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While I've got my knob out...
David Jenkins - 9/8/07 at 07:10 PM

...on the car's gearstick, that is...

Can anyone suggest a suitable lubricant for the plastic pivot at the base of the stick, where it fits into the almost-triangular metal base?

The reason for asking is that my gearshift had started to get really stiff in the last few months. Greasing the remote was the main way to cure the problem, but while everything's in bits I noticed that the gearstick itself is a tad notchy and generally does not move freely.

I might as well sort everything out while I'm in there!

cheers,
David


Jon Ison - 9/8/07 at 07:15 PM

silicon spray ???.........



...............or maybe baby oil if i ignore the explanation of the thread title.......


rusty nuts - 9/8/07 at 07:30 PM

Copperslip?


mookaloid - 9/8/07 at 07:39 PM

Red brake grease?

I used it on all my bushes and anything which has plastic/ metal contact.

Cheers

Mark


David Jenkins - 9/8/07 at 07:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
Red brake grease?



I've only got green brake grease - any good?

I'm painting my shaft (ooer!) overnight, so I'll play around with all these suggestions tomorrow.

Any further suggestions or experiences welcome!

cheers,
David


PeterW - 10/8/07 at 08:52 AM

Spray on white lithium grease...

Pete


MikeRJ - 10/8/07 at 09:10 AM

quote:
Originally posted by PeterW
Spray on white lithium grease...

Pete


That seems to be what most OEM's use on plastic gears and bushes.


David Jenkins - 10/8/07 at 12:17 PM

And the lithium grease wins... I went out and bought a can...

All in all I have:

* Lubricated the shaft of the gearbox extension (main cause of stiffness)
* Eased the compression of the rubber spring at the base of the gearstick (see Dave Andrews' website to see what I mean)
* Lubricated the plastic ball-joint at the base of the gearstick (subject of this topic)
* Slightly extended my gearstick - I'd originally shortened it too much, so any stiffness in the linkage made changing very hard.

Now the gearchange is as sweet as a very sweet thing!

cheers,
David