M5OD Loose Shifter Wasn't Bushings!

[spydergun45]

Vehicle: 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5L

I purchased the $26.00 bushing repair kit from AllStateGear. The shifter had so much slop that it was difficult to find the gears. It turned out not to be worn bushings but the flat portion of threaded connecting bolt was worn and rounded off. It wasn't making a good tight interconnect with the groove of the shifting stub.

This connecting bolt is threaded on two sides of the half round center. Inside the shifter arm there's an opening which exposes the groove of the shifting stub. The half round of the connecting bolt interlocks with the groove on the stub. Tightening the nut on short side pulls the bolt through the shifter arm fully and prevents it from backing out and makes a good tight lock with shifting stub. Removing requires tightening nut on opposite side which pulls the flat portion past the groove of the shifting stub so it can be pulled out.

I was unable to find a local auto parts store that sold the connecting bolt. I had to take welder and add some tack weld to the rounded off part of the flat, then took an angle grinder and grinded it off flat.

I determined that prior to adding the tack of weld and bringing the connecting bolt back to spec, full insertion of the connecting bolt would reach the point of the worn rounded section which was not making a good interlock with the shifting stub. This was magnified by the length of the shifter. The excessive side to side play of the shifting arm made it extremely difficult finding the gears.

In addition I was unable to remove one of the Torxs holding the M50D Boot. The head stripped out due to there being way to much torque on it. I attempted several methods of extraction but eventually determined grinding the head off was my last option. The tension was released once the head was removed and I was able to unscrew the threads with my fingers.

The boot attached to the cover plate was torn and in poor condition. The auto parts store did not sell the cover plate. I cut a old black mouse pad to size and it looked and worked just as good!

My apologies for not having more photos. In the middle of the project it's tough to take the time to take photos. I got the few I have to make sure I remembered how things went back together.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thanks for posting your fix.

Richard

 

[rboyer]

Usually if I see a torx screw on a shifter that looks like it's going to strip I clean it real good and try a torx socket adapter on the end of a battery impact gun so that I get variable speed control when i'm hammering it out. If that don't work I just ground a flat strip in the head and use an impact driver and hammer with a flat head adapter. In the end i've always gotten it. I used to order alot of shifter bushings and inner boots from Allstate Gear. They were by far the best priced. I would order enough to do like 15 to 25 transmissions at a time because i'd save on shipping but my last few attempts at contacting the owner of the company via phone and email to place an order have failed.