Shift Cable Gear Linkage

[flynavyj]

Hey all,

I was driving the other day and downshifted rolling towards a stop. When I went to put the car in gear, i felt that the shifter was completely limp side to side. It was able to engage 3rd and 4th, and after limping it home, I researched and saw that my problem was likely a gear linkage at the transmission.

Jacked the car up, and found the linkage had popped off the ball, and would pop on/off with relative ease. To get the car moving I zip tied the units together, but obviously know that's a temporary patch. Wondering what's the best solution for fixing this permanently.

The one that popped off was one of the cables from the shifter in the cabin. In the attached picture, it's the bottom orangish/brown arrow, and is also shown off the ball. The base does have a hex design, so I'd suspect it can be removed...but haven't put a wrench on it yet to test it, as I don't want to snap it off and break more than is currently worn.

I appreciate the help!

[maytag]

Welcome to the Porsche experience! :-)

This is a very common problem with these cars. The cable end wears, and Pops off. Frequently, when you look inside it, you'll see that the nylon insert is cracked.

The fix is to replace the cable ends, but it is my understanding that they are not available other than buying the entire cable assembly.
The good news? They're not terribly expensive.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[flynavyj]

exactly what I was wondering! Thanks!

[paulofto]

I had the same issue 2 years ago. I replaced the rather week stock clips that hold the cables on with these

https://tunersmall.com/product/trs-shift-cable-security-clips-986-boxster/

Work like a charm.

[flynavyj]

Paul,

I ended up buying the clips as my fix as well. It was easy to retrofit the clip on the linkage that popped off, however popping the other ends off proved difficult. Any suggestions on removing the other cable end links from the transmission?

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by paulofto

I had the same issue 2 years ago. I replaced the rather week stock clips that hold the cables on with these

https://tunersmall.com/product/trs-shift-cable-security-clips-986-boxster/

Work like a charm.

So they're selling slotted u-clips. The slotted side slides behind the ball, and the main body wraps around the cable end to keep it in place. Cotter pins keep the clip from slipping off.

And they want $105 for 3 of these? Are you f'in kidding me?

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by flynavyj

Paul,

I ended up buying the clips as my fix as well. It was easy to retrofit the clip on the linkage that popped off, however popping the other ends off proved difficult. Any suggestions on removing the other cable end links from the transmission?

Basically you just bend back the tabs holding the clips on and pry them off.

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by piper6909

So they're selling slotted u-clips. The slotted side slides behind the ball, and the main body wraps around the cable end to keep it in place. Cotter pins keep the clip from slipping off.

And they want $105 for 3 of these? Are you f'in kidding me?

If you can find a cheaper solution, do it. In my estimation it is the best $105 bucks (135 CDN) I've spent on the car. Not being stranded in teh middle of nowhere is good piece of mind.

PS.... the package has 4 IIRC.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by paulofto

If you can find a cheaper solution, do it. In my estimation it is the best $105 bucks (135 CDN) I've spent on the car. Not being stranded in teh middle of nowhere is good piece of mind.

PS.... the package has 4 IIRC.

I don't doubt they work. The site shows 3 clips, but even if it's 4, that's over $26 apiece for some bent steel that someone could probably replicate with some simple hand tools.

[piper6909]

Or see if one of these bushing assortments fit. For less than $6

https://www.ebay.com/p/Manual-Trans-Shift-Bushing-Kit-Shifter-Bushing-Kit-URO-Parts-171-798-211/191563357?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5t7Qjs6H5AIVkluGCh35Mg YnEAkYCiABEgKhpfD_BwE&thm=1000&rlsatarget=pla-740524795146&abcId=1140976&mkgroupid=77338445224&itemid=191563357_1000&norover=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&targetid=740524795146&merchantid=6296724&poi=&mkevt=1&mktype=pla&googleloc=9005917&device=c&mkcid=2&chn=ps&campaignid=1907933686

[san rensho]

And I beleive zip ties also work to hold the ball and socket together.

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Or see if one of these bushing assortments fit. For less than $6

https://www.ebay.com/p/Manual-Trans-Shift-Bushing-Kit-Shifter-Bushing-Kit-URO-Parts-171-798-211/191563357?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5t7Qjs6H5AIVkluGCh35Mg YnEAkYCiABEgKhpfD_BwE&thm=1000&rlsatarget=pla-740524795146&abcId=1140976&mkgroupid=77338445224&itemid=191563357_1000&norover=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&targetid=740524795146&merchantid=6296724&poi=&mkevt=1&mktype=pla&googleloc=9005917&device=c&mkcid=2&chn=ps&campaignid=1907933686

Then that would be cheaper. Go at it.

