Clio Williams
I have just got a new linkage bar and the old one has a resin ball and the new one has a softer plastic covering. Got a new no12 bush as well and the slop has gone but the gear shift is a bit stiffer (think its down to the softer plastic vs the harder resin. The new plastic covered one also has plastic covering the linkage conector at the end which makes it so it doesnt fit so i have cut this off so its the raw matal like the origional. Dont know if this is for a later linkage to gearstick rod but dont see why you would have it.
In older cars the elbow joint consists of a clevis bar, metal bush, rubber spacer, bolt, small linkage (with uncovered head), washer and nut (washer and nut are not applied if there is a threaded plate on the clevis bar). The head of small linkage in newer cars is plastic covered, in this case the linkage consists of 'pivoted' gear linkage end, small linkage (plastic covered), washer and nut (like in Bigash's vid). This pastic covered one has got a taller head, this replaces the previous version's rubber spacer. This soft spacer tends to split.