How To Install Honda K-Series Gear Selector Springs

Today, we will show you how to install Heavy-duty Honda K-Series gear selector springs, all the tools you will need, and the best ways to do this in the shortest possible time.

This is a relatively fast job, and it should only take 10-20 minutes, depending on whether the gearbox is in or out of the car.

In this case, we have the gearbox out of the car, so it will be much faster and easier to show you the step-by-step process.

This is possibly one of the best products you can install, along with upgraded detent springs, as they both have a huge impact on creating a more positive shift feel and will remove sloppiness from your shifting.

The advantage of aftermarket heavy-duty gear selector springs is that they are up to a massive 400% stiffer than stock, making for a much better driving experience.

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Let's move on to the tools you will need for the job!

Tools And Parts You Will Need:

You will need a few parts to do this installation, which I will cover below.

• K-Series Gear Selector Springs
• Rachet with an extension
• 10 and 12mm Sockets
• 8mm Allen Key
• Torque Wrench
• Hondabond or engine gasket sealant

I always recommend using Hondabond. It's specifically made for jobs like this and is non-acidic, so it will not corrode aluminium as some other liquid gaskets on the market will.

Plus, Honda uses Hondabond from the factory, so it has been designed to be used with this specific sealant.

We would recommend a few brands for the gear selector springs, and in this guide, we have used the Speedfactory Racing heavy-duty gear springs, but Hybrid Racing or Acuity are also a very good option here. It would mainly depend on the availability and price when looking for each product.

Let's get into the good stuff and install the gear selector springs!

Steps To Install The Gear Selector Springs

1. Remove Everything Getting In The Way

If you are doing this installation with the gearbox in the car, you will need to remove a few more parts than we have here.

Depending on which variation of the K-Series gearbox you are using, you may need to unclip the shifter cable bushes from the top of the shifter housing and potentially the gearbox side engine mount.

Whilst you're there, if you're upgrading those at the same time, check out our guide for installing Honda K-Series shifter cable bushes!

Also, it is a good idea to remove anything, such as an intake, that may cause issues when trying to remove the shifter housing bolts.

2. Remove The Bolts Holding The Housing To The Gearbox

You must remove the top 4 10mm bolts holding the housing to the gearbox. You can easily reach 3 of these with a ratchet and extension, but for the last one, you may need to move the shifter arm to the cut-out in the arm, which allows you to place a socket through it.

Once all 4 10mm bolts are removed, you must remove the Allen key bolt on the side of the housing. This bolt prevents the housing from moving; you cannot remove everything without undoing it.

When removing the 10mm bolts, ensure you know which bolt came from where, as sometimes they are different lengths and must be reinstalled in the correct hole.

3. Remove the Shift Spring Housing

Now that you have removed everything holding the shift housing to the gearbox, you can remove it and get ready to remove the springs.

If you struggle to remove the housing, ensure it is in the neutral position, as sometimes this can cause an issue.

4. Remove The Two Springs

Using the 12mm socket, remove the bolt holding the housing together. Once this has been removed, slide everything off the shifter assembly. Do not move or lose anything, as everything has to go back to work correctly.

Once everything is apart, remove the 2 springs inside the housing and proceed to the next step.

5. Replace The Old Springs

Open the package containing the new springs and match them to the ones you removed.

There are markings inside the housing, so you should only be able to install them one way around.

Once you have done this, put everything back together in reverse order. Torque the bolt on the selector mechanism to 23Ft/Lbs.

6. Use Hondabond On The Mating Surface

Use Hondabond on the mating surface to ensure you get no leaks and for the best seal possible.

The Allen key-headed bolt will also need a small amount of Hondabond, as this is how they came from the factory.

7. Bolt The Housing Back Together

Install the housing and the 4 x 10mm bolts and torque them to 9 ft/Lb, then install the Allen key-headed bolt using 29 ft/Lb of torque and a small amount of Honda bond.

Now that everything is back together, you can install the shifter cables and plate back on and ensure that all the gears engage correctly.

If they don't, you have installed something incorrectly, so take everything apart and start again. If you have followed everything step by step and not lost anything, this shouldn't be the case!

8. Reinstall Everything You Removed

The last step is to install anything else that has been removed, such as an intake pipe, engine mount or the reverse lockout cable. Once everything has been installed and torqued correctly, you are done with the installation and can now enjoy the new crisp shifts that come with heavier-duty K-Series gear selector springs.

Products Used In This Guide

We have used a few products in this guide we currently stock, so it would be a massive help if you checked them out! If you haven't already, you should also look at stiffer detent springs, as these combined products give the best feel.

This helps to fund us to make more guides like this, and if you are considering buying something, then please use our specific reader discount code for money off your order:

BLOG5

Hybrid Racing heavy duty gear selector springs

Speedfactory drag spec K-Series shifter springs

Acuity K-Series gear selector springs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are aftermarket K-Series gear selector springs worth it?

A. We always say yes, they are. You need to remember that the Honda K-Series is around 20 years old (at the time of writing), so everything is starting to get tired, and springs are one of these parts. Hence, aftermarket options are very popular.

Even if you were changing out for OEM brand-new options, it would be worth having fresh parts, but considering that you can't get them from Honda anymore, you may as well go with a better aftermarket option.

Q. What do K-Series gear selector springs do?

A. Honda K-Series gear selector springs help the shifter return to the original neutral position. When the preload of these springs is increased, the shifter moves with more force and more positively back to the centre for a sportier feel.

Q. What are the torque values for all of the shifter bolts?

A. For the 4 bolts on the top of the housing, 9 Ft/Lb; for the Allen key bolt, 29/Lb; and for the 12mm bolt inside the housing, 23 Ft/lb.

Conclusion

So now you know how to install K-Series gear selector springs, all the tools you will need and the best ways and torque values to put everything back together correctly.

If you are still having any issues or need some advice, please contact us or send us a message below. We will be happy to help!

Thank you for reading, and for more related posts or installation guides, please head over here:

• How to choose a K-Series Map sensor
• How to choose a K-Series fuel rail
• How to build an EP3 fuel return system
• The ultimate K-Series clutch guide