Coming off an off ramp I down shifted into second and the stick felt like it wasn't in gear, but to my surprise it was in second and stuck there. I got it home and knew that it was most likely the shifter bushings so I ordered them and changed them. The old ones were pretty much non existent. The Teflon cup that goes on he shifter ball was cracked and broken in half and the bushing had disenegrated to nothing. After I put it all back together the stick felt great, but STILL wouldn't go into any gear. I tried rocking it and bled the system, checked the pedal free play, and checked the pedal bracket. All of which are fine. I'm at a loss as to what else it could be besides a bent fork, or shift linkage maybe even a synchro. And if it is one of those, is there and easier way to tell besides dropping the gearbox? Help is greatly appreciated.

1994 SR5 4x4 V-6 standard trans
Monty

 

Stupid question but are you sure the transfer case is in gear?

 

Yes it's in gear, and I have an update... I removed the shifter to double check everything. I noticed that the ball doesn't drop into the clevis, it's like the new Teflon cup is too big for it. Has anyone else noticed this? Well I put it all back together and started it up. The clutch definitely works and disengages when the pedal is depressed. But it is still in second, yet the shifter feels like it's in neutral.

 

Pull the whole top off where the shift goes. The bottome of the shifter sits inbetween two shafts with grooves for the bottom of the shifter. If you are not insertiing into the right spot you will not be moving anything. If the shafts are moving your problem is in the trans.