Currently,
all aftermarket kits rely on a bushing system that could be
considered less than ideal. Some wear out quickly, some
are too tight and actually bind even when new, and some have
tolerances too sloppy to last longer than a drive down the block
before becoming ineffective. There are pros and cons to
each:
| Bushing
Material |
Pros |
Cons |
Thermoplastic/
Igus |
Durable,
reliable, heat resistant |
Binds
when new, will wear out in a few years |
| Plastic |
Cheap,
easy to fabricate |
Poor
tolerances limited to stock sizes, sloppy fit means
sloppy shifting. |
| Bronze |
Easy
to work with, bronze has self-lubricating properties |
Soft,
wears out quickly, deforms easily. |
| Teflon-Coated
Brass |
Inexpensive,
easy to replace |
No
abrasion resistance, fast wear characteristics, poor
tolerances. |
| And
when compared to UUC's bearing system: |
| Sealed
Cartridge Bearings |
Smooth
from first day, no break-in period.
No degradation in performance over time.
Replaceable, serviceable. |
NONE |
UUC Motorwerks is the first
and only short shifter that uses two double-sealed, precision
cartridge bearings. Our Evo Series introduces
a whole new level of shifting performance to the market.
 What
is a sealed cartridge bearing?
A sealed cartridge bearing is an assembly which consists
of multiple parts. There is an inner and outer bearing
race, the ball bearings, the seals and of course, the grease.
The beauty of a sealed cartridge bearing is that it does not
rely on other surfaces or materials to move as its completely
self-contained. Dirt and water can't get in since it's
closed off on both sides and it's all steel construction makes
it impervious to molecular changes from heat, which can weaken,
or cause than softer metals and plastic resins to become brittle.
Why use a ball
bearing assembly?
UUC Motorwerks is the only company to incorporate cartridge
bearings. Our conclusive tests have shown that our cartridge
bearing system is smoother than any conventional BMW lower
pivot assembly available, regardless of lubrication.
It's important to understand the way the lower pivot design
of the BMW shift lever actually works.
The assembly of the selector rod and shift lever via the selector
rod pin that goes through the lever pivot is held together
by a special kind of C-clip. It's not just any C-clip, but
a type that works like a spring or lock washer. It has two
large tabs that press against the lower pivot, effectively
pulling the pieces tight together. This, combined with
the factory plastic yellow washers, is what is responsible
for the majority of friction in the pivot, the compression
of all those parts. However, the factory parts are
designed to be tight, from the factory because of its mass-production
views.
The UUC Motorwerks cartridge bearing assembly works in an
entirely different way. The cartridge bearing assembly is
designed so that when completely assembled on the selector
rod, the entire selector rod, shifter, washers, and clip are
NOT in compression, causing excessive binding, but designed
to be friction-free (the beauty only a sealed cartridge bearing
can provide).
The bearing design
gives you the absolute "no compromise" performance
your BMW deserves.
|
Thermoplastic Bushing
Plastic Bushing
Bronze Bushing
Teflon-Coated Brass
|
