Gear linkage bushes

Starting to get problems selecting reverse so I did a bit of investigation and found that the rubber bushes on the gearbox end of the rod that pivots between R, 1/2, 3/4 and 5 planes are worn. In fact, when I pull the stick back to go into R, 2 or 4, that whole rod moves forward quite a bit before the other rod moves backward to select the gear. One of the bushes almost comes out of the cup that it sits in so when you move the stick sideways, not all of the movement gets transferred to the gearbox. I found that the addition of a small block of wood between the plastic pivot bearing at the front of the mechanism and the bottom of the gearstick has improved things 100% - feels like a different gearbox altogether but only a temporary fix unfortunately.

Anyhow - to my question(s) - 1) can these bushes be obtained as spare parts and if so, can they be fitted without dropping the engine/gearbox out. 2) would it do any harm if I made a new plastic bearing bit (part P on the diag in page E-4 of the workshop manual) that was a bit wider that the original and stopped the gear mechanism from moving forward when the stick is pulled back.

They're available from Renault. I have two available if you want them, but I have to try to find them. I thought I needed them, but since found out that I need a gear selector fork for 2nd gear and not the bushes. Apparently they can be fitted without removing engine and 'box.

That would be great - pm me if you find them and let me know how much you want for them. Do you reckon they are changed from underneath or via the opening where the rods pass through the car body, under the centre console? Underneath seems like a real nightmare - hardly any room to get hands in because of pipes and stuff - I dread to think how you'd get any purchase on things to get them off/on.

That would be great - pm me if you find them and let me know how much you want for them. Do you reckon they are changed from underneath or via the opening where the rods pass through the car body, under the centre console? Underneath seems like a real nightmare - hardly any room to get hands in because of pipes and stuff - I dread to think how you'd get any purchase on things to get them off/on.

Yes, thats right. I hope you havent got air con though, as that makes it very difficult.

I do have chuffin' aircon - but its bust so I can disconnect the pipes and move them out of the way. Its still a right old squeeze for a chubby fingers like me though.

So will the right-angled bit that has both the bushes on it swing out/in once I have taken out the bolt that holds it onto the gearshift rod or do I need to knock out the roll pins on the little lever at the top so that it can all be put back in place horizontally?

I thought I needed them, but since found out that I need a gear selector fork for 2nd gear .

Chances are you don't need a new fork, you've snapped the roll pin ont he selector. According to our gearbox blokie, all modern gearboxes have a spring-loaded selector fork on 2nd because its the gear that takes the most punishment. It's there to prevent the fork itself wearing out through enthusiastic gearchanges. This spring is retained by a collar held to the shaft by a roll pin. If this breaks, 2nd is very vague and you have to rely on the synchro pulling the gear in. Sometimes it works, sometimes it crunches.. We get about 2 DeLoreasn a year with this problem, I'd imagine the GTA suffers less as it has a less complex linkage. Esprits sufferit more than DeLoreans!

...but yo uhave to split the box to replace it. We do a rebuild for £250 which includes new seals, oil and this pesky pin done.

...but yo uhave to split the box to replace it. We do a rebuild for £250 which includes new seals, oil and this pesky pin done.

Still have to get the engine and box out though!!! Expensive!

Not on a DeLorean.... (engage smug mode). The box is removable without hoiking the engine. Sorry.

It "might" be possible to remove the gear linkage rods by first removing the centre console from the interior. I think you also need to remove one of the front seats to get the console out too. Once the gear linkage rods are out, it should be easy to replace the bushes etc.

The front end of the rods are only held in the car by that big nylon block with a centre hole in it, botled down with 2 bolts. The rods them selves are attached with a push on ball joint.

When I removed my engine/box, there was pretty good room to work on the linkages, but the acces to the working area is tight getting up throught the pipes running down the centre of the car. I also don't have any chuffing A/C.