I want to change my **** and it looks like the easiest way is to replace the lever with a new **** as they are pita to get off. Question is, will a lever for a pre 1998 model work for a 2008? Im having a hard time finding one, I dont want to do the Hurst thing as I hear they leak. I'd like a FX4 lever but dont want to pay an arm and a leg. What about Mazda equivilent part numbers?

 

Welcome to the forum


Depends on the engine you have, in 2001 the M5OD-R1 got a different shift tower and lever.

But you just need to heat up the shift arm and **** for the glue to soften and it will come off.
End of arm has splines not threads, Ford put a glue in splines then installed ****

So get a heat gun and "pickle fork"(like you use for ball joints) heat up the shaft at **** end and then put pickle fork under **** and hit it to release ****.

You could try just open end wrench under **** and hitting it a few times without heating it up, and it may pop off.
But it will pop off with heat, for sure

If you don't care about the old **** then have someone hold board against the ****/shift arm, while you strike lower end of **** with sharp chisel, that will split the lower part and **** will come off