Does anyone have an idea on where to start trying to fix a sloppy shifter? It flops around while in gear and it is very hard to shift at times as well because the gears are hard to find. It doesn't pop out of gear yet but it is very hard to get into reverse. I wanted to check the trans fluid level but the plug on the side of the trans seems to be stuck or 3' breaker bar tight! Will this thing strip or break the aluminum housing.

Any pointers would be great!

 

in the top of the trans there are 4 bolts to remove shifter inside there are 2 plastic bushings one on either side of the support rod. these are probably your issue

 

ha i just had the same problem when changing my fluid in my zf5 2 days ago, i had a breaker bar and a pipe and still wouldnt break lose, i had to accually kick the breaker bar with my foot while laying underneth the truck to brake it loose, i was afraid to use an impact cause of breaking the housing, u can do it its just on there tight, My fluid was prolly never changed since new and the original lock tite was holding it in so tight, The transfer case nuts came off a lot easier though,

 

by the way this can be done with the trans in the truck

 

I will go work on it now! Were the bushings easy to get? Can I make some out of something more durable?

Wheelie31 What fluid did you put back in it? I found all the other plugs were easier to take off to to check levels but the one on the trans is superman tight!

 

the zf5 calls for atf but you can put a 5w30 oil in it. the parts should be easy to find at a local standard trans shop or the dealer

 

The parts are not available here. (small town canada) I ended up making a bushing out of a piece of hard wood and installing it. Seems to work great and it is only temporary. I am going to the states soon and will pick a proper bushing up there. Any atf ok? I am thinking I will just run down and pick up four quarts of mercon.

 

mercon 5 sythenic is what it calls for

 

i used royal purple atf from advance auto, was like 13.00 a quart, took just abt 4 quarts.

 

I used about 3 qts mercon 5 and one royal purple for manuals. I was scared to take the top off the tranny afraid some springs er something would fly across the room. don't mean to hijack but wheelie-hows it work running straight royal purple? I got a bad 1-2 synchro been that way for years. Do you think it would help or should I just plan on rebuilding it later

 

i never heard of mixing the fluids like that, i got the royal purple since thats what others recomended as one of the best to buy other then red line atf, Well my syncros are screwed up in 1st and 2nd and a little in 3rd i havent drove it alot yet to see if it makes a differance but the little i have i didnt notice anything better, i think once the syncros are shot no matter what fluid you use it wont make it better, i plan on driving it to the tranny breaks then ill just put a reman one in or if it happens in the slow season i might try rebuilding it,

 

seems like putting syncros in one of these wouldn't be that bad other than dealing with the heavy transmission. I drove tonight and I wasn't sure I was in gear the shifting is so much tighter. I was able to get into reverse with out grinding! I will change the trans fluid tomorrow. Springs do not flyout when you remove the shifter to put fluid in. Seems like the quick easy way to do the fluid change.

 

Don't forget that if you can't get the fill plug out you can pour your fluids in from the top.
My truck had a pretty rounded off fill plug when I bought it. I rounded it off the rest of the way and still can't get it out. The only thing I don't like is you can't check your level they way you are supposed to. 3.4 quarts is what the manual says. I put a little extra in, say 3.6.

 

im glad you got it goin the tranny is not really that heavy i used just a jack on mine