Check your shift cables! (Page 1/1)
cvxjet APR 26, 12:03 AM
I was getting on a freeway heading to a cloverleaf transfer ramp (testing some suspension changes) and tried to shift from 3rd to 4th and the shift cable broke. I bought a new one from RD and then installed it....but while doing that I disconnected the ends of the select cable and compared it to the new cable ; The new cable was completely free-moving while the old cable was very stiff.

My Getrag trans is old and definitely shifting stiffly- Sometimes have to try 2-3 times to get it in 1st at a light! So I thought all of the problem was in the trany- Not so. By the way, these are both cables I bought (New) and installed during my 4 spd >> 5 spd swap in 1999....Approx' 50,000 miles.on the cables....Most of those miles on the freeway on camping trips and commuting to work- not a lot of shifting.

Check your cables if you are having difficulty shifting; Disconnect at both ends- they should have almost no drag at all.

I believe that what really does in these cables is all of the heat they are exposed to from the exhaust- make sure that the heat shields and heat wrap are properly positioned and the cables do not in any way come in contact with the exhaust.
Patrick APR 26, 12:56 AM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

Check your cables if you are having difficulty shifting...



The Getrag 5-spd has a known issue with the select (side io side) cable. The end of this cable in the engine bay points straight up towards the underside of the driver's side decklid grate. This exposes the end to (relatively) easy water penetration. The water seeps down inside the cable and settles in the lowermost loop. Not only does this accelerate wear and corrosion within the cable, but in subfreezing weather, the cable can literally be frozen in place. Quite a nuisance!
jim94 APR 26, 01:29 AM
in 87 my new gt snaped a cable and it was only 3 months old. the 87 i own now has RD cables and it workes great. it took pontiac 2 months to give me my car back, shifter cables where on back order then.
cvxjet APR 27, 12:16 PM
Don't have much trouble with ice in the Bay Area.......But I really don't like the way these cables are routed.....Too close to the exhaust and yes- the select cable pointed UP at the end.....The "Shift" cable actually broke in the center console area- within 8 inches of the lever connector.....But when I tried to pull the rest of the cable out on the engine compartment, I had to grip it with vise grips and really yank!

Now I can move the shifter in any direction with one finger (Barring synchro malfunction).....my spare trans needs a rebuild and then swap in! I will then be down to only one problem....

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 04-27-2020).]