny]

yeah it will, as you move the stick the cracks will open and you will have trouble with your gears. I lost all gears except 3rd & 4th in my GTI thanks to the long rod end snapping off

[andc1]

Ok cool, stupid question but the gear stick has a bend in it, does it bend to the seats or to the dash when it's fixed to the floor? I can't remember which way it goes round!!!!!