bent shift shaft on trans now what?!

[wagZE]

Forgot to take off the linkage when pulling the motor n tranny. Oops!!! Got new motor in runs nice... I go to take it on a test drive and oh s--- can't shift. The shifter shaft on the trans was bent too bad.. Please tell me I don't have to pull the transmission to replace.

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Sorry, you do.
If your shifter shaft is bent bad, you have 2 options:

1. Get another tranny.

2. Take it out, open it (it can be complicated if you don't know what you're doing), take the shaft off, straighten it, get everything back together.

[wytbishop]

You don't...it's a bit of a beeotch but it's not impossible. Remove the console and unbolt the support plate from the floor. Get the car on stands and disconnect the shift linkage and stabilizer linkage from the tranny. Here's the trick...the linkage will probably not want to go past the exhaust. Unhook a couple of the exhaust hangers at the rear of the car to allow the exhaust to droop a little. then just finesse it out and finesse a new one back in.

It's also easier if you remove the shifter arm and linkage from the support plate. Unbolt the shifter from the shifter arm under the car. Once the console is out you can see the spring in the shifter pivot housing. Pull out the little boot. Get a pick or a small screwdriver and pull on the top coil of that spring and it will come out easily. Then the shifter will pull out from the top.

http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/showimg.php ... J2-054.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[onlytrueromeo]

No, you don't need to drop the tranny if you did what I think you did! SO don't give up hopes yet from the guy above!


I'm assuming you meant you left your stabilizer bar or actual shifter linkage from the shifter to tranny in place when you tried to pull the engine. You can either replace this or try to bend it back to make it work. Either way, the procedure will be the same!

Pull up the center console. Unscrew the nuts holding the shifter in place from inside the car. Jack up car and get under it. You will need to remove the bolts on the tranny end, one that holds the stabilizer bar and one that holds the shifter linkage. I think you can then drop the linkage down, there might be another bolt holding it up from underneath I can't remember. You also might have to move you exhaust out of the way, but you should just be able to remove it from a hanger or 2 and push.

Note: This is a good time to replace all shifter bushings and install an anti-drop bracket.

If these are whats bent, than fix them. If not, I know you can at least access the shaft that goes into the tranny, but I don't know if you can replace it. You might be able to just bend it back to at least hold you over for a little while.

[onlytrueromeo]

Damn it Charlie you stole my thunder.

LOL Glad to know we hit exactly the same points.

[wytbishop]

Yeah if the shift shaft in the tranny is bent that's a much bigger job.

[hgallegos915]

How the hell do you bend the shift shaft? is it the one going INTO the tranny where the ba connects? or the shift linkage? or the little bar that the stabilizer shift bar goes to?(which ive bent before)

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Sorry guys, I don't mean to be an a-hole, a douche, a d---, or start a flame war. The op said he bent the "shifter shaft on the trans". Now, assuming he meant this shaft:



He's gonna have to drop the tranny. Otherwise, if he tries to straighten it out without disassembling it, he risks cracking the tranny case.

Now, if he made a mistake and what he bent is the linkage, I agree the tranny can stay.

[wagZE]

I wish it was the car side but no it is on the trans. At least its not raining. It is the one in the picture. I've spent all my money on this car new engine all that good stuff... So needless to say I don't want to pay some dude to put a new shift shaft in. Is it complicated? I have a spare tranny that was in a bad engine fire that I bet would be a good donor for parts. Any further advice on replacing this would be great as my tranny is almost out of the car. Thanks for the replies guys

[Inodoro Pereyra]

I wish it was the car side but no it is on the trans. At least its not raining. It is the one in the picture. I've spent all my money on this car new engine all that good stuff... So needless to say I don't want to pay some dude to put a new shift shaft in. Is it complicated? I have a spare tranny that was in a bad engine fire that I bet would be a good donor for parts. Any further advice on replacing this would be great as my tranny is almost out of the car. Thanks for the replies guys

Sorry.
I was kinda hoping it was the linkage...
Replacing the shaft itself is not really complicated, but getting to it can be. There are a few small parts you need to take off to be able to open the tranny case, and they have to go back the right way. If you have no experience on transmissions I'd definitely recommend you to stay away from it, unless there's someone with you, to guide you.
Go to a junkyard. You can normally get a tranny for about $80-$100.

Good luck.

[wagZE]

Well I got it off and It was definately a bad idea to try and beat the shift shaft with a hammer to try and bend back. I now have a crack in my bell housing (d'oh) its weldable though. Anyways like I said I have another transmission that got scorched in an engine fire maybe I can combine them into one

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Well, the best advise I can give you is: take pictures of every step you make. Detailed pictures up close, and keep everything organized.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[wytbishop]

http://www.imazda.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You have to sign up to view threads in their forum but they have this thread which is a complete teardown and rebuild of a G series tranny with very god pictures. I keep a copy of it around for just such difficulties as the one you're having right now.

http://www.imazda.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Changing the shift shaft is actually a pretty easy deal. Separating the case of the tranny is not so dangerous as long as you don't touch the shift forks. Once the case is open the shift shaft is bolted to the detent pivot thingy with a single bolt IIRC. However if you buggered the belhousing of your good tranny and your scorched tranny is no good, you will probably need help taking them both apart to combine them. It can be pretty intimidating inside your first transmission.

[wagZE]

Thanks for the links and advice you guys are why I still come to the Mx3 forum even though I've got an mx6 now. Very informative thanks! Oh when I was lookin at the tranny with the jammed shift shaft it looks like the sleeve thingee in the middle with the splines that the axles slide into is gone its not there I hope it didn't shatter into pieces. Ill get an update tomorrow cheers fellas

[wytbishop]

The side gears of the differential tend to fall down when the axles aren't in place and you bang the tranny around. If you handle the tranny sort of carefully the usually stay put but hitting the shift shaft with a hammer would probably knock them loose.