Gear Selector Play

finfont

Member
The gear selector lever on my 1972 3500 P6 has moderate lateral play. Gear selection itself is straightforward, but, I encounter a little side-to-side laxity in the selector lever when shifting. Does anyone have thoughts on possible causes to search for before I have a look? Many thanks, Drew
 
Auto gearlevers suffer with the gearlever spherical seat disintegrating so that's worth checking, and the mounting bracket can move on the base unit.
 
They can break yet still stay insitu, as a result the gear lever feels floppy.
Replacing the spherical bush is easy although time consuming and involves removing the centre console and speaker grill plus the gear lever linkages beneath the trany tunnel.
If your handbrake is manky now is the time to replace it.
Ive gone through three of these bushes in my 48 yrs of ownership. The last episode nearly killed my car as it dropped out while parked on a hill and I didnt have the handbrake on enough.
Is it possible to reproduce the spherical bush using a 3D printer as they seem dear for what you get?
 
They can break yet still stay insitu, as a result the gear lever feels floppy.
Replacing the spherical bush is easy although time consuming and involves removing the centre console and speaker grill plus the gear lever linkages beneath the trany tunnel.
If your handbrake is manky now is the time to replace it.
Ive gone through three of these bushes in my 48 yrs of ownership. The last episode nearly killed my car as it dropped out while parked on a hill and I didnt have the handbrake on enough.
Is it possible to reproduce the spherical bush using a 3D printer as they seem dear for what you get?
 
I've read up on the procedure of accessing the spherical bush for inspection. It appears that initially, the work is done from the inside of the car, but, in order to lift the gear lever assembly out, the external gear linkage must be disconnected from beneath the car. If so, is there a trick to accessing the linkage without dropping the transmission? I've been under the car recently replacing the lower control rod. I can't see a way to access the upper linkage without removing the transmission. Certainly hope that I am mistaken.
 
You can undo the rods under the gearlever without dropping the box to get the lever out, and if you want to remove the compensator that can be done as well. IIRC two of the compensator bolts can be accessed over the top of the box with very long extensions, and the other is obscured by the bellcrank, and that one can be got at by removing the air cleaner and reaching down over the back of the engine with a spanner. (Although even that one can be done from underneath I think).
 
You can undo the rods under the gearlever without dropping the box to get the lever out, and if you want to remove the compensator that can be done as well. IIRC two of the compensator bolts can be accessed over the top of the box with very long extensions, and the other is obscured by the bellcrank, and that one can be got at by removing the air cleaner and reaching down over the back of the engine with a spanner. (Although even that one can be done from underneath I think).
Thank you, Harvey. I'll take another look. I accessed the lower control rod from the front and left of the transmission after dropping the exhaust pipe. From that vantage point, I could not devine an avenue for inserting any sort of socket, extension or wrench over the top of the transmission housing to reach the bolts attaching the upper linkage to the gear lever assembly. Maybe if I approach the upper linkage from behind, near the drive shaft. I'm sure it is obvious that I don't have the mechanical knowledge that many in this forum possess, so, your input is very much appreciated. I'll figure it out. Thanks, again.
 
I have a brand new old stock one in my car and it still has some sideways movement. Not a lot but it isn't what you might call 'precise' like a new car would be. I suspect they are not very close tolerance like new cars are nowadays!!
 
I have a brand new old stock one in my car and it still has some sideways movement. Not a lot but it isn't what you might call 'precise' like a new car would be. I suspect they are not very close tolerance like new cars are nowadays!!
I'm curious as to how you accessed the upper linkage attachment in order to remove the old gear lever assembly and install the NOS. Thanks,
 
I have a brand new old stock one in my car and it still has some sideways movement. Not a lot but it isn't what you might call 'precise' like a new car would be. I suspect they are not very close tolerance like new cars are nowadays!!
I had a P6 many years ago, and, I don't remember the gear lever having lateral play in it. I could be wrong; it was quite some time ago. If I can get this one apart, I'll report back with my findings. I'm still a bit concerned about disconnecting the external linkage.
 
I'm curious as to how you accessed the upper linkage attachment in order to remove the old gear lever assembly and install the NOS. Thanks,

My gearbox was out being rebuilt!!
 
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