sloppy shifter and rattle

[skippymo]

All,
I have a rattle in my shifter (shift linkage bushings probably shot?) 200,000+ miles, and it's sloppy, not returning from the first gear side (return springs?)
anyhow, this is what I am thinking....what's the best place to buy these? I would like to do it all at the same time.

thanks for the help.

[Garrison]

If you want it fixed, just buy oem through the dealer.

Indeed the return spring is responsible for the not returning from 1st.
If it were up to be though, I'd buy the kartboy kit and knock out all the slop in the entire linkage. I did just that ~35k miles ago and still love my setup.

[skippymo]

thanks for the awesome advise, got any good web pages for the that kartboy?

[Garrison]

A quick search on ebay gave me these two:

REAR: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kartboy-Rear-Sh ... 10&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kartboy-Rear-Shifter-Bushing-for-98-07-Subarus-/161145325072?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2585028610&vxp=mtr)

SIDES: http://www.ebay.com/itm/KARTBOY-5-SPD-M ... fe&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/KARTBOY-5-SPD-MANUAL-SHIFTER-BUSHING-/181099439358?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a2a5e24fe&vxp=mtr)

Or you could get a full kit from another manufacturer like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-1602-Prothan ... 27&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-1602-Prothane-5-Speed-Manual-Transmission-Shifter-Bushing-Kit-Subaru-/181044050983?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AImpreza&hash=item2a2710fc27&vxp=mtr)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shifter-Bushing ... 4a&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shifter-Bushings-5-Speed-WRX-Prothane-161602-161602BL-/360625224778?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AImpreza&hash=item53f6f03c4a&vxp=mtr)



The only difference is going to be the hardness of the polyurethane, and the name-brand associated with it.

Good luck!

[skippymo]

thanks for the great advise

[Wiscon_Mark]

Not to knock Garrison's advice, but those won't fix your problem. If you're experiencing extreme shifter slop, it's the bushings in your shifter linkage:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/11/6OYzwyb-1.jpg

Here's a DIY about fixing them: http://www.ludicrous-speed.com/wiki/ind ... hifter_Fix (http://www.ludicrous-speed.com/wiki/index.php?title=Shanes_Impreza_Wobble_Shifter_Fix)

Or you can buy TiC's update that's supposed to "permanently" fix the issue: http://turninconcepts.com/product_info. ... cts_id=357 (http://turninconcepts.com/product_info.php?products_id=357)

It's also worth noting that you may or may not have the external return spring. Likely if your return spring is shot, you do, but some have it inside the transmission (my '03 Forester has an internal one, and after 247,000 miles it still works very well).

As for the bushings that Garrison posted, these are great to have after you've fixed the joint bushings themselves. They anchor in the arm that holds the ball at the end of the shifter, so if they're stiffer, you get a more positive response from moving the shifter. I have the Cobb ones and they definitely make gear engagement feel more solid. They won't fix the "shifter sloppyness" that happens with the joint wearing out though.

[Garrison]

No worries Mark, you're absolutely correct! Don't know how I forgot about that, when I have already done it to my soob.

It's probably senility kicking in early :P

OP, listen to him - he actually has a clue!

[skippymo]

Thanks guys!