I just finished changing the bushing and seat on my gear shifter. I have had the truck for almost two years and have always noticed that the transmission never did shift that great, especially in second gear during cold weather. It would sometimes grab. I thought it was the transmission itself.

I changed over to Amsoil in hopes it would make shifting easier. It didn't and I think it has got a little worse over time. Well, doing a search HERE I found out that it could be a very simple problem-the bushing and seat for the gear shifter may be worn. I went to the dealership today and bought the parts. It was a little over $15.00. It's probably cost them $.25, but I had to have it. It took me about half an hour to install, and I have never done it beofore. The bushing on the gear shifter can be removed with a pair of vise grips by clamping on the bushing (not too tight though) and twisting down and popping off. The seat was completely destroyed with only a rubber washer left. What I thought was dried grease inside the shifter was the seat in many pieces. If you do this and have a shop vac, it would be good to suck the pieces out so they want fall inside the shifter hole. I got a a little piece or two inside the tranny, but I think it will be OK since the material is very soft.

This article explains it better than me, and I took it from someone's post here. I forgot who posted it, but I would like to say thanks. My friend's 93 Toyota truck had to have the same thing done to it. I just now have realized what he had done. Toyota charged him $200.00 and change. I'm so glad I found Yotatech.

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/shifter/index.html


1997 Tacoma 4X4 Xtra cab 2.7L manual

 

Well you really didn't say,but did it solve all your shifting problems?

 

I'm sorry, I was so excited I didn't say.

But, yes it fixed it perfectly. It shifts like a new vehicle. I can't be happier and this was the quickest repair I have probably ever done. I was amazed that two pieces of plastic could cause such a shifting problem.

If you have a few miles on your truck/runner and shifting is not so good, this may be worth looking in to. It seems second gear is the common indicator-it was for me and my friend anyway.

If you are reluctant to buy the parts before hand, you can check it pretty easily to see if the seat and bushing need replacement. My seat was completely destroyed with only a rubber washer left and the bushing looked good, but close examination revealed it had little grooves in it-unlike the new part.

 

Thanks NIc.

I had read the bushing and seal replacement article too.
Same shifting problems you have. I WILL replace the parts this week.

 

My 92 205,000 KM was popping out of first gear and then 3rd gear. I replaced the Shift Lever Seat, $19 Canadian and the transmission works like new again. I also put in semi synthetic oil. Mine was in a million pieces too. I still can't figure out how that fixed the problem but thanks for the link for the instructions which made it so easy to do.

 

nic, et al:

i had the same problem too but my shift seat bushing was not cracked in pieces like yours. see my write up here: http://www.4runners.org/articles/shift

(my writeup is better )

anyways, another thing i did was to add Redline MT-90. it is FAR SUPERIOR to Amsoil's gear oil. Check out my post here about MT-90 as well as others who used it based on my recommendation:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...ighlight=MT-90

so ditch the amsoil in the manual tranny and try the MT-90.

bob

 

If you unbolt the whole shifter base (4 bolts) and take it to the work bench, you won't have to worry about the pieces falling into the trans. In my case it didn't matter, there were no pieces left! It's a wonder it even shifted at all.

 

Just did this today. The shift seat bushing was somewhat worn and a new one and some lube made for so much better shifting. Great writeup Bob!
I also change the clear pastic piece on the end of the shifter when I had it out.

 

Wow, I didn't relize that was such an easy job! I sold my 89 in part because I thought the trny was shot because it poped out of first a lot. I even got thoes parts but I never installed them because I thought it was going to be really hard.

 

it is pretty easy. I am not mechanically inclined and it was still a quick job