I have a 1991 124. I replaced the front shifter bushing within the last year. Curiously, the new one already deteriorated and fell apart, requiring replacement again.
The first time, I had read how-to posts and replaced the bushing with the lever in the car. Sure enough, it was a pain trying to get that new bushing in, squeezing with pliers and pushing with screwdrivers and cussing and supporting it with a socket and finally...success! It was in.
Well, when it was time again I reviewed the how-tos and noticed that some people were having a miserable time just like I did. BUT, some people were removing the lever from the transmission and replacing the bushing out of the car. Some posts said the lever could not be removed from outside the transmission. There's a good article in DIY section that says it can. I wondered which was true? Was I just not smart enough to understand how to do this?
It turns out that the lever is easy to remove from the car. One 10mm pinch bolt holds it. In fact, it has to be removable or you couldn't replace the neutral safety switch.
Maybe I read it all backwards. Maybe people were replacing the one on the shifter-end in the car, not the transmission-end. At any rate, REMOVE THE LEVER to do this job. Doing it in the car is a royal pain in the a$$! Doing it out of the car is no big deal. Oil the bushing, put a socket behind it, put it in a vise and push it through the lever. Piece of cake.
01-16-2006, 03:22 PM
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