'91 Shift Linkage (again)...

[dgs©]

Hi, first post here.
I am the original owner of a '91 Mocha Frost SHO (150k on the clock) with a shifter linkage breakdown (2nd time). Both times it's been the cable on the passenger side... the rubber bushing split, and you know the song, can't buy the 79 cent rubber part. Would you believe the dealer can get the cable easily enough... for well over $200! :
Last time, 5 or 6 years ago, it was near $100. I still have the new cable, I just took the rubber bushing out and used it in the original cable.

I don't suppose anyone knows how to get just the rubber bushing?

I've seen the bit about the Mopar clips, but that looks to be a fix for the cable on the driver side. I can't see that working on the passenger side.

Right now I have a rubber band between the 2 cables for tension to keep the cable on the broken bushing.

If no one knows of a relatively easy (and inexpensive) fix, I may try drilling and tapping the pin and bolting it on with a big flat washer and some sort of spacer to allow a little play. Hopefully I can find a bit of rubber hose the right ID/OD to substitute for the actual bushing.

 

[greg geraci]

Had the same problem. heres what I did.
I broke the plastic bushing on the cable which only left me a cable end with a plastic round end. The part that came off of the cable that pushed on the ball of the shifter was broke off. I found a pvc ****** 1/2" by 4" long with threads on both ends. It just so happens that the inside diameter of the pvc ****** was perfect to slip over the ball with a precise fit Just like the original bushing or sleeve. I then ground off the threads on the surface area of the pvc ****** on a bench grinder all the way around making it a smaller diameter so it would fit inside the cable circle making it my new sleeve. I then cut it to length (about 1/2'' long) .Using a center punch, I drilled and tapped the ball on the shifter at the end (or I should say the side)with 8/32 threads. That will hold the whole asseybly on.
So you slip over the ball first a 3/8/ flat washer for backing. 2. Push the make shift sleeve out of pvc over the ball.
3. Push the cable end over the sleeve that is on the ball. Put a fender washer over the cable end and tighten it down with the 8/32 fine thread screw. I put a small dab of lok tight on the screw.
It is better and more durable than ever before. I did take some pics but I don't know how to up load them. But I wasn't going to spend 200.00 from ford for a shift cable and I didn't have means to a rod shifter. This is an absolute ridgid fix for aggressive shifting.I am so pleased with it and it will never break.It took me about 20 miutes. Make sure you have the right drill bit for the tap. If you give me your email address I'll send them to you so you can see until I figure out how to up load these to the forum

 

[dgs©]

That sounds like what I was dreaming up only I was thinking of some scrap of rubber hose instead of pvc. Whatever I can find around the shop will do if it is close enough to the right ID. I hadn't thought of putting the big washer on the shifter side to hold the bushing in (that was worrying me a bit though), so thanks for that idea.
I'm betting this is what I'll end up doing.
Did you have a hard time drilling the end of the 'ball'? I'm thinking it looks like a hardened chrome steel that my be hard to drill. I do have a drill press to use.

 

[mrecoolgar]

Email the pics to '[email protected]' and I'll put them here for all to see. I'd like to see them also.

Had the same problem. heres what I did.
I broke the plastic bushing on the cable which only left me a cable end with a plastic round end. The part that came off of the cable that pushed on the ball of the shifter was broke off. It just so happens i found a pvc ****** 1/2" by 4" long with threads on both ends. It just so happens that the inside diameter of the pvc ****** was perfect to slip over the ball with a precise fit. I then ground off the threads on the pvc ****** on a bench grinder all the way around making it a smaller diameter so it would fit inside the cable circle making it my new sleeve. I then cut it to length (about 1/2'' long) . Now I drilled and tapped the ball on the shifter at the end (or I should say the side)
with 8/32 threads.
That will hold the whole asseybly on. So you slip over the ball first a 3/8/ flat washer for backing. 2. push the make shift sleeve out of pvc over the ball.
3. push the cable end over the sleeve that is on the ball. put a fender washer over the cable end and tighten it down with the 8/32 fine thread screw. It is better and more durable than ever before. I did take some pics but I don't know how to up load them. But I wasn't going to spend 200.00 from ford for a shift cable and I didn't have means to a rod shifter. This is an absolute ridgid fix for aggressive shifting.I am so pleased with it and it will never break.It took me about 20 miutes. Make sure you have the right drill bit for the tap. If you give me your email address I'll send them to you so you can see until I figure out how to up load these to the forum

 

[mrecoolgar]

Here they are guys, enjoy. Thanks Greg.