BuffNStuff

So the shop my car is at did the auto to r154 swap for me and I went to go pick it up, and the shifter has way way WAY too much play in it. While the car is in first gear I can move the shifter around like it is in neutral. Not even exaggerating. I can move the shifter all the way to the right side of the center console. Also the looseness is so bad that all of the bottom gears cannot be accessed. I cant put it in 2nd 4th or reverse. There is just nothing there. No grinding, no clanking, I cant even feel the little barrier that you feel that sits inbetween gears, its just like they do not exist.

What the heck is going on? I tried searching google and most of the answers I saw were people with FWD Hondas so I cant be sure if the same issue applies since they have to have linkages that run all the way up to the front of the car.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like bushings are the issue. Which version R154 do you have? The early Soarer, MKIII R154 converted or a tripod model? And what shifter are you using if one of the early types? An MKIII shifter, SC 5-speed shifter or Suprasport Vx?

If either of the former you'll want new bushings. There are two of them inside the shifter assembly and it's recommended to forego the OEM bushings and get the ones made by Marlin Crawler which generally never wear out. You can install these with the transmission in the car.

https://www.marlincrawler.com/transm...y-duty-sockets

https://www.marlincrawler.com/transm...avy-duty-seats

If you have a later model "tripod" R154 then the bushings will be located under the transmission tunnel and you may need to get the car on a lift to change them for new rubber, poly or solid metal depending on what is available.

You can go into all gears and hold each gear though, right?

BuffNStuff

I have an r154 out of a mk3 and the shifter is supposed to be from a mk3 as well. The trans had been opened and inspected by the shop and they did the shifter housing extension for me.

The shifter cannot go in to 2nd 4th or reverse. If I try to shift into those gears there is nothing there. The shifter just wobbles about like it's in neutral.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Does the shifter wobble loosely in ALL gears or just 2nd, 4th and reverse? Can you predictably go into 5th and 3rd?

This could still be totally worn out bushings but I am not sure.

If it isn't a universal wobble you may need the shop to check out the transmission again. When I had mine rebuilt (MKIII R154) I had a rare issue where the bolt on top of the 5th & Reverse shift fork backed out. I could access 5th but reverse was just a dead spot with no audible shaft being engaged. They opened up the box and had to put red loctite on that bolt and from there on I had no issues.

When you say they did your extension, did they do this on a jig? What was the approximate extension length for the housing and internal arm? I am assuming you didn't use a Soarer extension.

Cleanshots

iTrader: (2)

the actual shifter is two pieces with rubber in the middle.. if the bushings are good then its the actual shifter its-self thats wobbling. i welded a washer onto mine so essentially. there is no more rubber. feels super solid. the bushings, get 1997 toyota truck shifter bushings 5 speed..

sc315

iTrader: (1)

Good idea clean shot does anyone no if the solid v160 solid bushings work been wanting to try them also I think there's a ball and socket inside the shifter assembly that's nylon and may be missing or broke on your trans those seem to be the easiest things to fix if defiantly check them first Kahn has good recommendations in his post to marlin

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Cleanshots, will the 1997 Toyota truck shifter bushings work for the OP's early style (shifter housing type) R154 though? Did the trucks continue to use the R150 and R151 in that style into the 90's?

BuffNStuff

I am waiting to hear back from the shop. It's been a week so I assume they are either having trouble locating the problem, or they ordered a part and are fixing it. Either way I don't know yet.

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

it depends on if you have a remote shift transmission or not. the remote shift is the later mk4/sc300 ones that have the 4 arms coming off the back and the straight shifter.

If you have the mk3 or early SC300 style, then you do not have the remote shift and your main socket bushing is likely worn out or disentigrated. the cure is a new bushing. they make a better aftermarket nylon one and yes its released as a truck shifter bushing because Marlin crawler originally made the product (i think). I have read nothing but positive stuff about the bushing and is supposed to be better than the stock one you can also get.

The trucks cams with w56 (4 cylinder EFI trucks 85-95), and an early version r150 (3.0 v6 trucks short input shaft 85-95), R151 (4cylinder 22rte only long input shaft 87-??), and later version r150 (3.4 v6 trucks long input shaft 96+).

all of these use the older mk3 style of shifter and they are all the same meaning the bushings will work on your SC with a W series or a R series with older style shifter.

If you have a remote shift 95+ w58 or a late soarer r154 those transmissions use entirely different bushings, there are 4 cage bushings on the sides, and one nylon one inside that needs to be replaced and its not the same bushing inside.

BuffNStuff

I'm going to assume it's the bushing then, and they are waiting for the new part to come in. I really don't see how they can miss that if it really is the issue.

BuffNStuff

Okay so apparently it was a mix of a disintegrated bushing AND a bad shifter housing extension mod. The shop is going to drop the tranny and fix the issue free of charge.

Thanks for the help everyone!

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

I was thinking that was a possibility but you wouldn't know if the extension is bad until the bushing is fixed ad then checked again. sounds like they got it under control, let us know how it goes.