Installed new bushings -- still can't shift into 2nd, 4th, or reverse
 

This is part two of a post from last week. My gearshift was popping out of the ball cup bushing. I asssumed that the bushing was torn and ordered a new one. Upon installation, the gearshift still pops out.

The SHIFT ROD JOINT seems to be dropping and letting the bushing pop out. I have looked at a manual and can't identify the part that is bent. It appears the shift rod joint slips onto the shift rod with a 90 degree motion -- this is the fitting that is bent or loose and lets the joint drop.

I really need to get this car opperational because my other car is also mechanically challanged at the moment!

Where do I go from here?

How about the sleeve bushing which retains the shift rod? Maybe that one is broken or very loose fitting? It is accessible through the hole in the passenger compartment (from the top)?

Doug

Someone posted a while back that had the steel tube crack at the end, allowing the cast socket part on the end (that the ball fits down in) to come loose. You might check that.

I believe that is the problem.

I didn't yet replace the guide bracket bushing, but it appeared to be OK. The piece I'm looking at is metal -- not a bushing. It's what the shift rod joint slips onto. Again, I don't know if the movement I'm experiecing is normal for this part, or if it's bent or cracked.

Is the allen head bolt that holds the end on the shaft in place? If this was gone, it would allow it to rotate left and right, but shouldn't allow it to drop as you described.

BUMP for any other ideas. Thanks.