I drive an 04 TSX 6MT with around 26k miles on it. I've owned it since July, at which point it had around 20k.

In October I put in the Comptech short-shifter kit along with metal shifter housing bushings. No problems, the car shifted like an absolute dream.

About a month ago I replaced the OEM rubber shifter cable bushings with metal ones from Speedsource. Ever since then, 1st gear feels a bit less solid than it once did, but shifting into 2nd feels very wrong. Sometimes it's flawless, other times it will require more force than expected to get into gear. If I am downshifting from a higher gear into 2nd, unless I double clutch and rev-match, it will resist and sometimes grind.

The grinding thing makes me think synchro, but why would it only happen since changing the bushings change? I don't know a ton about manual transmissions but I don't think the two should be related.

At this point I'm thinking I need to replace my shifter cables (must have damaged them during the cable bushing install?) but given the work involved there I'd rather avoid that if I could. Does anyone have any ideas/similar experiences on this?

It's driving me nuts. It's the only imperfection with my car which I otherwise love to death. And I don't want to take it to the dealer; the second they see a short-shifter they will blame it.