Gear Shift Flexing

[brianmisty]

Not really sure what to call it, but the gear shifter in my '99 automatic limited flexes quite a bit, especially on bumpy roads. Is this normal? If it is, it sure is annoying. I'm just waiting for it to pop into neutral one day.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[peter78]

When I first test drove my 2001 I noticed the shifter moving. It moves back and forth a little bit, especially under acceleration. Other people in 4Runner forums have mentioned this. So it is normal.

However, if it does moves quite a bit, that may not be normal. If I sit my hand on the shifter I feel a slight movement. My feeling is you are probably experiencing the normal movement, being new to the 4Runner and it being a little older, you notice it more. Check it out and write back how much movement you have and when it moves the most. Maybe there is a big problem, but I doubt it.

 

[Thai]

As Peter said, probably normal. I have never heard of any such problem.

 

[makakio]

My understanding

of this issue (it's normal, BTW to see the auto-trans gear selector moving forward and back not only under acceleration but also braking and bumpy roads) is due to the design of the shift linkage and hte concept that the 4Runner is a body-on-frame (read: truck-based) design, versus a unitbody design. With a body-on-frame, the drivetrain is all suspended - meaning it flexes - under the frame and the frame/body union is inflexible (relaitvely - there are super-hard rubber mount bushings between frame and body). With unit-body construction, the powertrain is mounted directly to the body, which in it's entirety acts like a frame. Body-on-frame is a more rugged suited to offroad, towing, long suspension travel, etc and unitbody drives and handles better (it's dynamically "tighter"). So the movement of the shifters, which are in a 4Runner are directly linked to the tranny, is simply a view into the forces that your drivetrain and suspension are incurring as you motor along.

Again, that's as understand it. Do correct me if I'm off.