Sloppy auto shifter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

biobenz617 · #1 10-08-2006, 02:40 PM

I have two 300Ds (W123) and both of them suffer from the same ailment. The shift lever is very loose when down in the D, S, and L positions and makes it hard to manually shift back up to S and D. Often if I'm flogging them around a turn in L, I'll have to shift all the way to D to get back to the S position.

I was searching for shifter bushings on the parts link (see photos) and am confused as to what and how many parts are needed to competely renew.

I've done a few searches and can't find much information or photos about complete R/R of the shifter bushings on the forum. The W123 CD is of no help either. Can this all be done from inside the car? Do I have to lower the tranny?

Thanks,

#2 10-08-2006, 03:15 PM

You should be able to just replace the plastic bushings. It's pretty easy. The hardest part is getting the bushings into the hole.

I had to do it on the side of the road when my flexdisk broke a few years ago.

JimmyL · #3 10-08-2006, 05:26 PM

I was just searching this last night. Couldn't find the thread I was looking for from earlier this year or last........

Samuel M. Ross · #4 10-09-2006, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biobenz617

I have two 300Ds (W123) and both of them suffer from the same ailment. The shift lever is very loose...
I was searching for shifter bushings on the parts link (see photos) and am confused as to what and how many parts are needed to competely renew.
Thanks,

Your photos are confusing... take a look at this link:
http://www.performanceproducts4benz.com/Drawings.aspx?bmid=134... after the parts finish moving [this is literally an exploding-parts diagram] you will see the "bushing" shown as #(7) and this you will have to change from underneath the car [ only ~$1 each]!
If your's is like our 1980 300D, you probably also have a loose pivot point that does not have a bushing and this you might be able to get at and remove by first removing the console and after it is out and you are inovative "peening" it with a ball-peen hammer on an anvil or other heavy steel surface. You should be able to see this when you go under to inspect for both loose plastic bushing joint(s) as well as other joints. Wiggle all the linkages and joints all about. 1 or more has bushing(s) and then there is 1 or more that don't... check them all.
Sam

SD Blue · #5 10-09-2006, 12:15 PM

If you want the bushings, how-to, and special "tool" to install them: www.**************.com type in "auto transmission shift bushing kit"

(The tool is a bolt with nut, 2-fender washers and large nut for pressing.)

biobenz617 · #6 10-29-2006, 10:01 AM

I was able to find all the bushings, but they were all good. It turns out that it was just a loose connection on the transmission selector input shaft. Just tightened the nut/bolt on the lever and feels great now! Thanks for the help. My other 300D may need more than a tightening...

JimmyL · #7 02-21-2007, 07:38 PM

I have decided that replacing the shifter bushings is not possible!

The wagon is up on ramps. I lost the snap on end piece almost immediately. I popped it off, and it never made it down to the ground. Can't find it anywhere.
I am using the bolt, washers and socket method. You simply cannot get into the small tunnel opening where you have to do the work. AGGHHHHHH!!!
I have dropped the bolts and wrenches on my face at least 10 times. And where did these mosquitoes come from???
Heading back outside to clean up as it is dark. Wagon will remain on ramps as the linkage is not connected.
What a failure.........

rg2098 · #8 02-21-2007, 07:40 PM

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JimmyL · #9 02-21-2007, 08:32 PM

I was meaning to comment on the difficulty of pressing in the bushings, not about needing a part. Seems like such a simple little concept, but uh, not so much........

Samuel M. Ross · #10 02-21-2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I was meaning to comment on the difficulty of pressing in the bushings, not about needing a part. Seems like such a simple little concept, but uh, not so much........

... with a bolt, 2 fender washers and an oversized nut!!!
Jimmy - It's interesting how you stuck your post onto the end of this slow-moving THREAD. Back in POST #5 there was a reference to a shifter bushing kit from **************.Com's website and if you follow that you will eventually end up at: http://**************.com/node/1276 where you can look more closely at a graphic of the "TOOL" in this Bushing KIT.

