gear linkage rods in the engine bay

Good morning,
Just wondered if anyone can shed a bit of light on a little problem i have come across.
My engine and gearbox is standard the gearbox is a 4+E i had a total overhaul at the beginning of the year and they put new linkage rods on in the engine bay as they said the old ones were worn the ends are black not white.i have a problem that the gear stick its more to the left now and it is difficult to get into gear i was told that the other linkages / bushes need changing.My question is should it have a 5 speed box rods or a 4 speed?
many thanks in advance .

                                                                                     Mark.   

That's a darn good question I've not heard before but I'd say 5 speed.

It's just another gear but don't take my word for it, let's wait for confirmation on that! 👍 😀

I would think that you have a 5sp and black is the answer…4 +E that equals five to me.

I would say your shop if they replaced the linkages, and not the bushings did a disservice to you.

The main Selector link should have a bend in it, and if you were given the original parts, then they should the same as installed.

Shifter issues arise from bad engine mounts, or replaced mounts that the engine/transaxle wasn't re-aligned… So your linkages are at a bind, which on worn out links feels ok, but on new tight ones they bind.

If the mounts are good, then slightly loosen all 4, wiggle the hades out of the engine by the lifting eyes, let settle, wiggles it all again let settle then tighten them.

I mean that the bushing/link kits usually comes with everything that is needed.  It sounds as if they broke the one, and fitted the broken one with a new.

So if the other colors are white, then the black one is wrong….

4spd kit:


5spd kit

ok thanks for the advice i will have a go and see what happens thanks.

is the long rod on the 4 speed longer than the long rod on the 5 speed as it looks as though i have a 5 speed fitted but does not seem to be long enough .i will try and add an image later if i can.  

just looked in the haynes manual for vw golf 1980-1985 and it looks as though it is a white set so just bought a set so will see how that works out.they may have changed the rods after 1985 .

may be they bought and fitted a mk2 linkage kit

Ive found 2 different brackets on the few gearboxes I've got.

1 like this, gearbox removed from my 1988 Mk1 golf cabriolet.


And 1 like this, the rod from the 5 speed kit dose not fit when bracket is at this angle. Unknown what car this came from.



Check with type of bracket you have as that my be why you are having trouble with your set up. Post up a picture if you can.

any part numbers on that there weird bracket? I have tried searching various mk1 chassis and cant find it

Morning all i have just this weekend done a full re-bush on the gear linkage system which has made a great deal of difference so now just waiting for the new linkage arms .

update for the 4+e gearbox for those that have that you need the five speed linkage rods.thanks for the advice everyone.

That's because the 4+e is still a 5 speed box,