VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Lower Shift Support Bushing

Has anyone ever managed to install the replacement neoprene bushing for the lower shift support on a 1941?

The tech manual mentions "press a new bushing in," which assumes one has access to a hydraulic press. I, of course, am a poorly-stocked first-time restorer and I have no press, hydraulic or otherwise.

This is, of course, to replace the metal bushing that probably had vulcanized rubber on it way back in the day. The rubber has long-ago run away and the old bushing sits in there loosely, doing nothing but causing sloppiness in the column shift and difficulty shifting down into first or reverse.

The replacement neoprene bushing I got from Chevs of the 40s fits snugly over the shaft itself, after thorough cleaning of the shaft and a bit of grease, but it is just a little too thick to fit up into the lower support, which is where needs to go.

On old junkers in the past, I've ground the outside of the bushings down bit by bit until they just begin to fit, and then I pound them into place (last time with a five-pound sledge), but I figured I'd check with the experienced experts before resorting to this method on a 41. But, honestly, I can see no other solution.

You talking about this, right? The one on the left is factory. Rubber with brass bushing.

The way I repaired mine (before I found a NOS one Ebay) I got two of the plastic bushing from CoTF (on right) put a little silicone in the tube and dropped one in, a little more silicone and dropped the other one in and another small bead of silicone. Let it dry and it worked very well.

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/shop/...p;searchtype=FT&method=KeywordSearch

What the manual is referring to is press out/in the metal part. Very easy with a block of wood and a hammer.

I "press" things into place with my large bench vise. I also press rivets with it. Let us know how things work out. We all will need to do this eventually.

Thanks, Mike

Yep, that's the bushing I'm talking about.

How can you just "drop" it in? Is one end of the lower support a little wider, and so the bushing is intended to go in from the top?

I do remember reading about pressing bushings in for struts one time, and it was explained that they were made slightly oversize so that when they were pressed in it would shave a thin layer off the outside of the bushing, ensuring a tight fit. Using that principle is how I came up with what I've done before (a little sanding/grinding to a near fit and then hammering in). However, if it's intended to go in from the top, that changes things.

Back in 2014 when I replaced mine, I bought 2 off Ebay from two different sellers. When I received the one on the left in the above picture it was rather rusty with some pitting so I cut it open just to see how it was made. The one on the right is the one I removed from my car. You may notice the two dull rings down near the bottom near the rounded end. Those rings are where it rested in the yoke. The rounded end made it easy to insert into the yoke. You can see that the "top" end is just straight. So yes I could just "drop it in". It was even a little loose. That was when I decided to use two and embed them is silicone. But since the other one I received was in really good shape I decided to replace my repaired one with it.

Ugh. So I'm probably going to have to disassemble the whole shift shaft just to install this one stinkin' bushing - not what I was hoping to hear.

Oh, well. I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

It really is not that bad. Just make sure to take a picture of how the linkage and the swivels are situated, springs and washers and whatnot's. Tape the swivels in place so they stay in place!
Good luck!.

Well, you're right. That was a lot less hassle than I thought it would be, especially if you go by the procedure in the shop manual (who knew?).

Since I already had the lower U-bolt of the shaft support off, it took me only an hour to complete the whole procedure. Removed the steering wheel, shift handle, and shift shaft. I then cleaned out the lower shaft support, leaving it in place, and lubed it up. The bushing slipped right in (also lubed inside and out). I used a ratchet extension with a 5/8 socket on the end and a hammer to drive the bushing down as far as I could and then reconnected everything.

Though the bushing is far from the 19/64 from the end of the shaft as the shop manual states (more like 1/2 inch), I figure it's close enough. I don't think one of these new neoprene bushings is flexible enough to go in as far or as easily as a the original copper ones ringed with rubber. Either way, it's now supporting the lower shift column the way it's supposed to.

Took her out for a test drive and all sloppiness and catching in the shift is gone. Vacuum assist still needs adjusted, but at least I'm halfway there!

Great hearing all has worked out, and now others will have access to such good info.

Thanks, Mike