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Thu Jul 11, 2024 9:39 am

I am thinking about updating my shift rod bracket to one that has
the later style bushing. I have the original bracket now without the bushing.
Was wondering what shift rod to use that would take the 22 mm bushing
setup. Mine shifts ok just rattles too much for me. I am using the russ wolf
shifter coupling. Thanks

Thu Jul 11, 2024 5:30 pm

I think I would try and determine why yours rattles too much. Is the steel bushing worn? Is the leaf spring behind it that pushes down to prevent rattling broken?

Honestly, the early all metal system works better than the later plastic bushing -- even more so now that most replacement plastic bushings are crap quality. The shift rod size is the same as far as I know, but I have never owned an early ribbed door Bug.

I've owned a Feb. '57 oval and a Dec. '58 ('59 model year) Bug, plus a couple later small window (pre-'65) Bugs. I had a '60 Bug that was a plastic shift bushing hanger transitional car, it used a bushing without the retaining metal ring. My '63 and '64 Bugs had the typical plastic shift rod bushings. Only the '57 and '59 metal bushings didn't end up needing replacement.

I would recommend trying to find a metal early style shift rod hanger if yours needs replacement. In this case I think VWs newer design was cheaper rather than better.

Fri Jul 12, 2024 5:16 am

Thanks for the reply. When I looked last the opening in the shift rod bracket
wasn't worn where I thought it needed replacement. I will double check that.
I was going to replace the rear coupling from the solid one to the one that
has the later block style. Not sure if the rubber one is as good as the
urethane one or which one is better for noise, check the spring clip tension and lube it. My shift rod is 23mm in diameter I think the bushing setup is made for 22mm, at least the last one I used was.

Fri Jul 12, 2024 12:14 pm

Here is a picture of the early shift rod hanger, used up to 1960. It uses no bushing and the spring on the left prevents rattling.

I'm pretty sure the diameter of the later shift rod was 22mm where it passes through the bushing, at least from the late '50's onward. I don't have a spare rod to measure at the moment, but the question has come up here and a few posts have given the diameter as 22mm. The oldest Bug I owned was a '57 oval, I understand there was a lot of changes to the Bug, body and chassis, in 1955.

Fri Jul 12, 2024 12:29 pm

I will check the tension on the spring end against the rod and replace
the coupling with the later style and let you know. Thanks again.

Tue Jul 16, 2024 1:52 pm

Just an update. I removed the solid shift coupling and replaced it
with the original style round coupling. Seems good at this point
rattle seems gone. Didn't touch the spring tension on the rod.