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by san rensho

And I beleive zip ties also work to hold the ball and socket together.

There is a lot of heat back there with the exhaust so close so I'm wondering if plastic zip ties may just soften and come off. Anyway, despite the expense so long ago it really doesn't matter.

[flynavyj]

Originally Posted by paulofto

Basically you just bend back the tabs holding the clips on and pry them off.

Thanks. I had bent the 3 tabs back on one of the units, but the dang thing didn't pop off. Will try it again soon, apparently i just need to pry harder.

[flynavyj]

Originally Posted by paulofto

There is a lot of heat back there with the exhaust so close so I'm wondering if plastic zip ties may just soften and come off. Anyway, despite the expense so long ago it really doesn't matter.

Zip Ties will work to get you out of being stranded. I had put two on there as a temp band-aid and they held ok for quite a while...when the cable finally let go again, I went down and looked and the zipties were no where to be found...so, at some point, they definitely worked their way off, or snapped.

[flynavyj]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Or see if one of these bushing assortments fit. For less than $6

https://www.ebay.com/p/Manual-Trans-Shift-Bushing-Kit-Shifter-Bushing-Kit-URO-Parts-171-798-211/191563357?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5t7Qjs6H5AIVkluGCh35Mg YnEAkYCiABEgKhpfD_BwE&thm=1000&rlsatarget=pla-740524795146&abcId=1140976&mkgroupid=77338445224&itemid=191563357_1000&norover=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&targetid=740524795146&merchantid=6296724&poi=&mkevt=1&mktype=pla&googleloc=9005917&device=c&mkcid=2&chn=ps&campaignid=1907933686

I agree that the clips are NOT cheap. But $100 wasn't too bad, considering the price of replacement cables. Sadly the cable ends aren't servicable or repairable, so the only fix appeared to be complete replacement of the cables. Considering the car had 55,000 miles on it, I imagine the wear is more due to age than typical wear and tear. Still, I wouldn't want to be driving around w/ new shift cables and find myself stranded if one popped off the ball of the transmission.

New linkages for the transmission were very expensive (in the $500 range) and new cables were several hundred plus a fair amount of work on the installation. But yes, you're talking a piece of stainless and cotter pins.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by flynavyj

I agree that the clips are NOT cheap. But $100 wasn't too bad, considering the price of replacement cables. Sadly the cable ends aren't servicable or repairable, so the only fix appeared to be complete replacement of the cables. Considering the car had 55,000 miles on it, I imagine the wear is more due to age than typical wear and tear. Still, I wouldn't want to be driving around w/ new shift cables and find myself stranded if one popped off the ball of the transmission.

New linkages for the transmission were very expensive (in the $500 range) and new cables were several hundred plus a fair amount of work on the installation. But yes, you're talking a piece of stainless and cotter pins.

I don't have a manual transmission, but from the pics it seems to me like the ends are serviceable, if you can find a matching nylon bushing.

I'd try prying apart the the three tabs that hold the piece that keeps the nylon bushing in place. Take out the worn bushing and go to the parts store, or gamble 6 bucks on the ebay link I posted earlier and see if any of those bushings would fit. Once you find one that fits, push it in, place the clip over it and bend the tabs in again to lock it.

Failing that, I'd make my own clips similar to those they're selling for $105.

And if that fails, as a last resort, I'd begrudgingly get the ones for $105.

[patssle]

Originally Posted by paulofto

There is a lot of heat back there with the exhaust so close so I'm wondering if plastic zip ties may just soften and come off. Anyway, despite the expense so long ago it really doesn't matter.

I have some regular cheap plastic zip ties on my 914 e-brake cables and they are inches away from the exhaust. They have held up great after several years. Very surprising!

[piper6909]

I find it hard to believe that those nylon bushings can't be replaced.

If someone on here who sells used parts is willing to send me a couple ends and maybe a ball link I'm willing to hunt down some nylon bushings to see if I can come up with a solution. I'd post the solution on here so everyone can benefit.

PM me if you have some bad ends you'd like to ship.