My shifter is a tad sticky moving from 3rd to 2nd. It takes a bit of finesse to ease the shifter over.

Is this a sign of the linkage bushing going? Or something to do with the guide pins?

I suppose I'll do this in the interest of preventive maintenance (my truck is at 221K miles) but it grinds my gears (ha!) to spend $25 on a plastic washer.

doubtful, but could give you some insight as to whats going on when you take it apart to replace the bushing. I didn't bother figuring out exactly what gives the springiness to the shifter and how the whole mechanism works when it was apart since I was more curious to fix the shifting issue.

The listing pic shows 2 pieces in the bag - do they fit together to create the one bushing or do you get two bushings?

The second piece is a "Installation Driver", but they say you can install the bushing without it or you can use it if you need too, here's a link to a YouTube video from the manufacturer's website the link I'm posting is straight to YouTube, the video says it's for a "Toyota Matrix" but the bushing installs the same on our 4Runners, you just basically just push the bushing into the cable eyelet, the guy actually is talking but I couldn't hear him on my laptop until I used headphones.

The easiest way to fix your Toyota Matrix shift cable! Kit includes replacement bushing. - YouTube

I just received and installed the bushing. It was very easy. The old bushing was still compliant, I will keep it just in case.

Alternate method (no need to remove whole assembly):
1) remove the shifter surround by lifting straight up
2) unscrew the shift knob
3) move the shifter to a mid point like N
4) with a small flat screwdriver, gently release the lock tabs at all 4 corners
5) lift and remove shifter Bezel.
6) move shifter to 2nd gear position
7) look at the rear most end of shifter assembly, and you can see the shifter cable and bushing
8) follow the shifter cable back 3” and see a flat spring clip holding the cable in the mount
9) with pliers, pull up the clip and remove. Push cable backward and lift from mount
10) slide shifter bushing/cable off the selector post, lift the cable to access the bushing.
11) remove bushing, install new bushing, lubricate, re-install on selector
12) reverse process to finish.
13) note: Be careful not to lose the shift lock release button when installing the bezel
=> take pics along the way to help with reassembly

Time involved, 20 minutes including dropping and retreiving the shift lock release button from under the shifter. LOL

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More pics. Flat spring clip at yellow arrows

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You posted instructions about 2 hours after I finished xD Should have procrastinated.

Side note, I could not get the flat piece out to save my life. Not having any instructions to show me otherwise I ended up disassembling more of the shifter.

These instructions are way better lol.

Its a tight fit. With pliers, you will need to pull straight up and rock it side to side to get it out. Or find a way to pry it up. The tap with a hammer to reinstall it.

SHIFT LEVER & RETAINER. Tacoma | Toyota

3357222010 - Grommet (for floor shift control shaft). Transmission, driveline - Genuine Toyota Part

Probably the Toyota OEM part(s) for this repair. Check with your dealer to make sure.

If you checked for "what this fits" you will see that's for 3rd Gen 4Runners not 4th Gens,

Appears from this diagram that the 4th Gen OEM grommet is part of the $200+ cable assembly.

I've been wanting to replace this bushing for a while since my transmission sometimes sticks going into Drive. I found the same bushing kit that others here posted links to while looking on Amazon for something else.

Amazon.com: Bushing Fix BP1Kit - Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Repair Kit : Automotive

I bought mine from ebay after offering $20. Probably still $15 over priced but its a one time purchase

Seller. Bushingfix

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I got mine for free using the Amazon gift card I got for Christmas.