The Best Garage in Boca Raton to Fix Your Land Rover’s Gear Selector Bushing Failures

Having trouble shifting gears on your Land Rover? Hearing a lot of grinding, squealing, rattling noises when you try to shift gears? Chances are your Land Rover might have a gear selector bushing failure. In this article, we’ll discuss some common issues with the bushing and cables and what you can do about them.

What is a Gear Selector Bushing and What Does It Do?

A gear selector bushing is also called a gear shifter bushing or just a shifter bushing. Both manual and automatic transmission cars have bushings. They make shifting gears easier and smoother and prevent wear on moving components. Let’s see what a bearing and a bushing are so that we can appreciate the importance of a gear selector bushing.

• Bearing: Bearings are used in machines so that they can support and protect parts in the machine that are moving and rotating. Their purpose is to prevent wear and damage to the parts due to friction.
• Bushing: A bushing is a particular type of bearing that is used in many different types of machines. It can be made of rubber, plastic, aluminum, bronze, or other similar materials. Again, its job is to reduce friction, vibration and noise.
• Manual Transmission: In a manual transmission car, there is a small rubber sleeve at the bottom of the shifter, at the point where it is attached to the actual transmission. It allows the gears to move freely and not lock up.
• Automatic Transmission: In an automatic transmission car the bushing has the same job. It appears where the shifter connects to the transmission and is also used wherever the moving transmission components connect to each other.

Signs of a Bad Gear Selector Bushing

Here are some indications that you may have a problem with your Land Rover’s gear selector bushing.

• Shifting Gears is Difficult: If you find changing gears is problematic, such as the shifter is hard to push, there might be a problem with the bushing.
• Gear Shifting is too Loose: The opposite problem is when changing gears is too easy and feels loose. Either situation is dangerous.
• Stuck in One Gear: If the bushing is malfunctioning, you may notice that your car is stuck in one gear and your Land Rover is not responding to the shifter anymore.
• Gears Don’t Catch: The flip side of the above is that your car pops out of gear and slips into an unintended one.
• Vibration During Gear Shifting: If gear shifting feels wobbly, erratic, or shaky, it indicates the bushing may have worn out.
• Weird Noises: Since one of the objectives of a gear selector bushing is to prevent friction and noises, if you’re hearing grinding, rattling, or squeaking sounds, this is a sure sign that the bushing is going out.
• Heat: A bad bushing will cause overheating due to friction. You may actually feel it in your shifter.

Reasons Why Gear Selector Bushings Fail

Here are some typical causes for the bushing to stop working:

• Wear and Tear: After a certain amount of time and mileage, it is normal for the bushing to deteriorate.
• Oil Leaks: If oil seeps into the bushing, it will cause problems.
• Alignment Issues: If any of the parts in the transmission are not aligned correctly, problems will occur.
• Inadequate Lubrication: It is extremely important to ensure that the bushing is regularly and correctly kept lubricated.
• Overloading: Each car, including your Land Rover, has a recommended weight limit that it can carry or tow. Overloading can cause severe damage to the bushing and transmission.

Easy Prevention at World Class Auto Repairs

If you suspect you may have a bushing failure issue, bring your car over to us immediately. Taking care of a failing gear selector bushing in a timely manner can save you a huge amount of time and money. Put your Land Rover on a regular maintenance schedule. These issues will be caught before they turn into serious complications.

We specialize in repairing and servicing European vehicles. Our name says it all! We’re called World Class Auto Repairs and we live up to our name. We have factory-trained mechanics, who are ASE-certified (Automotive Service Excellence). We are your dealership alternative at a fraction of the cost. Call us or book an appointment to visit us. We are located in Boca Raton, Florida.