Gear end linkages, solid or rubber bushings?

[AlexC1981]

Hi All,

I have a 2010 Octavia 2.0 TSI (same engine as Golf GTI Mk5) There is a lot of free play in the bushing that connects to my gear linkage cables to the relay lever

It's one of these shown below. The square in the middle moves up and down very easily (the arrows suggest it's supposed to?) It appears the rubber underneath has split. This may have happened as the relay leaver was not bolted down properly, which made the gearstick very sloppy and sometimes difficult to get 1st gear.



Some cars with the same engine don't have the square with the arrows on, instead they have a plain round end that doesn't look like is supposed to slide.

I have sorted out the relay leaver now and the gearchange is vastly improved and the stick is much less floppy.

As it is a 126k mile car, I would expect some play in the gearstick, but it would be nice to reduce it further. Shall I buy two new cable end linkages or replace the perished rubber to the existing linkages with solid bushings like these?



There must be worn bushings in the selector box that I can't easily get to. Would solid bushings here help to offset the play caused by other worn bushings?

The solid bushings are cheaper than two new original cable ends, but more expensive than aftermarket cable ends.

Thanks.

[500TORQUES]

There is a good reason OEM use rubber, solid bushes transmit gear noise and vibration into the shifter assembly. Just refresh with new OEM.

[AlexC1981]

Thanks, I think you might be right. Perhaps no dampening at all of my ham fisted gear changes might cause some damage to the already old transmission over time.