sloppy shifter

[WastingLight]

hi everyone, NOOB here, im sure this has been asked many times and i did search but i cant seem to find a definitive answer. i have a '94 legacy wagon 5 speed, non turbo FWD. the shifter is VERY sloppy, a lot of side to side movement even when in gear. also is seems like 3rd is farther to the right then it should be, and i can never seem to find when down shifting. im assuming its something with the linkage, if someone can point me in the right direction i would GREATLY appreciate it, thanks.

[turbo970]

could be a bad bushing

[Legacy777]

Welcome to the BBS.

I would probably guess one or multiple bushings associated with the shifter stay and shifter joint could be bad.

[matt00rs25]

Yep. I'm in the same boat. Did a rally cross and it gave up the ghost. Havnt done a money shift yet!!!
I picked up a Forester XT shift linkage and just need to order the correct bushing.

[batlegacy]

I had the same problem so installed a NEW STi short shifter, and its still really sloppy, exactly what OP described, what should I change next?

Batlegacy

[Legacy777]

Did you replace the shifter linkage joint when you put in the sti short shifter? Did you get the entire shifter linkage assembly or just the shifter lever?

[batlegacy]

I am not sure if I replaced the shifter linkage joint, all I remember is that when I replaced the shifter, the new part was connected to that pressure pin which leads into the tranny itself...if that makes sense? The STi short shifter was a direct swap to my old shifter, already assembled with new bushings etc...had two mounting points...

[jamal]

Yeah, that slop is coming from the linkage that sits right on the end of the rod coming out of the transmission. The stock one is riveted together, so I drilled mine out, replaced the bushings, and stuck a bolt through. Works really well. I don't know specifically if the turn in concepts bushings will work though and got mine from mcmaster. Think they are "3/8id plastic flanged sleeve bushings"

[Legacy777]

I've got a thread on NASIOC with details on my custom shifter joint.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=753869