Gear Shift Broke Off in Hands!!!

[Explorer Pete]

Enviro, Glad to hear that you got the Dorman part installed. Have been hoping to hear that someone was able to replace the broken part without removing the steering wheel. Were you able to take some pics of the part and of the install, and what kind of fit was the ball stud lever? Did it have the keyway in the right place, and were the threads the same as the original part? any new info will help others with this repair. Thanks

 

[Geminiee]

Just happened to me

I have been having problems with my shifter locking on and off for awhile. Normally if I would keep braking an releasing it would go in gear. This time when I started the car and went to shift the gear broke just like people have been saying. My husband is pissed and acting it's all my fault. I'm 5'9 and 117 pounds I don't know if I'm that strong! The problem is that I don't know how to fix it and neither does the shop I have it at. They've had it 1 1/2 days now and keep saying they'll get back to me.

 

[shadytreetek]

It's a relatively easy repair. Don't blame yourself, these shifters have a tendency to break very easily. I have done this repair on my neighbor's truck. It is a relatively easy repair, I don't see how a professional repair facility would not know how to repair it. I would take your truck elsewhere to get repaired. I have attached a youtube video showing the nature of this repair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKQ3U6Lj2v0

 

[Geminiee]

Thanks! Unfortunately where I live there aren't a lot of places that work on cars. This place is awesome with body work but I've never used them for anything else.

 

[jrford]

someone beat me to it, see post #87 above. . .didnt see it.

rockauto carries it now. . .look for part DORMAN Part # 905104
its under Steering Column Repair Kit

direct the shop to this write up, some of them have internet. .or if you can print and give it to them. .

 

[freeway55]

Yea, I pulled into walmart yesterday and to my surprise when I went to place the truck in park, the shifter dropped out into my hand. I had no tools with me so had to have AAA tow me home. Tried to get part form local ford garage. They said I need to just replace the whole steering part for just 1200.00 bucks. yea right. told them I would sell the truck first. then found this website. Now have the part on order. Will let everyone know how it goes for the install. Oh yes I am a mechanic have been all my life. Was not aware of ford and this problem until yesterday..

 

[dubbniche]

Hello newtek007, Thank you for the great pics, I have the same exact problem. And im still trying to find the parts. Did the PB Weld work. Can your please send me any info on where you found parts and DYI Installation I live in the Bay Area just moved here 6 months ago.

 

[BlakeGordon]

haha your wife is a hoss

 

[02Explorerowner2]

Shifter part

Dorman Products -Dorman Steering Column Repair Kit


Part Number: 5264-07074494
Notes: Steering Column Repair Kit -- w/ Column Shift & Tilt Wheel

This is the part and number to keep from having to replace the column as the Ford dealer was going to have me do The part was around $50 bucks

 

[02Explorerowner2]

My son called me yesterday and said the shifter came off in his hand!! The dealer quoted $1200 for a column, junkyard was $250, Dorman products had the steel replacement for $50. Part Number: 5264-07074494: Steering Column Repair Kit -- w/ Column Shift & Tilt Wheel. A lot of parts houses have them in stock or can get them quickly. Mine was in stock, so don't tell me Ford doesn't have a problem with them

 

[freeway55]

Its been awhile since my post and problem with gear shift lever.. 1st.. I ordered the part for Dorman and recieved it in about a weeks time. 2nd. took me maybe a half hr to 45 minutes to install. "did not" have to remove the steering wheel. If you manuver the part around and a little force it will go in.. the main problem I had was to cut the C ring groove a little so as to fit when it was all put together.. Truck lever has been working fine.... good luck to anyone that makes this repair.. Yes ford said I could buy the whole columm for around 1200 buck.. but I found 50 buck was alot more to my liking...

