Hey YouTube, how's it going it's great to have you back in my garage. Today I'm
gonna actually be installing another part from ACUITY Instruments on my 2017
Honda Civic Si.
Alright guys so let's face it the stock bushings that come in
the shifter assemblies of these 10th gen civics are pretty pliable and pretty
soft. That makes sense because Honda wants to cater these cars to the
average consumer, and what I mean by that is that they don't anticipate a person instantly
buying these cars with the expectation that it's gonna behave like a race car
or have crisp shifts and whatnot. If you're a car guy like me, you want to get
the most performance out of your car and that means being able to customize all
the little fine bits and details so you're happy with the driving quality of
it. So ACUITY has kindly sent me these bushings in order to see how they
compare to the stock system and what improvements I see. So before I explain
the benefits and comment on the design of this part right here I'm actually
gonna start taking apart the battery in order to show you guys a better visual
inspection of the shifter cable assembly.
Alright guys, so I got the entire battery taken apart and removed from the
car and then check out these shifter cable bushings right here.
With the battery removed you can clearly see the stock location of the shifter cable
bushings. Now if I were to shift the gear just a little bit you can clearly see
what I mean by the play that you'll experience with these rubber/soft
bushings.
Alright guys so as you can see in that video clip, the stock bushings do allow
for some play when the transmission is in-gear, specifically when I'm trying
to move it side to side slightly, and a little bit forward and back. So ACUITY has
designed these bushings in order to reduce play and improve shifter quality
for several reasons: One, the material they selected... is pretty darn solid so
one is not rubber. [Two] so the way they chose the design this bushing is very very
important for shifter functionality, mainly that a lot of competitive
companies use a solid version of this... meaning that it's closer to this one
right here. But they noticed that they needed to use a spherical bushing
instead because of the fact that a solid bushing restricts the mobility of the
shifter cable too much, to the point where it will actually wear out the
cable and possibly break the cable. So it's awesome because this bearing
reduces play just enough to create a more smooth and crisp shifter feel
without sacrificing the full mobility and full stock functionality of the
shifter cable. So with all that explained let's get back to this
install and show you guys how these bushings fit in stock assembly.
These retainer clips take some time to remove, I found that a
small flathead screwdriver easily works the retainer loose enough to remove it by hand
Small needle-nose pliers can remove the pins...can also remove by hand.
flathead to pry out old rubber bushings. new bushing pressed firmly in place.
Repeated on other cable. However, be mindful of the proper orientation of the bushing.
Security ring fasteners take patience to slowly work their way around
and into the groves on the bushing to hold it in place on the shifter cable
Insert new fasteners on the bushings to secure them back in the stock location.
Tap the retainers back in place. Be sure they fit around the cable securely.
I used a mallet handle & 3/8 extension to reach far enough snap them in place.
Observing play reduction. Pure mechanical bliss :D
Alright guys so the bushings are completely installed as you can see in
that clip... play is drastically reduced. So in that clip there is a little bit of
play left over, but at this point is purely mechanical. It's nothing that we
can really do because it's all based off of tolerances within the transmission
and all those linkages itself. Regardless, let's get this put back
together and then go for a test drive.
We're about to go for a test drive and I have my friend Eli from IgnitionTube over
here, stopped by for a second to film a vlog today... camera works okay.
So in the previous clip you guys saw that the play was actually reduced
My first impressions with everything back/installed is that everything now it
feels a lot firmer, and whatever noise that existed when I was in gear is
actually minimized now. I can barely hear any play... 'cuz beforehand you can clearly
hear play but now it's just kind of like, very very subtle.
yeah that feels really crisp... now even smoother.
I like how that feels I really like how that feels
what I'm noticing a lot is that everything kind of feels a little bit
more precise when it lines up to the correct gear gate and then once you
actually shift into the gear it's just so smooth now.
Eli - it shifted smooth and earth dreams I kick in dude
Pawinn - it is so smooth now so a
big thanks again to ACUITY for sending me these bushings. Honestly, the install was
really straightforward. The hardest part of the install was actually pulling off
the retaining clips or the actual cable that held it in that bracket right next
to the transmission I'll place a photo of it here... you actually had to work the
clip out very very slowly with a really small screwdriver the smallest one you
could possibly find, but other than that this part was as simple as pull the old
bushings out insert them make sure you put in the correct retainer Clips any
actual rings that they provide you but other than that... a breeze. Just to give
you guys a second verification here, I have Eli driving the car just to see
what he thinks in comparison to what it was stock. So what are your like, first impressions.
Eli - it doesn't make that weird noise into gear anymore you're right it
doesn't like click in like it needs to. This is also my first time driving it
with the pedal spacer on it, which is an older video of yours.
I like the gas pedal position much better now.
Pawinn - And I figured since we're the same height to
like it would match perfectly.
Eli - Let's try a little heel-toe action here.
Oh, all day dude that's... so easy what the heck? why was it not like that from the factory.
Pawinn - I have no idea. Eli - Who's idea was did it to put the gas pedal six miles away
from the brake pedal. Honda did a great job on the shifter in this car and
ACUITY is just making it better. Honda did not do a great job on the
pedal placement on this car, ACUITY is making that better.
that's so easy!
what the heck man, I cannot believe that they didn't do that for the factory.
I think if I got in this car and you were like it didn't tell me anything was
changed, I could 100% believe that was stock.,.. like it should
have came like this. this car is a cakewalk to drive.
Pawinn - it's a lot more fun to drive now and it's just... mis-shift there?
Eli - no I was too gentle and my hand slipped off the shifter
I'm turning in to Pawinn's house now, I think we're drifting right now...
Oh opposite lock! Oh, it's spinning! I saved it!
okay whoa
Pawinn - all right so we just pulled in Eli's right over there... So a big
thanks again ACUITY for sending me these bushings I really really liked
them and I was highly impressed by it one how fast and easy it was to install
this part in the car, two the build quality and the way it looks in the
actual shifter assembly, and three the fact that you guys clearly put a lot of
effort into the design to make sure that this part is completely compatible with
the stock functionality of the old system. So if you guys have any comments
or feedback on the content of this video please leave it in the comments below I
appreciate your support and all of your feedback. That being said I'll see you
guys in the next installation video. Have a nice day guys, bye!