If you have a classic car or truck with both manual and automatic transmissions, knowing how to adjust shift linkage can be a valuable skill. We will look at what goes into the purpose of these shift cables or rods and adjusting shift linkage for smoother shifts on your favorite car.
What Is a Shift Linkage?
A shift linkage, also known as a transmission linkage, is a system of cables or metal rods that connect a vehicle’s gear selector to its transmission. The gear selector, usually referred to as the gear shift, connects to the transmission and rotates so that your car ends up in park, reverse, neutral, or drive when you want it to.
So yes, the shift linkage is important to a working car. The shift linkage will look different in various makes and models of cars, but the basics remain the same. In all cars, there are two shifts: a column shift and a floor shift. Both shifts have attached cables and work like arms or levers/rod to move in different directions. Depending on the car, the placement of the shifts will vary, but these mechanisms are there to make sure your car can shift in connection with your transmission.
How to Adjusting Shift Linkage
If you need to fix the shift linkage in your car and you want to try it out on your own before heading to a mechanic, here is what you need to do:
Research Your Transmission Adjustment Specification and Set Up
You will need a car jack and a second person for this job.
Once your friend is situated behind the wheel, jack the front of the car, and put wheel chocks behind the back tires of the car.
Safety Note: Blocking the wheels while you are jacking a car is a critical safety step. Do not work under a car unless you are sure it will not roll.
Inspect The Shift Linkage
It may seem simple, but sometime the most obvious reason for a problem is the issue. Check the rods, cables, and connections to ensure that all the parts are properly secured, and no parts are damaged. You may find that clips or plastic bushings are damaged or missing and a simple repair is all that is needed.
Tighten the Transmission Bracket
Have your helper the shifter into a neutral position. Once it is in neutral gear you will then go and check the position of your shifting arm on the transmission. Double-check and make sure the stick is in a neutral position so that it is easier to line up the engine side of your cable.
Then locate the transmission bracket and find the two nuts on the bracket. Tighten the nuts. If you do not know what you are looking for, it may be a good idea to google an image of your specific car’s transmission bracket beforehand.
Check the Connection on the Engine
Check the shift cable where it attaches to the transmission shifter arm. Use your wrenches to place tension or remove tension on the cable until it forces the shifter on the engine block into neutral as well. Then tighten the locking screws to keep the cable sleeve from moving in the future.
Check the Progress
Once you have done this, have your friend in the car shift the car through the gears. If the cable is loose or wiggly still, you need to tighten the nuts a little more. Go through the process until you can shift the gears while the cables stay secure and in place.
Make sure to not tighten the nuts too much. If you overtighten, things can bend and break, and then you are looking at a full replacement—not just a minor repair.
If you have gone through all these steps but your shift linkage still seems to be struggling, it may be time to get professional help from a mechanic. Basic repairs should cost you less than a hundred dollars while extensive repairs can cost upwards of two hundred and fifty.
How Do I Know My Shift Linkage Is Bad?
Here are some of the most common signs you need a shift linkage adjustment:
- Thumping or clunking sounds
- Squealing or whirring sounds
- Leaking transmission fluid
- Trouble shifting
What Causes Shift Linkage to Break?
Unbelievably, the most common cause of shift linkage problems comes from stretching in the cables. This is more common in cars with a manual shift because when you forget to shift gears at the right time your cables stretch and your car struggles to get the right gear. Stretching is much more uncommon in cars with automatic transmissions, but it does still happen on a rare occasion.
Over time, even with basic use, cables in the shift linkage can break and bend. Sometimes it just happens. Slamming the gears or poorly navigating manual transmission shifts can accelerate the decline of shift linkage in cars.
Can you Drive on a Damaged Shift Linkage?
The short answer is yes, sometimes you can still drive with a damaged shift linkage. Just because you can though, does not mean that you should. Driving on a damaged shift linkage could lead to larger problems with the shift linkage and transmission and can even lead to larger problems in the car.
If you suspect that something is wrong with your shift linkage, the smart thing to do would be to get it looked at quickly. This will save you lots of time and money in the long run.
Taking Up the Slack
Some manual transmissions with rods have some play at the connection point which is a basic design issue. A simple fix for this is to add a washer between the clip and level to remove any play in the rod connection.
Do Shift Linkage Repair Kits Work?
Because having your shift linkage repaired at a local shop can sometimes cost as low as thirty or forty dollars, these kits are not always worth it. Some of the shift linkage repair kits we have seen online go for double that, so unless you already have the gear you need, we recommend just going to a professional and getting it done right the first time to save time and money.
Finally
The purpose of the exercise above by adjusting shift linkage for the external transmission linkage to help you shifting ability of your car. Many vintage and modern cars do not have external linkage with the shifter mounted directly into the transmission with not way for the DIY mechanic for easily adjusting shift linkage. Before diving into the work on your transmission do some homework on the specific transmission for your car as some models installed different makes of transmission; like GM installed both Muncie and Borg-Warner manual transmissions on their cars.