The trick of their "TOOL" is that it is simply a bolt, two fender washers and an over-sized nut used to press the bushings into the holes of the shift levers. I recently did this project on a 1985 W126 300SD which has similar close/tight clearances in the tranny tunnel. Unfortunately when I finished I just separated and tossed the bolt, washers, and nut into my catch-all spare fasteners box so I canNOT tell you the sizes now... but IF you take one of the bushings to a hardware store with open bins of loose nuts/bolts, you should be able to figure it out - I did albeit it took two trips!

Another suggestion on a hand tool that really helped me on my project. Just previous to this project I had purchased a set of metric "GearWrenches" at my local Ace Hardware and these combo open/ratcheting boxed wrenches have been extremly useful in working on my MBZ...including the task of installing these extremely tough bushings. Take a look at this graphic of what these wrenches look like: http://www.acehardware.com/graphics/product_images/p1000130dt.jpg.
Here's how I used this wrench to advantage in the tight space of the tranny tunnel:
(a) insert the bolt-FenderWasher-bushing through the hole in each shift lever,
(b) put the OversizedNut on the other side of the lever to reserve space for the bushing when it presses through,
(c) then place another FenderWasher and finally a nut that fits the bolt.
NOTE - I found using a fine threaded bolt and nut for this helped.
(d) grip the head of the bolt with vice grips [ large needle-nose Vice are great for this task with the tight clearance!],
(e) then using the ratcheting wrench, you gradually tighten down the nut and until eventually you press the bushing into its hole of the shift lever. Don't tighten too much !

It helps IF you:
(f) select a bolt of proper dia. so it just fits through the bushing,
(g) select a bolt that is not too long... just long enough for you to get the nut started with the bolt passed through the FenderWasher-bushing-lever-OverSizedNut-FenderWasher [allow ~1/8 inch for thickness of the lever], AND finally
(h) yes, the ratcheting GearWrench is slick for tightening down on the nut that presses the bushing into the hole... otherwise you will be repositioning a standard box wrench many, many times.... so IF you do not something like my ratcheting GearWrench, you might want to use a standard/course threaded bolt for these will require fewer repositioning(s) of your wrench!

Sorry, I should have taken pictures and written this one up as a DIY "Wikka"
( see http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf] ) but too late now. There is a DIY Wikka on this subject but it is for a much newer model that appears to use a cable in it's shifter!?
Regards,

JimmyL · #11 02-23-2007, 01:28 AM

Well, I finally got it finished tonight. This was one of the harder things I have done to these cars. Not from a technical standpoint of course, but just from "being able to do it"! Geez......
Making matters worse, I got a $200 ticket this morning for expired inspection sticker on my pick up. [check engine issues keeping me from getting inspection]. So I had to get the wagon going so I can work out of it until I get the truck squared away.

It will be nice to get to drive it more, but it will be packed full of parts in the back [with seats folded down....]
I ended up using a nut, bolt, 2 large washers and a 19mm crows foot socket. Sounds weird, but you can get your nut, bolt and washers started, then slide the crows foot socket into the gap on one side. then when you tighten things down, the bushing can pop through the linkage and also inside the crowsfoot until it pops into it's middle groove.
What a pain!!!!!!!!
The one that is easier to get to looked much newer! Imagine that.......

dannym · #12 02-23-2007, 08:52 AM

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=112582

OldPokey · #13 02-23-2007, 04:46 PM

I took the arm off of the shaft coming out of the transmission. 10 minutes later, I had the bushing back in and then reinstalled it. Piece of cake. Was there a reason for not removing the arm?

GRIESL · #14 02-24-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biobenz617

I was able to find all the bushings, but they were all good. It turns out that it was just a loose connection on the transmission selector input shaft. Just tightened the nut/bolt on the lever and feels great now! Thanks for the help. My other 300D may need more than a tightening...

Is this transmission selector input shaft accessible from inside the car?