 

[richardsnow]

Well. Here goes. Thought somebody might be able to use this info about my experience with my wife's 2002 E.B. Explorer.
I got the call from her this morning that she just arrived at work and the gear shifter broke off in her hands. Could not get the key out so I had to haul over and trade out trucks.
Once I got it home I found that a major aluminum part had sheared off! Now, I am no expert when it comes to metal, but I do tinker with aluminum and soft metals in my garage making stuff for RC Airplanes. So, I know a little about this kind of stuff and I know that what I am looking at should have never broken, unless the batch of aluminum they used to cast the part was tainted with something or maybe an air bubble got in the cast.
But, here are the pictures that I have taken.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9354.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9355.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9360.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9358.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9356.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9366.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9367.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9368.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9369.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9370.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9371.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9371-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9373.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/newtek007/2002%20ExplorerShifter/IMG_9374.jpg

I have not taken pictures since I have Reattached the pieces using PB Weld. I have had great results using this stuff in the past. It is curing in the garage as I write. Hopefully, the jury rig piece will hold up to the stress of shifting the column.


Gear Shift Broke Off in Hand

I had the exact same problem about 3 weeks ago, found just the part I needed but there is a 'special tool' required to remove the shift linkage coupler. I took a large phillips bit and ground off 2 tangs but it still wouldn't fit to take off the old coupler - the linkage to the shifter splines is a difficult bear to figure out! I see in your pics that you got yours out. Can you please share with me how you removed the old one???
Many thanks!
richard.snowden@yahoo.com

 

[richardsnow]

Mine broke a couple of weeks ago - found a replacement part online, a company named AM Auto Parts, so I could hopefully avoid a used column and entirely avoid the $1700 that Ford quoted me to replace the steering column. Part hasn't yet arrived but I've torn down the column and found a very strange thing - difficult to remove the broken part. If anyone has any idea how to get the old part out and the new part in, it would be appreciated! Out of work for almost 2 years, I need to get this thing running!
Would be pleased to provide pictures of the work in progress in the event someone else is experiencing similar problems!
Thanks,
Richard

 

[Explorer Pete]

Had to replace mine some time ago, If you can let me Or us know, what chunk of the part you are having a hard time with we can give you a hand . Pics would be a real help.

 

[richardsnow]

Don't have a place to post the picture, but the part I'm trying to replace is at http://www.am-autoparts.com/search.html?words=am-32196416&x=0&y=0
I'm having difficulty removing the broken part, can't figure out how it's attached to the column. Any assistance is appreciated!

 

[Explorer Pete]

Richard, you can go to page 4/ and look at gavgav, picture #2. The triangle part in the picture is kept in place by the star screw, I took a small pair of vise grips and took off the screw. Then unclip the black clip to wire so you can remove the broken shaft. Once the shaft is out, take a dremel tool and cut the tip off of the shaft right next to the ball stud lever. You can put the shaft in a socket and punch the shaft off of the ball stud lever. You need to remember where the lever sits for alignment when you put it together. I hope you ordered the replacement part that uses the c-clip instead of the pressed ring to hold the ball ring lever on. If you need more info, just ask. Pete

 

[richardsnow]

Pete,
Thanks for the great advice! Yes, I ordered the replacement with the spring C clip, which will certainly beat dealing with a pressed friction disc!
Dremel tool will do it's thing today!
Best wishes,
Richard

 

[richardsnow]

Pete,
Great advice! Used a cutoff wheel on my Dremel and got the old part out, the new one in just fine!
Now I've got everything back together, it starts and shifts fine - only problem is now the key won't come out of the ignition unless I disconnect the battery. Also, the wheel lock is apparently disabled. Did I misalign the steering wheel accidentally?
Thanks,
Richard

 

[Explorer Pete]

Richard, if memory serves me, the micro switch on the lower side of the colum will release the key. Mine broke when fixing my unit, all I did was use a wire tie to lock down the switch, this way, I could remove the key. Not sure about the wheel lock, will check and see if my memory comes back, and get back to you. Good luck Pete

 

[richardsnow]

Microswitch

Thanks again, Pete!
I'll give that a try today and see what happens! Wheel lock isn't a big deal but leaving the ignition key in the switch could be where I live!
Best,
Richard