Cable Saver Replacement Cable End Bushings for MK5 and MK6

$29.99

Click here for Install Instructions

 Has your VW shifter suddenly gotten loose?

  Make your MK5, MK6, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat or Skoda shifter good and tight again with our replacement shift cable bushing set. These custom made Delrin and UHMW polyethylene shifter bushings replace the spongy rubber bushings for the side to side and front to back shift cables. Prevents you from having to buy $400 worth of shift cables from the dealer when only the end bushings disintegrate. Proudly made in the USA and guaranteed for as long as you own your car! Also fits B6 and B7 Passat, too.

Important note: Due to the bonded construction of the front to back cable end, the larger front to back cable bushing contained in this kit should only be used when the original cable end bushing has gone bad. The reason for this is that the original bushing is co-molded and bonded to the plastic cable end and unless it has already started going bad it is likely that you will not get good results when replacing a bushing that has not separated from the plastic ring on the end of the shift cable. We suggest that you do not use this kit preemptively.

Highly recommended: If you have a 2004-2007 MK5-based car then buy a high quality T25 Torx screwdriver or socket to remove the pivot screw for the steel bracket that the side to side cable attaches to. The T25 screws are very tight and the heads are somewhat soft. If you strip out the head then you will need to drill the head off with a 13/64" or 5mm drill bit.  After the stripped head is drilled off, the remaining shank of the 5mm screw will unthread easily. We provide an extra 5mm Allen screw in case you strip the head of the stock T25 screw. The replacement screw we include is 14mm long and requires a 4mm or 5/32" Allen drive wrench or socket.

Install: We don't have MK5/MK6 specific install videos at this time. For MK5 cars there is an Early and a Late shifter. On the Early (2004-2007) MK5-based cars, the side to side bushing can be changed through the left side cutout in the shift box. On Early and Late cars, the front to back bushing can be accessed from inside the cabin only if you drill a hole in the side of the shift box as shown in the MK4-specific video below. 

US shipping:  We offer and highly recommend $7.99 FedEx 2 Day shipping on this item if you are in any sort of hurry to get it.  Slower US Postal Service shipping is around $3.00.  We ship Monday through Friday from Colorado except on holidays. 

International shipping:  USPS shipping is currently suspended due to USPS system backlogs. In these uncertain times we offer the slightly more expensive but much faster FedEx International Economy® service. FedEx will likely collect local taxes upon delivery.  Also, for Canada, the new USMCA trade agreement will reduce taxes and duties on this item.

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
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Wade S
JDM Audi TT Quattro Mk1 - cost effective remedy for loose gear shift.

I live in Canada and purchased a low kilometer 2000 MK1 Audit TT Quattro (Left Hand Drive 6 Spd from Japan...yes its a JDM) in Feb 2019 and noticed the shifting feel was loose but chalked it up to the age of the vehicle. Fast forward to August 2020, shifting was getting harder and would routinely be clunky getting into R, 1st and 2nd gears. I learned about DieselGeek from other YouTube posts during the diagnosis of my Audit's shifting problem and was relieved to learn how simple it was to resolve the sloppy shifts. I immediately went to DieselGeek's site and selected the cable bushings and 1st Gear Getter for my application. It was during this time I also bought the highly recommended super slider. Removal of the TT's center console was simple enough but drilling hole in the side of the aluminum gear shift box needs to be done carefully to avoid hitting the plastic bits on the gear shift lever. The TT is always fun to drive but this repair has made it even better....I dare say it feels like a different car because of the improved shifter response. If the loose shifting had been ignored there likely would been an expensive tow truck bill or an even more expensive and unnecessary cable replacement diagnosis which would not have produced the results gained by these tight tolerance bushings. Top marks DieselGeek!

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Tony
Quality Components and Information

I installed these bushings in conjunction with a Dieslgeek Sigma 6 short shifter, the shifter shaft bushing, and the Super Pin / First Gear Getter package. The information provided on this page is invaluable for install. The bushings are great quality and I have no doubt they will last a lifetime.

If you wish to install the front/back bushing without drilling a hole in the shift box you can remove the downpipe and underbody heat shield, then drop the shift box (4 nuts) and pry off the aluminum cover. Not much more difficult than removing the downpipe really.

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Carlos S
Good quality bushings and instructions

I installed the side to side bushing in conjunction with the Super Pin. Having the bell crank off made it easy to install the bushing and clip. There is no way to evaluate the condition of the OEM front to back bushing without making a hole in the shifter box or disassembling from the bottom. Jim recommends a 1 1/8 hole drill bit, I used a 1 1/4 hole drill bit because that is what was available. Drilling the hole was easy, the shifter box material is aluminum. Once I made the hole, I was able to see that my OEM bonded bushing was still good. I tried to remove the OEM bonded bushing with a razor. I had no success because the bushing was made of hard rubber-like material. It is the equivalent of trying to cut a tire. I guess I have the peace of mind of having a replacement bushing when the OEM wears out. Overall good preventative maintenance.

Customer Reviews

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