Problem Shifting Into 3rd Gear (Shifter Assembly) Options

[HardHead93]

When I was at my track day yesterday I was sometimes having problems shifting into 3rd gear under high rpm. It was weird, the shift felt soft when I pushed it into 3rd almost like if I pushed any harder my fist would go through the console. I knew it couldn't be a tranny thing, it had to be something with the shifter so I pulled the center console and started playing with it. I noticed whenever I put it into 3rd the hard plastic shifter assembly flexed a little. Does anyone have a fix for this? I know some people switch to a metal assembly but I do not know if that is an option for our cars. It is really annoying to not know if you have the car in gear before you let out the clutch.

[Bitter]

Maybe a shifter bushing issue or shifter base bushing issue?

[Box]

Should replace the shifter base bushings, I changed mine out as part of the short shifter and it made a huge difference in the feel and got rid of the soft mushy flexing feel.

[DST94]

Pmd you

[HardHead93]

After taking a closer look at the base and looking at some other threads, it looks like the shifter base bushings are shot. They are the rubber ones that are original to the car. I think this last track day with the intense shifting did them in. I did not start having the problem with shifting until the end of the track day which leads me to believe they gave out sometime on one of my runs. This 6gc thread matches exactly what is going on with me:
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=88097

I plan to do aluminum bushings on the base and the shifter cables. It sounds like that makes the shifting very precise. Also, "since I am in there," I plan to install a short shifter.

[Bitter]

Solid shifter cable bushings bind. You want the hemispherical joint bushings. Cost more but work way better!!

[Box]

I did the aluminum shifter base bushings and short shifter and it made a night and day difference, highly recommended. Didn't bother with the shifter cable bushings.

[slavie]

If you have a hard time shifting into gears, check whether your clutch disengages fully, or you depress the pedal fully "in the heat of the moment". Any drag on the clutch will put load on the gears making shifting more difficult. To check, with your clutch depressed, shift into reverse and there should be no grinding at all (there's no synchro on reverse, so if any power is going to the input shaft the gears will grind)

Solid shifter base bushings will remove a lot of flex from the shifter. Shifter cable bushings will remove the slack, as in how much your shifter can be moved before it starts engaging the gear lever (best felt when the car is in gear). I would say both are worthwhile upgrades, especially considering the price. Base bushes will get rid of 85% flex, shifter bushes remove the other 15%.

Short shifters allow you to shift more quickly by reducing the required shifter travel at the expense of shifting effort. Too short a short shifter will require significantly more force force, you'll definitely feel it.
Also, you may require spacers to raise your shifter base with a "very short" shifter. This is why they often come in kits with the shifter itself.
7GC is one example - the cheap $30 short shifter kit comes with solid base bushings that raise the base about 3/8-1/2 up. Removed a ton of flex, but the shifter is "very short" and I can feel the muscles in my hand after a spirited rowing session.

Solid shifter cable bushings bind. You want the hemispherical joint bushings. Cost more but work way better!!

I've read that, too, BUT: I've been running solid brass shifter cable bushings (from speedsource) on my 5SFE/S51 Camry for over 4 years/~20k miles/multiple track days with no ill effects and have nothing but praise to report. Much better than stock worn out rubber bushings that gave me a lot of slop.

However, for my 7GC, I did order F608 bearings (flanged 608 bearings, not regular 608) and will supplement them with some large washers. The cost was comparable to brass bushings, and I agree that it should be better in theory. NOTE: 6GC requires different diameter bushings, as one linkage is bigger diameter (smaller one will take the 22mm 608 bearing though)

[HardHead93]

Thanks for the info. If the bushings do not fix my problem I will definitely check the clutch pedal to ensure it is fully disengaging.

[HectortheRican]

Solid shifter cable bushings bind. You want the hemispherical joint bushings. Cost more but work way better!!

Must be a YMMV thing. I've had solid brass cable bushings for 5 years with no issues.

[Bitter]

Might be worse for some cars more than others, MR2 guys hate solid bushings, they cause the shifter to be hard to get into 3rd and 5th or something cause of the lack of twist.

[HardHead93]

Here are the crappy rubber shifter bushings.



I replaced them with aluminum ones as well as did a short shifter. Here is the stock shifter next to the short shifter.


I am still not sure if I like the short shifter but the problem with the shifter not going into 3rd gear is gone. I have not replace the shifter cable bushings yet so it may tighten up the shifts even more. If I am not happy with the short shifter I will put in an extension to take it back to normal height because it is a pain in the butt getting the shifter out.

This post has been edited by HardHead93: Jun 10, 2017 - 1:27 AM

[Box]

Should get used to it after a few days. Maybe I'm some kind of wizard but I replaced the bushings and shift lever without removing the assembly from the car. I seem to recall a bushing on the the tip of the shifter that had to be transplanted on mine, went over the ball end on the bottom of the lever.

[HardHead93]

Should get used to it after a few days. Maybe I'm some kind of wizard but I replaced the bushings and shift lever without removing the assembly from the car. I seem to recall a bushing on the the tip of the shifter that had to be transplanted on mine, went over the ball end on the bottom of the lever.

The problem I am having with it is my thumb keeps banging on the parking brake lever when I shift in 1st and 2nd.

[Box]

Change the orientation of your hand. I'm trying to remember how I shifted in the Celica, but it still had the original knob so it'd been somewhere between palm facing the ground and facing the driver door panel. I never recall having any issues in that regard, but I have small lady hands. I seem to recall someone else having some kind of issue with the e-brake lever, and they ended up shortening it. I think there's a write-up around here somewhere on it. Ahhh here we go: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=64906

[HardHead93]

Change the orientation of your hand. I'm trying to remember how I shifted in the Celica, but it still had the original knob so it'd been somewhere between palm facing the ground and facing the driver door panel. I never recall having any issues in that regard, but I have small lady hands. I seem to recall someone else having some kind of issue with the e-brake lever, and they ended up shortening it. I think there's a write-up around here somewhere on it. Ahhh here we go: http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=64906

I think I will give the short shifter a shot before I start modifying anything else. It feels a lot better since I got my new shift knob in today.

[slavie]

Yea, see that bend in the stock shifter? Yea, that's to move it away from the eBrake. But, you haven't tried the JDM GT4 shifter, yet - that one is bent the other way, making it almost rub the ebrake handle. That's what I discovered when I bought the gT4 shifter.

I'm considering heating it up with a torch and bending it the other way - something you could do with the short shirter if you'd like. Though you'ld probably need a taller shift knob then.

[HardHead93]

I have gone through and replaced the shifter base bushings and 1 of the shifter cable bushings. I am having problems with the larger size shifter bushing. Every single one I have ordered has been too big for the bushing hole. Does anyone know where I can get the proper sized aluminum or brass shifter cable bushings for a 1997 Celica GT?

[HardHead93]

I have gone through and replaced the shifter base bushings and 1 of the shifter cable bushings. I am having problems with the larger size shifter bushing. Every single one I have ordered has been too big for the bushing hole. Does anyone know where I can get the proper sized aluminum or brass shifter cable bushings for a 1997 Celica GT?

BUMP

Can someone answer my question above? I think that one bushing I cannot find the right size is the problem because my 3rd gear shifting problem only happens when the car is hot. I am guessing that rubber bushing gets soft and starts to have a lot of play.

[BonzaiCelica]

pics are needed. damn photobucket.... in order to understand exactly what you mean..... go up on facebook. there you can post pic without hassle.....