M@tt 77 Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) I need to sort my sloppy gearstick before the euro road trip and thought i'd show whats causing it on mine. I've already got adjustable gear rods so there's no play in the actual ball joints the play i'm experiencing is from the L bracket itself. In the picture below the problem i have is with the part highlighted in RED. This is part of the L bracket and i've can't see the part listed serepately on the service box site. basically there are 2 parts to this collar, one on either side of the L braket and the problem is that the L bracket is able to wobble ever so slightly between them. I've had the bracket in a vice and press and they are firmly together its just that the gap that the bracket part sits in has obviouly worn over time. The plan is to remove the bracket and take out the 2 plastic sleeves (BLUE) from the collar (these can also be worn(but mine are fine)) and run a ring of weld around the collar to secure it to the bracket once again, pop the sleeves back in and presto a gearstick as tight as a nuns you know what Edited March 29, 2008 by M@tt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flipperthebushkangaroo 2 Posted March 29, 2008 not wanting to appear daft but are the plastic bushes not there for a reason? could this cause further problems elsewhere. I'm interested as mine has similar issues, is the "L" bracket the one at the rear of the engine bay? Roddie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M@tt 77 Posted March 29, 2008 (edited) i'm only taking the sleeves out when i weld the collar (RED) it so that they don't melt i'll put them back in once its cooled down. You can check whether your bushes are also worn by fitting them back in the collar and putting the bolt in, if the bolt wiggles then they have worn as well and will need replacing. Fortunately they're only 30p each to replace from pug yes the L bracket is the one at the back of the engine bay bolted to the subframe above the steering rack HTH Edited March 29, 2008 by M@tt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flipperthebushkangaroo 2 Posted March 29, 2008 i'm only taking the sleeves out when i weld the collar (RED) it so that they don't melt i'll put them back in once its cooled down. You can check whether your bushes are also worn by fitting them back in the collar and putting the bolt in, if the bolt wiggles then they have worn as well and will need replacing. Fortunately they're only 30p each to replace from pug yes the L bracket is the one at the back of the engine bay bolted to the subframe above the steering rack HTH Whoops feel silly now , thanks for the advice, yet another job for when the weather gets better Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrSarty 90 1 Cars Posted March 29, 2008 as tight as a nuns you know what No, I don't. Explain..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLPoomobile 958 Posted March 30, 2008 Matt, are you sure that bracket is worn? I would have thought the bushes would have worn first. In other words, surely new bushes would solve it, rather than having to run a bit of weld around the bracket. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M@tt 77 Posted March 30, 2008 i'm positive, i've had it out before and done the same to it but the welding was errr... s*it and the welds have broken so just need to redo the welding properly this time. only 10min job to get it off Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,657 Posted March 30, 2008 I wouldn't bother faffing about with it, just pop to your pug dealer and hand over 78p for a pair of bushes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vern 0 Posted March 30, 2008 I had this exact same problem and I posted it up, and nobody understood then either, glad you have solved it the same way I did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M_R_205 5 1 Cars Posted March 30, 2008 I found putting an extra washer (like `j and h) on the stack reduced the play loads, also check the ball joint on the subframe hasnt come loose, every car iv had its been loose, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miles 331 1 Cars Posted March 30, 2008 There is a even better fix, If you want to know you'll have to PM me and it's cheap if you have acess to a lathe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M@tt 77 Posted March 30, 2008 everything else is up tight and fine the problem is that the groove that the L part sits in has worn and therefore allows a small amoutn of rocking and this is magnified at the gearstick end allowing probably about 2cm rocking back and worht when in gear. Doing the bolts up tighter doesn't sort this particular problem and again the bushes aren't worn its just part of the braket has. I'll take some pics when i weld it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M@tt 77 Posted April 13, 2008 finally got round to sorting the wobbly L bracket today in this first pic you can see the slight gap between the bracket and the metal collar which was causing the wobble couple of good solid welds, job done Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
