Shift Lever Bushings Replaced! Lever is now TIGHT!

[BamaDrewski]

So, I had a really loose and sloppy shift lever in my rig. (only after 19 years....hahaha) I looked up some YouTube videos and some posts on various forums on how to fix it.

You got have four of the following:

Toyota Part #: 90385-11003 (Bushing)

The job is not complicated per say but a little frustrating. I am going to do a write-up on it. I’ll just say this, the rubber protective cover on the “shift shaft” (under the shift lever mounting plate) which extends down to the transmission shift connector, is most likely gonna rip when you pull the shift lever assembly out. I have no idea how to patch that area up so if anyone has encountered this (and has a solution), please let everyone know.

The shift lever was impacting the key in the ignition. (Yes, I know that sounds strange…..) and the lever itself was really loosey-goosey. I replaced the bushings (IMO a design flaw by Toyota. They are thin and flimsy and I have little confident they will last very long) and the lever is stiff and tight. It feels and clicks into the shift points (P-R-N-D-2-1) like a new one now.

When I called my local dealer, he said they were $1.62 each. When I went to pick them up, they tried to charge me $2.62. Fortunately, I had a recording of the call with the guy from the previous day…

As this was the first time doing this, took me about 2 hours. I was overly careful with all the small parts, snap rings, washers, etc. as I did not want to lose them.

I also took the opportunity to vacuum up all the debris/dust that accumulated under the shift and console trim panels while I was in there.....

 

[fixxor]

I did the top two under the shifter bezel and it helped, the other two I think you had to do them from under the vehicle? Still have those two bushings for it looking forward to the write up.

 

[Silver Supra]

Totally worth it, isn't it? Feels like a new truck after you do it.

 

[BamaDrewski]

I did the top two under the shifter bezel and it helped, the other two I think you had to do them from under the vehicle? Still have those two bushings for it looking forward to the write up.

You can do all four of them from up top. You unbolt the eight 10mm bolts from the flange of the shifter plate (after disconnecting the shifter link under the truck) and you can pull the assembly out and work on it on a bench. As I mentioned in the 1st post, the hanging arms of the shifter linkage will rip the rubber boot if you are not careful. (In my case, I was careful but not careful enough)

I put some white lithium grease on the new bushings to try and prevent binding if they ran dry and stuck to the inside of the bolt shaft.

The way I see it, I got some 19 years out of my rig before having to do this and perhaps the replacement bushings will last another 19 years but looking at them, they seem to be thin and flimsey. For now, just glad to have a tight a$$ shift lever. Before this, the lever was hopping around (front, back and sideways) like the energizer bunny on crack.....

 

[Ruiner]

So, I had a really loose and sloppy shift lever in my rig. (only after 19 years....hahaha) I looked up some YouTube videos and some posts on various forums on how to fix it.

You got have four of the following:

Toyota Part #: 90385-11003 (Bushing)

The job is not complicated per say but a little frustrating. I am going to do a write-up on it. I’ll just say this, the rubber protective cover on the “shift shaft” (under the shift lever mounting plate) which extends down to the transmission shift connector, is most likely gonna rip when you pull the shift lever assembly out. I have no idea how to patch that area up so if anyone has encountered this (and has a solution), please let everyone know.

The shift lever was impacting the key in the ignition. (Yes, I know that sounds strange…..) and the lever itself was really loosey-goosey. I replaced the bushings (IMO a design flaw by Toyota. They are thin and flimsy and I have little confident they will last very long) and the lever is stiff and tight. It feels and clicks into the shift points (P-R-N-D-2-1) like a new one now.

When I called my local dealer, he said they were $1.62 each. When I went to pick them up, they tried to charge me $2.62. Fortunately, I had a recording of the call with the guy from the previous day…

As this was the first time doing this, took me about 2 hours. I was overly careful with all the small parts, snap rings, washers, etc. as I did not want to lose them.

I also took the opportunity to vacuum up all the debris/dust that accumulated under the shift and console trim panels while I was in there.....

just updated the links in my old thread with the pics again, apperantly dropbox no longer allows hotlinking imgs

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/127999-auto-shifter-rattles-moves-around-lot.html