loose shifter

[CmdrPopNFresh]

hi everyone. ive just bought a 93 4x4 sport with a manual trans and among other things the shifter is extremely loose. i pulled the boot off and checked it out and there is what looks to be a seal or snapring coming out of the top of the tranny where the shifter comes out and there is a ton of play all under that little cover on the top of the tranny with the torx bolts in it. i dont want to just tear it apart if i dont need to. any help would be really nice.

 

[Dlee6204]

There should be two plastic bushings and two metal rings around the shifter under the cover with the torx bolts. With age they tend to break up and cause sloppy shifting. I got the replacement bushings from the dealer and it tightened up my shifter a great deal.

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

well thats simple! thanks for the reply. i work for a ford dealer so il go look up those parts and see what it all costs. thanks again!

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

well i just went and tore my shifter apart and those shims and bushings you mentioned...well theyre gone......someone has been in there before me appearently cause the bolts were all loose and clean.......so i went into the parts department and they said i can get the top shim and bushing but to get the bottom one i have to order the entire top cover for the trans....any ideas? autozone?

 

[Dlee6204]

I didn't have to buy the whole top of the trans but if I remember correctly, the bottom bushing and shim was the same as the top. Once you remove the cover, the "ball" part of the shifter should raise out and then a bushing and shim goes on the bottom of the "ball" and the other should go on the top. Here is a diagram if it helps. Good Luck

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

If you see where it's supposed to go, and hwo big it's supposed to be, you should be able to find somethign that'll work.

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

i have that exploded view i was just trying to figure out where i should go about getting the bottom bushing. so since they are the same ill just get two of the ones that i can order and give it a shot. thanks for your help!

 

[little x]

If you aren't happy with how much that tightens up the shifts you could install a Hurst shifter.

 

[Michiganbear]

can someone post the part #'s for the shims? Mine is missing both as well, and I need to replace them, and would rather just tell the parts counter the number, than to fight with the incompetant ***** that work at the local stealership.

 

[Michiganbear]

found this this morning.

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2007/shifterbushings.htm

and as of today (11-25), the pricing is still pretty close (gonna be close to 40 with tax here in NW Michigan).

all parts still avail apearently (stealership didn't say otherwise), I should have mine friday afternoon.

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

just thought id let everyone know i got all the parts i needed for the shifter. heres the part numbers. you need two of each

E8TZ 7E018 A SPACER/WASHER

1L2Z 7Z120 AA WASHER

1L2Z 7228 AA SEAT\SPRING


it was only 25 bucks for me but i work at the dealership so i think its around 50 for anyone else

 

[Michiganbear]

I rebuilt mine over the weekend, and I must say, it did infact get the slop out.

I would recommend a fluid change if your plastic bushings are broken/missing. good chance they got ground up in the gears when the pieces worked their way down to them.

my fluid was black.. like dirty oil. and just for knowledge, it goes in a nice cherry red in color.

Total parts REMOVED from the shifter area on mine was 1 1/2 flat washers (yes, half of one metal flat washer was missing), 1 wave washer (other was missing too), and of course, NO plastic bushing parts that could be identified.

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

Total parts REMOVED from the shifter area on mine was 1 1/2 flat washers (yes, half of one metal flat washer was missing), 1 wave washer (other was missing too), and of course, NO plastic bushing parts that could be identified.

hey thats exactly what i found too! yeah i guess i will change out that fluid....plastic and trans fluid....mmmmmm

 

[scrivyscriv]

Everyone's pretty much already taken care of the question asked, but just to give a little knowledge on putting it back in, make sure you get a good seal on the top piece - that would be #59 on the schematic DLee posted - to ensure no tranny fluid leaking. I used a pliable heat-resistant gasket compound from Auto Zone and replaced the Torx screws with regular 7/16"s of the same size.
Also, while you're diggin around in that area, check out the goods on the rear of the shifter cover! Those infamous three rubber plugs need to be in good shape to keep your tranny fluid in as well. Don't leave them like they are if they're bad - take it from me

 

[Michiganbear]

I took care of my 3 bore plugs when I did the shifter. Mine where leaking.

I was able to on mine to pull the rubber plugs, clean them and the bores of all oil/trans fluid, then used some good RTV to re-seal the plugs when I put them back in.

*NOTE* if you go this route, DO NOT drive the car for 24 hrs to let the RTV fully cure, or you will be doing it all over.