300SDL shifter bushing mystery - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MeinGreaseCar · #1 08-05-2006, 10:57 PM

I have a bonafied mystery on my hands.

I ordered all the available shifter bushings from Phil for a 87 300SDL.

I tore everything down, and started replacing them. I did the ones in the shifter above the floorboard.

Now the problem is the first one outside the car. It mounts into the flat metal plate of the shift lever (hard to describe, but easy if you've been there.) This is the bushing that most of the play is in. It's the rear one on the rod that connects to the AT.

Now the ONLY one that Phil has listed is a plastic part MB # 155 992 03 10

I put this part into the shifter lever and there is a TON of play. Not around the shaft to the plastic, that fits tight. But the bushing itself isn't large enough for the hole in the flat metal of the shifter arm that comes down vertical from the hump in the car.

The part that came off was more of a red color, it was almost like it was some sort of fiber reinforced rubber.

The car isn't here with me at the moment. I can inspect the removed part (glad I saved it) later to see if I can glean a part number.. but i'm not hopefull, it was pretty far gone.

Ideas? Wild guesses?

JP

JimmyL · #2 08-05-2006, 11:14 PM

sometimes you just have to go to the dealer for things.

Hatterasguy · #3 08-06-2006, 12:19 AM

I did mine years ago, dealer hooked me up with every single bushing.

Are ou talking about the ones that sit on the rod at the base of the shifter? Or the bushing that presses into the metal plate, that the shift rod fits into. Most problems are caused by that bushing btw.

Carson357 · #4 08-06-2006, 01:16 AM

it is very possible that the bushing was bad for so long that it made the mounting hole bigger, you may have to get a new lever. the old one was white too when it was new, they discolor with age and heat, or someone made the hole bigger to acommodate another type bushing

brandlj · #5 08-06-2006, 09:56 AM

I did mine on my 86sdl with parts from **************. They were clear to white plastic. It was a very tight press fit, but they work great!

MeinGreaseCar · #6 08-07-2006, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Are ou talking about the ones that sit on the rod at the base of the shifter? Or the bushing that presses into the metal plate, that the shift rod fits into. Most problems are caused by that bushing btw.

The one I am talking about is the one that fits into the flat plate (It's like 1/8th inch) under the car. That the shifter is connected to.

If you removed the entire shift lever assembly (the plastic block and lever) it would be the bushing that connects that to the rod that travels forward under the car.

I have a hard time believing that this part is discolored plastic. I am 99 percent sure that it is a rubber part.

JP

sixto · #7 08-07-2006, 01:28 PM

You're saying that the same bushing that fits at the transmission end of the shift rod is loose on the plate at the bottom end of the shift lever? I don't know what the problem is but that's not right. From the factory the W126 takes the same bushing at each end of the shift rod.

Sixto
... stay tuned

sixto · #8 08-07-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeinGreaseCar

I have a hard time believing that this part is discolored plastic. I am 99 percent sure that it is a rubber part.

Maybe it's rubber now but it was white plastic when it left Sindelfingen

Sixto
... stay tuned

Hatterasguy · #9 08-07-2006, 06:27 PM

Thats it, super pita to change but its the one that counts. Each car has two one at the shifter and one on a lever coming out of the trans housing. They are cheap get two just in case you damage one trying to install it.

Heat the new one up a bit to soften it up and just push it in.

MeinGreaseCar · #10 08-07-2006, 07:36 PM

I just don't get it.

I put that plastic in (yes it is rugged, and takes some encouragement to get in the hole)

But it rattles around inside the hole in the shift lever. The rod itself fits snugly in the plastic. But the plastic bounces around inside the hole.

The dealership was no help, as I didnt have the vin here with me at home.

JP

Hatterasguy · #11 08-07-2006, 07:38 PM

If my memory serves me and you did get the bushing in Sixto's pic, they may be a little lose inside the lever. They seem to be there mostly for sound, without them you get that loud rattle.

MeinGreaseCar · #12 08-07-2006, 09:42 PM

I would think that all of the "play" in the forward and reverse of the shift lever would come from those bushings.

The lever works fine.. it's just that you can move it 1/2 inch forward and back and still be in the same gear. It's just a real sloppy feeling.

JP

sixto · #13 08-07-2006, 09:44 PM

Sounds like you need a lower shift lever with a proper size hole. Should be tons of them in wrecking yards.

Sixto
... stay tuned

Hatterasguy · #14 08-08-2006, 12:13 AM

Something isn't right. There isn't any play in my SDL's shifter, it just moves between the gears smoothly.

MeinGreaseCar · #15 08-15-2006, 11:11 PM

So, I'm an idiot.

I got a chance to get up to get the car. The old one was plastic. It was just dyed red from age. It was however NOT what I got when I ordered the first time.

Phil did send me the right part. I only had one of them. I should have gotten two. Still had a ton of play once I replaced the rear one.

I dropped that big, stupid plastic belly pan..and the front one was GONE. all kinds of slop from that one. I reused the old one from the back. It was better than nothing, and all I can do at the moment.

Shifter is firm and solid as new.

thanks.. mystery solved.. I'm a dummy

JP