Will this Shifter Elbow fit my Vanagon?

This billet aluminum Shifter Elbow is designed to fit all 1983–91 watercooled Vanagons with manual transmissions, including 2WD, 4WD, Campmobile, Westfalia, Multivan, and Weekender models. It does not fit factory diesel models or original 1980–83 air-cooled shifter systems.

What makes this Shift Shaft Elbow better than the original part?

Unlike the OEM cast aluminum piece, this GoWesty Shift Shaft Elbow is made from billet aluminum for increased strength and durability. It uses an upgraded pinch-bolt and locating bolt design, eliminating the weak roll pins and making installation and servicing much easier. Customers report improved shifting precision and a much more positive gear-shift feel.

Is installation difficult? What tools will I need?

Installation is straightforward and designed to be easier than the original part. You’ll need a 3mm Allen key to tighten the M4 pinch bolts (to 3.5 ft-lbs) and use the supplied blue Loctite for security. Most customers report a quick install, but in a few cases minor fitting with the shifter ball may be needed, which can be done by light sanding or polishing.

Will I need to modify my shifter ball or other parts for installation?

For most OEM shifter balls, this part fits right on with no modification required. In rare cases—usually with non-stock or aftermarket shifter balls—a tight fit may occur. If this happens, a little sanding or polishing of the ball is all that's needed to ensure smooth operation.

Does this work with the GoWesty Shifter Fix Kit and will it improve my shifting?

Yes, this Shift Shaft Elbow is fully compatible with the GoWesty Shifter Fix Kit. Together, they greatly improve gear-shift precision and eliminate the sloppy or vague shifting feel common with worn-out OEM components. Customers have reported much tighter and more confident shifting after installing this upgrade.

Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon]

Name: Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon]
SKU: 251-711-973GW-DLX
Price: 56.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon]

Product:	251-711-973GW-DLX
Works With:	1983-1991
Manufacturer:	GoWesty
Availability:	Good Stock
Wrench Rating:	Requires some hand & power tools and minimal mechanical knowledge.

$56.95

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This billet aluminum shifter elbow replaces the cast aluminum part. It attaches to the side of the transaxle and is used in conjunction with our Shifter Fix Kit for that positive shifting feeling! Replacing these parts will eliminate the slop and "vague" shifting you are likely experiencing.

Fits: All 1983-91 watercooled Vanagon. Does not fit factory diesel shift linkages.

This deluxe shifter elbow ditches the roll pin setup in favor of a more user-friendly solution. This design uses pinch bolts paired with a main locating bolt—no roll pins required. Roll pins are a pain-in-the-you-know-what to install and even worse to remove, so we engineered a better way. Our pinch bolt setup locks everything securely in place, making it easier to install, easier to service, and built to last. Less time fussing about, more time on the road!

5 stars: 13 (93%)
4 stars: 1 (7%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

Removing the old roll pin was easy; using a 4 mm concrete drill bit and a hammer, I had it out in seconds. The new elbow is very easy to install, and the new plastic ball from JP fits perfectly into the elbow’s socket.

Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate that the GoWesty logo would end up facing the wrong direction, but it doesn’t affect its function. :)

Bomb proof

Far cry and major improvement over the cast aluminum elbow that’s held in place by a single roll pin! Install was super easy and didn’t require unbolting the shift linkage at the rear bushing or cause any issues with the engine skid plate in place.

Mostly Great

Beautiful. Reasonably priced. Improved my troubled shift from first to second gear.

Knocking down one star because the fit between the elbow socket and the plastic ball was so tight, they had to be hammered together at first. Of course this lead to a shift action so tight it could barely be moved. After three time-consuming rounds of sanding and polishing the plastic ball, the shifter now feels excellent.

The shift selector ball was about 2 years old and was supplied by a transmission rebuilder, so I cannot confirm supplier (JP, VW, etc) to know whether there are fit issues specific to some balls and not others. Photo attached for reference.

Parts installed easily without a problem. Quality replacements.

Perfect fit and works perfect

Seems to be working great

works very well .....huge upgrade

Another great upgrade. Highly recommended!

Roy D

Very solid and works great, no play in my shifter any more

Shift shaft elbow.

Great product. Fits better than the OEM part.

Shifter Selector Elbow

This is a must have when upgrading the shifter assembly. Installation was easy and works great. Feels and looks solid. And its also pretty awesome with the Gowesty imprinted on the side.

Improved shifting

My van was having issues shifting into first gear and the other gears were not as crisp as I would have like. I inspected the original shift selector elbow and ball installed on my van and they appeared to be in good condition so I put of replacing them. After finally getting tired of sloppy shifting I decided to try this part in addition to a VANO-SHIFTER-FIX kit. These made a huge improvement to my overall shifting and I now longer have issues finding first gear, I don't know why I waited so long to replace this.

Great upgrade

Much better than OEM, great price compared to other options too

Smooth shifting

Installation was smooth and it restored proper shifting in my TDI syncro.

Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon]

Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon] Wrench Rating

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Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon]

Shift Shaft Elbow [Watercooled Vanagon] Wrench Rating

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