Changing from 5 speed to 4 speed gearbox

[KarlT]

Hi, Is there any need/differences in the front end/gear-selection? Is there any need to change bushes/gates/ anything there?

Cheers

[Aidan]

yes, assuming we are talking watercooled and not early diesel with Aircooled box
the gearstick and front linkage are 4/5 speed specific
the rear linkage is petrol/diesel specific, there's also additional boots and different rear onion on later vans
the chassis is age specific early Aircooled/crossover/late watercooled
change what's worn depending on what you got
this must be on the wiki somewhere surely

[CovKid]

And are bush/linkage renewal sets common to both? Always wondered that as mine is a five speed and starting to get play in it.

[Aidan]

front onion is the same on all, and the earlier watercooled vans use the same onion as the rear bush without boots, but due to proximity to road wheel this would have been found to wear quickly so later vans have a different onion with boots to protect the lube
the lever ball and two onion kits that are for sale on ebay have the later rear onion in them, ie one of each type plus the selector ball arm to fit to the gearbox
the rear onion boots are nla, and I don't know where you would get them unless JK have had them remade
the most important boot is the one for the cup and ball, nearly always torn/missing allowing lube to be contaminated turned into grinding paste accelerating wear and sloppy change, these are still available from VW for now at least.........