Mazda Astina 323 BG series: Gear Shift Lever Problem

Today my Mazda Astina 323 had a problem while on the way back from work. The gearbox shift lever drop down like it fell off out of place and had to be pulled up and hold for proper shifting. This is how it looks like.... (can see the floor through that hole)
So I fixed it at home and found out that the rubber mounting which holds the lever in place was broken and beyond repair. So I tried using a flat and flexible metal plate mostly used to hold water filters on the wall to hold it in place. This is how its done.....


First loosen the 4 mounting nuts which holds the shift lever mounting plate at the bottom.




Then put the metal around the bottom part of the shift lever bracket to the mounting plate. Push the metal in between the body and the mounting plate as shown in the picture.



While putting the metal in between the body and the mounting plate, try to push it through untill the metal can be seen on top. Then pull it up like this.....



After pulling it up like that, try to pull the metal untill the shift lever is in place and tight between the shift lever bracket and mounting plate. Pull it untill it cannot be pulled. After that cut the remaining metal like so



Then bend the metal to hook to the mounting plate like this



Then tighten the 4 mounting nuts



After tightening those nuts, clamp the metal tightly to the mounting plate like so with a plier on the left and right side.



Last but not least stuff some rubber or small rubber hose at the sides to make it fit and put the round rubber to cover it

Then put back the center console and the gear knob and done. Now it looks like nothing happend. If there is any comments or questions just feel free to post it up. I will try to answer it.