Manual Trans Shifter "Bearing Cover"

[Tomnistuff]

I think Bearing Cover is a silly name.  It should be Lower Shifter Isolator, but be that as it may, mine is broken.  See the photo.  How does rubber break?  It takes 50 years of ozone exposure to become brittle enough, I suppose.

I'm posting this to ask, "How hard is this rubber supposed to be?"  Mine is brittle.  I'm going to make one and I would like not to replace it in a few weeks for whatever reason.  The Mercedes dealer wants $99 Canadian plus tax and shipping from Germany.  I've found it for $12 US but they want $25 to $35 to ship it to Canada, then I still have to pay 15% tax plus duties plus almost 50% exchange rate.  A big ripoff for a hidden piece of rubber that I can cut with an exacto knife.  All I really need to know is how pliable/rigid it is supposed to be.  It looks almost like my mouse pad.

If I can make a cheap replacement, I'll share my experience with everyone here.

Tom Kizer

[ja17]

Hi Tom,
It might be nice to have a factory new one analyzed first to see what type of rubber (hardness, elasticity, chemical resistance etc.) then choose something as good or better. Big selection here.........
http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-rubber-sheets/=10un8rx
You then could have an inexpensive die made and the parts could be die-cut. I am sure others in the group need these also.

[Tyler S]

Tom, this "bearing" as they call it is made of nylon and breaks down over time with oils and grease. The new ones are black rubber. It keeps the top shifter plate with shift rod in the correct position while still isolating it from the body to prevent noise. I have a new one but cant check the shore hardness without a durometer. The best way to explain it is about the consistency of a tire sidewall. Fairly hard but not completely rigid.

[Tomnistuff]

Thanks, Joe and Tyler,

Joe, I've already decided to make the parts. They aren't really expensive.  The parts are readily available quite cheaply from U.S. suppliers for you people in the U.S.  I just don't want to pay $10 for the part and $90 for Quebec taxes, Canadian taxes, customs duties, inflated international shipping charges, U.S./Canadian exchange rate, shipper's brokerage fees, etc.

Thanks, Tyler, for your opinion regarding the "feel" of the material.  Shore hardness would not help me anyway, since I can't measure it.  The info about its "feel" and the comparison to a tire sidewall is just what I needed.  With that knowledge, I found an aftermarket 3 inch diameter reinforced rubber fuel fill hose among my "for making stuff" parts in the garage.  It's about 1.5 mm thicker than the original piece and feels just like you describe.  I've cut off a length of the hose and opened it up to flatten it out.  If I can get it to lay maybe a little flatter, I think it will be perfect.

As it is, I think it will stay flat nicely once it is cut to shape sandwiched between the tunnel and the "bearing" (another silly name).  The part name should be something like shift lever pivot ball plate.

I'll provide feedback as I progress.

Tom Kizer

[Tyler S]

Sounds like that will work. I made a headlight adjusting screw clip out of one of my wifes white cutting boards. Shh.. Dont tell her. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[Tomnistuff]

I understand completely your last post.  I used the oven and the central vacuum system to vacuum form a "vintage battery" cover over a glued-together cardboard form.  It's just necessary to find the right temperature to soften the plastic and keep it below 451 degrees F to avoid a paper fire in the oven.  Science fiction books (like fahrenheit 451) can teach us a lot.

Life's fun!

Tom Kizer