legacycentral bbs

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.

could be a bad bushing

Welcome to the BBS.

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

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.

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

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?

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...

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"

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

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