Club 80-90 Forums

User zenriderx on YouTube has uploaded some great How To's on the gear lever and linkage which would be good for the wiki:

How To: Install and Adjust VW Vanagon Shifter and Shaft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0_Jyn1Yrv8

How to Rebuild a Vanagon Shifter (aka: Lever Bearing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxbIa23_40

Fab, hopefully they'll give me the confidence to tackle this. My better half won't drive the van until the year hangs is easier. Thanks for the link.

Great find

just a heads up James - if you are going to do this, you probably have a 5sp.
Most is the same but there are significant differences at the shift housing end. There are aluminium guides you may want to check to make sure they aren't worn in there.

Good luck, the improvement will be worth it

Smiffo wrote: Most is the same but there are significant differences at the shift housing end. There are aluminium guides you may want to check to make sure they aren't worn in there.

Cheers mate. It was one of the first things I did when I got the van as it used to scrape into first/reverse. It was horrific! Massive improvement afterwards.

I covered it on the blog:
https://vwt25.blog/2016/03/06/gear-lever-refurbishment/
https://vwt25.blog/2016/03/21/gear-link ... rbishment/

Nice write up on that blog, James

Interested in doing this at some point as my linkage is a bit worn and popped off not too long ago.

Looking on Brickwerks all the kits seem to be 5 speed, anyone know what the deal is with 4 speeds?

johninleeds wrote:Interested in doing this at some point as my linkage is a bit worn and popped off not too long ago.

Looking on Brickwerks all the kits seem to be 5 speed, anyone know what the deal is with 4 speeds?

AFAIK the linkage bushes will be the same between 4 and 5sp designs...
The rearmost bush is smaller on later van versions than early models, but I don't think there is a difference in whether 4 or 5 speed.

The difference is at the shift housing end, so you won't need the aluminium guides. ( gearstick and front linkage different too, but they wont be in a rebuild/refurb kit. )

Try emailing Brickwerks. They always respond with the info you need.

Anyone got a picture of a diesel gearstick installation - the bearing is beneath the floor?

Winchweight wrote:Anyone got a picture of a diesel gearstick installation - the bearing is beneath the floor?

johninleeds wrote:Interested in doing this at some point as my linkage is a bit worn and popped off not too long ago.

Looking on Brickwerks all the kits seem to be 5 speed, anyone know what the deal is with 4 speeds?

There is a diagram of the 4-speed linkage on pages 50-51 in this: VAG Self Study Programme: Transporter with Water-cooled Boxer Engine Construction and Operation