Column shifter becoming sloppy

2000 Tundra 4.7 V8 auto 4wd. As the years have passed the column shift handle has developed more slop somewhere in the linkage. I've heard that a common part eventually fails. If so, what part is it? Is there an aftermarket replacement? If possible i'd like to replace before failure. Thanks.

 

This thread is for you: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

You should read the whole f'n thing to understand your 1st Gen Tundra, but in the 2nd reply you'll find a bunch of common problems/issues/TSBs, including:

• Sloppy shift lever OR truck doesn't shift into gear but the lever moves: Here's your thread.
• Broken shift lever: This was stupidly common in the earlier trucks, to the point there surely must be a TSB on it. If your shift lever is super sloppy but it's not the problem above, your shift lever base plate may've snapped off. Info on this problem and part numbers to fix info are linked here. Some 2000-2001 owners here are on their 2nd repair at this point... seems like a design flaw!

 

I think you need this...stops the slop!

$11 Dorman 14797 Shifter Cable Bushing Compatible with Select Models

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-14797-Transfer-Shifter-Bushing/dp/B082P6Q6MP?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

This was why my shifter was loose when not in park... Could have made for a bad day if the cable slipped off while my wife was driving it. https://youtu.be/xYMlylzhuqA?si=V4yY5CWyCxnzFL8_

Pretty easy fix though.

 

Welcome to the forum, don't leave us in suspense: What was the fix?

Looks like you could slap an e-clip on the detent and call it a day.

 

I think the fix is to install the bushing linked by @w666 - pretty sure I had the same and did the same, but I slept (and drank) since then.

 

Ahh, my bad Shifty, this group seems pretty handy so I didn't want to stifle anyone's creativity

I definitely would have preferred an E- clip, but didn't have any laying around that were the right size. The bushing W666 linked might be a cleaner fix.

Since my main concern was to make sure the cable didn't slip off the shifter, I ended up just trimming and using a plastic sheet rock anchor (probably from a hanging TV bracket kit) a washer, and a cotter pin. Couple pics:

 

Dude, that's a genius fix all the same. I've got a box of random clips and would've probably e-clipped w/washer to avoid having something to catch, but if all I had was a clevis retainer like that (I forget wtf you call those, but always see then on clevis pins), I'd damn sure use it. Good job!

 

R -clips

 

Nice way to MacGyver that fix!

 

If you love old trucks...this is the way...

 

Welp. I bought the Dorman column shifter bushing to make this repair because my shift lever had become sloppy, thanks @w666. I wasn't sure if that was the actual cause of my sloppy lever but it was only $9, so ... worst case I have it for later.

Needless to say, I definitely had the problem too. In fact, I would be shocked if there was a 1st gen that didn't have this problem based on what I found. Here's what I found when I took out the 3 screws holding the lower cover on, then popped the lower cover off.

There's a pro-tip below that'll help you with fixing yours, save you a little bit of fight, because yours is probably as FUBAR as mine was...

You see that brownish-orange plastic ring, and the shit down in the lower dash cover? That's my old bushing, rotted to hell. If you look at videos online, you'll see similar in the lower section of the dash from where the factory OEM bushing crumbled to bits.

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Well, the shift cable slid right off... and all that's left of it was this ring, the base of the bushing, which crumbled to pieces when I touched it.

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At least it was clean and ready for install... and here's your pro-tip, two actually:

1. Before you start, tilt the column all the way up so you have extra space on the lower side.
2. INSTALL THE BUSHING TO THE SHIFT CABLE hoop FIRST, then snap it on the post. I made the mistake of putting the bushing on the post first. I have man-size hands, but not hamfists or anything, but the limited space made it extremely difficult for my partially-arthritic hands to shove the cable hoop onto the bushing while it was installed on the post.

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Once you get to that point ^^ you can slap the bastard onto the post, and you're done.

I will say: There is still a bit of play with the metal plate that post sits on. But my lever went from having about 1-2" of slop in it while in Neutral to having less than ¼" of play in the same.

This video helped realize it'd only take a couple minutes and I could easily do it in the driveway. Hardest part is starting the truck to turn the wheel enough to reach the two screws hiding behind either side of the steering wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FOTQkvzLiU


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Nice explanation, purchased.

 

This motivated me to pull my bottom cover because I know I had this problem and did *something* but just wasn’t sure what, because it still seems sloppy. Looks like my prior fix was a makeshift bushing and a zip tie as a retainer clip.

Ordering the Dorman bit as well.

 

Also helps to turn your key to acc mode so you can move your shift selector to drive or neutral (might be a good idea to block your tires and engage the e-brake first...) for extra easy access. This also gets the pin and cable loop out in the open so if you drop anything it falls on the floor mat instead of getting stuck under the steering column trim.

 

Just ordered this part. Mine has just under 2 inches of movement. I went over a speed bump the other day and the shift moved, it didn't change gears but I head it move ( has happened twice in a week). Hopefully this fixes this

Update got mine fixed. I did take off the bottom panel and added some grease to help is slip on.

 

Does the actual metal arm also have some play on it on y’all’s trucks? Driving around with the cover off until the bushing arrives, I notice I have play not just in the bushing itself but the whole metal arm the linkage attaches too has some free back and forth movement as well.

 

Yep, definitely more lateral movement than in line with the cable though.

 

Yup I mentioned that with mine above but probably worded it poorly. I’m curious if that can be tightened up too. It felt to me like there was a pivot point higher upon that plate, but it was under the top half of the column cover and I wasn’t willing to dig deeper. I was curious if it was just a loose bolt or what. I thought I saw someone on here mentioned a loose bolt in their column but I can’t come up with the right words to find the reply I have pictured in my brain.

Nice! Big improvement, eh? Lever is so much firmer now for me.

Crazy that factory bushing rotted out so hard! Yours looks like mine, like the nicotine/tar stain inside a cigarette butt. It’s almost like the plastic they used wasn’t compatible with the grease they chose or something. Wild. Such an easy, quick fix too. Wish I’d have done it sooner.

 

Mine is waiting at home. My Hella horns on the other hand are on some perpetual back order. Had to pivot.

 

My Jeep transfer case bushing arrived…

 

Seriously?? A jeep part is the fix for a Toyota issue??

 

Apparently I have other issues

https://youtube.com/shorts/6mj_SKR6QjU?si=XD3S8nt-BZcTyB_e

 

Mine does that too. Not as bad though; maybe 1/4” in each direction.

 

Original bushing completely intact

 

Put it back together with the OE bushing. Mod/repair aborted. Bummer. I like these little mods that bring back the new feel.

 

Ditto, mine still has some play, and about 1/8" total, but feels normal compared to past trucks.

In my case, the plate I see moving up/down in @KNABORES' video, mine has play because it moves in/out (towards/away from the column). It felt like there's something holding it up higher on that plate which needed to be tichtened.

And I said it before, but I distinctly remember someone on here who found another thing that needed tightening on the column, a bolt that backed out, something... I'm going to look for the post this AM. There may be a 1-2 punch here to re-firm up stuff.

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Mine seemed like mostly back and forth cable play. Brackets seemed relatively snug, some play in them, probably like an AK for reliability in low to no maintenance scenarios.

 

I have this part to do today. Did you guys use any kind of grease on it? I have Syl glide

 

Mine already had a fair amount of lube left on the post, so I didn't add more. But if i did, I'd probably use my handy dandy squeeze bottle of SuperLube.