How do you tell if the bushings need replacing?
 

I adjusted the shift coupler and shifting from 1st to 2nd got a little easier but it still will bind if I quickly shift. Is there a way to tell if the bushings need to be replaced by looking at them?

If you can feel any side-to-side play in the coupler at all it would probably be worthwhile replacing them. The new bushings allow rotation about the pin, but no wobble.

Andrew

Just keep in mind that the tranny was not built to speed shift. There should be a very brief pause between shifts to have a longer life on the syncros

How do you install the new bushings? There is a t, and then a metal piece around the end of the t that houses the bushings...but how do you get the metal piece out of the way to put the bushings on? Is there a tech article that explains this?

It's not easy to replace those particular bushings without breaking the coupler. But that may not be a problem since the coupler bushings are not usually worn. The bore in those bushings is oblong rather than round, not because it is worn, but because that's the way they were shipped. That allows a little play in the shifter, but it also keeps a bunch of transmittion noise out of the cab. When I replaced my coupler bushings, it made only a tiny improvement, and considerably more noise. Consider leaving them alone.

The bushings that really need replacing are further forward in the car, in the tunnel. The most worn one will be the ball cup directly under the shifter.

Mark the shifter plate and the tunnel with matching black permanent marker, so that the plate can be reinstalled EXACTLY where it was. This step could easily save two or three hours.

I just pulled the coupler out last weekend, forgot to mark it, realized it shortly after putting in the vice, the neighbors realized it to and were not likely impressed with the words coming out of my mouth.

The pin came out very carefully, next I need to get the bushings out. What is the preferred method for this? A search revealed mucho info on the pin but not much on the bushings.

I understand that the bushings may be difficult to replace in the couple behind the front seats, but I just checked back there, and there are no bushings left at all! So I'm pretty sure that's what my problem is. Does anyone know how do get the bushings within the coupler without breaking the coupler apart? Thanks.

Nick