I've had the transmission in my truck in & out a few times over the last couple years. This last time, about a year ago, everything went as smoothly as it usually does. But the fist real trip I took it on with some rough dirt roads, I was going fast at some points, and suddenly there was a lot of vibration in the driveline. Just pushing on the gas didn't feel right...then I noticed that my stick shift was a lot farther over towards the passenger side than it should be.

Of course I should have stopped right there and checked it out, but I was on a hill and like most Toyotas with the hand-pull e-brake, mine doesn't work so well, so I kept driving a little further. I hit another good bump, and the gear shift came back to where it should be, and the vibration went away.

This has happened once or twice since then. My engine mounts look fine, tranny mounts look fine, and I've tried getting under there and pushing on the transmission to see if I could make it move over, but so far nothing. I can't see this being something which is going on inside the transmission...I don't see how that could move the gear shifter over.

Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I tried, just today, getting under there with a pry bar to see if I could get it to kind of "roll" to the passenger side, but no luck. It's kind of hard to find something good to pry against, though...

 

With all the mounts still bolted up, I'd try jacking up the tranny with a floor jack. I really doubt it could be the engine mounts, but I s'pose it's possible to be the driver's side mount has torn through the rubber. Mine were when I got my pickup, but I never saw the engine actually lift up and move over.

 

Good idea Jonny, thanks.