Shift lever ajustment
 

I have some slack in my shift lever. When I shift from Park to R I have to move it a little further before the transmission engages. When the transmission is either in D or R I can slightly move the lever back and forth without taking the transmission out of either D or R.

How can that slack be ajusted? -and how much of the car do I have to take apart? :o

Oh, this is on an '87 560SL.

At one time or another this has happened to every Benz I have ever owned. Well, except for the 2002 S500 so far.

My shop tells me there is a grommet in the linkage that deterriorates and then pops out. Your problem probably came on suddenly, right? One day there was a normal feel to the selector, the next day it was sloppy?

They fix it quickly and inexpensively. Once when I asked if I could do it myself they said it was in a hard to reach spot up above the transmission. That it was agravating to do unless the car was on a lift. I wish I could be more specific, but follow the shift linkage up towards the floorboard from the transmission. You should find it pretty easily.

There's two bushings in the shift linkage. One is fairly easy to get to, but you have to take the shifter apart and the other is under the car, more difficult to reach.

Major pain without a lift.

Is there an PDF/manual page available? I looked through my manuals and haven't been able to find anything.

There is no job that I'm aware of.

You pull the clips off the shift rod at the linkage and trans end and remove the linkage. Then force the bushings out of their holes. Lubricate the new ones and press them in. Reinstall the shift rod. Adjust it so that there is approx. 1 mm clearance is available between selector lever and "N" stop on gear change plate.

All of this is sounds easier than it is if you are on a creeper.