My objective with this experiment is to design a new part to replace the existing part(unkown material) that is beginning to fail quite frequently on our later model Corvettes. The goal of the new part will be to have a long lifespan to help prevent breakdowns. It will be made of some form of metal. See This Thread for the most recent reason why I am experimenting. I have all of the GM supplied parts to help me, a new AT shift cable and 2 transmission pivot levers. This morning I started my work.
A initial and interesting observation is that the bushing actually rotates inside the cable clevis ends and is hardly hardly any rotation on the actual pivot stud of the lever. This was observed on both the trans and shifter end of the cable clevises.
Next thing I did was remove the bushing from the trans end of the cable. It is a very soft material and appears to be a form of rubber or rubber/latex compound. I also observed there is a clear grease of some type, both on the inside and outside of the bushing when I removed it. I suspect it's silicone grease.
Initial suspicions are that this bushing material, when subjected to heat and time and possibly a reaction with the grease, fails. It disintegrates. It took about 7 years and about 50,000 miles on my 2007 to do it at the shifter and about 14 years and about 80,000 total miles at the transmission end.
I'll update as I make progress.
Rich
0928200519_resized.jpg
0928200520c_resized.jpg
0928200613_resized.jpg
0928200614_Burst01_resized.jpg
A initial and interesting observation is that the bushing actually rotates inside the cable clevis ends and is hardly hardly any rotation on the actual pivot stud of the lever. This was observed on both the trans and shifter end of the cable clevises.
Next thing I did was remove the bushing from the trans end of the cable. It is a very soft material and appears to be a form of rubber or rubber/latex compound. I also observed there is a clear grease of some type, both on the inside and outside of the bushing when I removed it. I suspect it's silicone grease.
Initial suspicions are that this bushing material, when subjected to heat and time and possibly a reaction with the grease, fails. It disintegrates. It took about 7 years and about 50,000 miles on my 2007 to do it at the shifter and about 14 years and about 80,000 total miles at the transmission end.
I'll update as I make progress.
Rich
0928200519_resized.jpg
0928200520c_resized.jpg
0928200613_resized.jpg
0928200614_Burst01_resized.jpg