[jcm3]

My column shifter has a lot of slop. I do plan to remove the wheel at some point so that I can swap out my ignition cylinder (which also has a lot of slop),and maybe it will be obvious once I get it off but maybe not.

The shifter is really sloppy, comes out of park without the key in it and there's a lot of play when it's in gear. For me, not such a big deal because I go by feel (one over for R, three over for D, etc.) but my wife had to drive it the other day and thought it was in reverse but it was in neutral because she was looking at the column. I'd like to tighten things up.

Is there a bushing kit of some kind that will allow me to refresh it and hopefully get it to not come out of park without the key in it? I checked the FSM but couldn't find the right diagrams of the parts that might need to be replaced.

I plan to pull the steering wheel, but need to look at the linkage as well because I haven't done that yet.

I found a few good articles on here that I'm investigating, but the years aren't the same so thanks for any tips or experience!

 

[Canadian country boy]

It sounds like you need a new shifter collar. They break once in awhile. To get at it means using a steering wheel puller and a big Phillips screwdriver and a C clip tool.

 

[Charger chick]

There are nylon bushings in the shift linkage. They might be worn out. Also there is a roll pin that holds the shift lever on. It could be loose. That happened on mine. I put a big cotter pin to try and tighten it up just because I had some, but it didnt help. Probably needs a bigger roll pin. That's something else you could check.

 

[jcm3]

Thanks for both of the tips. I'm gonna pull the wheel to put a new ignition cylinder in (lots of slop in that too, imagine that!) and take a peek while I'm in there.

It sounds like you need a new shifter collar. They break once in awhile. To get at it means using a steering wheel puller and a big Phillips screwdriver and a C clip tool.

Finding those online for lots of years other than mine, you wouldn't happen to have a link I could check out, would you?

I'll keep looking.

 

[Canadian country boy]

Usually when the shifter arm is loose on the column means the collar is worn or broken and usually a bigger pin won't work, and if you can find a bigger pin you would have to make the pin hole bigger in the shifter arm also.

 

[RWG75]

I had one flopping around that was a broken tip on the shift lever and maybe missing the spring too. Your linkage should be cotter pins and washers, no bushings except maybe the z-bar. Mixing and matching bits pre and post 81 will foul up the throw because they tweaked the linkage when changing the column.

 

[t84w150]

My 85 was worn and sloppy. Drilled the hole in the collar bigger. Sleeved the pin with vacuum line. capped with fancy washers and a screw through the middle. nice and tight. best dodge shifter i have ever used.

 

[Charger chick]

Usually when the shifter arm is loose on the column means the collar is worn or broken and usually a bigger pin won't work, and if you can find a bigger pin you would have to make the pin hole bigger in the shifter arm also.

Yes, you would. But it could be done.

 

[Charger chick]

I had one flopping around that was a broken tip on the shift lever and maybe missing the spring too. Your linkage should be cotter pins and washers, no bushings except maybe the z-bar. Mixing and matching bits pre and post 81 will foul up the throw because they tweaked the linkage when changing the column.

Yes, there are bushings on the Z bar. So why would you say there arent any bushings?

 

[Canadian country boy]

Yes, you would. But it could be done.

Anything can be done.

 

[jcm3]

Hi everyone
Greeting forum


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome.

 

[DODGEBOYS]

Welcome.

he was a Spammer/Scammer and l reported him and they slapped his a$$ out of here

 

[jcm3]

he was a Spammer/Scammer and l reported him and they slapped his a$$ out of here

Oh, good. That was an odd way to introduce himself.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

I just tore my column down and found that the top inch of the colum housing snapped off. Welded it back and everything is tight now.

 

[Canadian country boy]

I just tore my column down and found that the top inch of the colum housing snapped off. Welded it back and everything is tight now.

What did you weld it with?

 

[Canadian country boy]

My column shifter has a lot of slop. I do plan to remove the wheel at some point so that I can swap out my ignition cylinder (which also has a lot of slop),and maybe it will be obvious once I get it off but maybe not.

The shifter is really sloppy, comes out of park without the key in it and there's a lot of play when it's in gear. For me, not such a big deal because I go by feel (one over for R, three over for D, etc.) but my wife had to drive it the other day and thought it was in reverse but it was in neutral because she was looking at the column. I'd like to tighten things up.

Is there a bushing kit of some kind that will allow me to refresh it and hopefully get it to not come out of park without the key in it? I checked the FSM but couldn't find the right diagrams of the parts that might need to be replaced.

I plan to pull the steering wheel, but need to look at the linkage as well because I haven't done that yet.

I found a few good articles on here that I'm investigating, but the years aren't the same so thanks for any tips or experience!

This reminds me, any updates? Also if your switch sits loose, it's a good sign that the collar is worn. Any updates would be cool! 👍

 

[RWG75]

Yes, there are bushings on the Z bar. So why would you say there arent any bushings?

Probably because I was high and hadn't been under my truck for a while. Was under the 79 RC replacing the z-bar recently, so:

When I swapped it 3/tree - 727 I grabbed a 79 column but ended up taking the z-bar from something early 80s. Couldn't get it to line up 100% at park and 1. Either, yes. Both, no. Climbed under more trucks, determined the shape of the z-bar changed probably when the column did in 81. Early style both throw rods are flat, later style has an offset bend on the column side that makes it shorter. A bit of bench modification helped, recently swapped in the right one, much better. Don't recall seeing any bushings between trans and column.

Back on the OP for a second: column doesn't have the steering lock plate 78/dn. At least mine doesn't.

 

[Holyglockamoly]

What did you select with?

I don’t understand “what did I select with” I selected with a hammer. (Jk) Definitely didn’t do an amazing job. Got it in though. And everything works more or less how it should.

 

[Canadian country boy]

I don’t understand “what did I select with” I selected with a hammer. (Jk) Definitely didn’t do an amazing job. Got it in though. And everything works more or less how it should.

Weird, I don't know why that's there, lol. Anyways my question was what did you weld it with?

 

[Holyglockamoly]

Weird, I don't know why that's there, lol. Anyways my question was what did you weld it with?

It’s a mild steel sheet metal tube so we rig welded with some mild steel filler