Symborski Shifter Kit Install
I know there are vfaqs on this but, this is a more detailed (more pics) version. I noticed my shifter in my newly purchased AWD felt bad so I decided to stop by MachV and pick the kit up. The kit comes with instructions that I suggest you follow along with these.
Upon doing this, I discovered the previous owner had out the Symborski kit in already, however he put it in upside down. This made it worse than stock (stepped bushings facing upwards on top of plate rather than down through the plate). Hopefully these instructions will help others not repeat that.
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Start by taking the center console apart. Remove the
plastic trim piece and the three screws and the gear shift knob.
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There is another in the ashtray. Careful pull apart,
there are wires leading to the cigarette lighter and misc. lights.
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The top piece of the console removed.
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Pop off the side caps (white lines show location) and remove the Phillips screws holding the carpet sides to the plastic inner console. There are four more screws in the rear off the console where you keep stuff (see pics below). Just move the little carpet remnants out of the way and there they are. You need to unbuckle the shoulder straps from the door slides and create slack in the Seat belts to pull the whole inner console to the back seat (no pic). You can figure it out.
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Now that the console is off, it is a good time to
tighten the slack in the emergency brake. Oh yeah, I found some loot
in there (Coin)!
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Use a 10mm wrench and pliers to steady the rod. Tighten
it until it takes 4 to 5 clicks to pull lever upward and no farther.
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With a 12mm socket begin to remove the four bolts
holding the shift plate down.
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I removed the cotter pin from the bracket so I could
move the cable to the side.
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Push the cable to the left just enough to get the
one bolt out.
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Lay the FLAT washers down under the plate.
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Placing the plate on top of the flat washers, put
the stepped washer so the raised part goes through the shift plate.
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Flat side of stepped washer facing up.
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Spray the bolts with a lube before putting them in. They will break so do not torque too hard (I know all to well)! Lubing them will help some. Bolt the plate down assuring the stepped washers are still aligned through the plate. |
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If you break one as I did (twice), remove plate and
broken piece with vise grips. If anyone knows of a bolt breaking contest,
sign me up!
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Okay, now for the bushing. Using a 12mm socket on one side and a wrench on the other, remove the bolt. Place everything in order and keep it in order for reinstall later. |
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Bolt out and shifter on the side.
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Grease the bushing and the bolt before putting it
back together.
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I also greased the cup and the pivot point of the
shifter.
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Place new bushing into the shifter arm and slide bolt
through the new bushing.
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Here I used a Phillips screwdriver to line it up on the other side. Install all washers, bushings and spring back in the order from which they came. I greased all of that too. Bolt it back together. |
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I removed the other cotter pin and the shifter (14mm
nut) just to add more grease while I was in there. I greased every moving
part come to think of it.
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Greasing it up. Put it back together. Now I took it out as is and tried it out on the road before putting console pieces on. I also fixed the cigarette lighter while in there and adjusted the shifter cables (see vfaqs or manual). That's it! Put all the console pieces together and enjoy.
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