very loose 5 speed shift lever

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:19 pm

The LE I am working on has a very loose shift lever. I went to remove the cover for the shift ball. It is located directly above the flex joint. The cover has been cut open by the nuts that attach the flex joint. The flex joint appears intact. I went to drive the car and found when backing up the flex joint nuts hit the ball cover. They do not hit it when driving foreward. I don't see why the clearance changes in reverse from when in any foward gear. Could the bolts be in backwards ??? All the bolts face aft.

Any thoughts

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:21 pm

usually the 3 bolts that hold the joint to the trans have the head at the front, the 3 that hold the driveshaft to the joint have the heads toward the rear of the car

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:10 pm

Thanks Mark,

Although all my bolt heads are on the transmission side I think something else is causing the nuts to wear through the ball cover and into the nylon socket. I think I need to have someone in car while I look from under neath to see where the play is that allows the donut bolt nuts to hit ball cover. I'm thinking tranny output shaft must have a lot of play or that the donut is cracked and I didn't see it. The car I drive has about 3/8" clearance between the nuts and plate.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:36 am

maybe the donut is not centered on the flange, it must make quite a racket when it hits the shifter cover

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:49 pm

Its tough having the car 25 miles from home. Finally got a closer look. The loose shifter was caused by failure of the smaller of the metal cups that make up the shift pivot point. I had one from the parts car so its fixed. ( I think)
Inspecting futher the donut is not broken but very soft. Flexes a lot more than the one on the 81 I drive. Also the transmission mount rubber is shot. The driveshaft center bearing mount rubber is shot as is the rear universal joint. Add up all that play and I hope this iw why the donut bolt nuts hit the shift ball.
Car will just take more money and time LOL

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:27 pm

thanks for the update, you've got some work to do now