MGW Shifter Install - Excessive Play
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 141
Likes: 7
From: Central MD
MGW Shifter Install - Excessive Play
I installed an MGW shifter with lower box in my C5 Z06 today and there seems to be excessive play between the reused OEM shaft that the shifter ball drops into and the shift linkage going back to the transmission.
When I select a gear I can move the shifter left to right over an inch and I can see the shaft rotating relative to the shift linkage. I believe that the shaft and the shift linkage should be pretty much locked together when the large Torx screw is inserted, but there is definitely more play there than there should be. Maybe it was there with the OEM setup and I never noticed, but this just doesn't seem right.
I inspected the OEM shaft (with the semicircle machined out on the driver's side, rear) and there does not appear to be any usual wear. I also inspected the Torx screw and it looks fine as well, so I’m wondering what could have gone wrong here. Is there some kind of insert that needs to be dropped into the hole before the Torx screw to ensure direct contact there? Is there some OEM piece that may have popped off during the disassembly process and is unaccounted for?
When I select a gear I can move the shifter left to right over an inch and I can see the shaft rotating relative to the shift linkage. I believe that the shaft and the shift linkage should be pretty much locked together when the large Torx screw is inserted, but there is definitely more play there than there should be. Maybe it was there with the OEM setup and I never noticed, but this just doesn't seem right.
I inspected the OEM shaft (with the semicircle machined out on the driver's side, rear) and there does not appear to be any usual wear. I also inspected the Torx screw and it looks fine as well, so I’m wondering what could have gone wrong here. Is there some kind of insert that needs to be dropped into the hole before the Torx screw to ensure direct contact there? Is there some OEM piece that may have popped off during the disassembly process and is unaccounted for?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 302
From: CSRA, SC
Yep has to be real tight! I also have cleaned both the clamp part and the rod part with a solvent before I put them back together. I've had to take that joint apart several times for different reasons and experienced the same looseness that you found.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
if you have an old header bolt use that to replace the torx bolt... mine kept coming loose and making shifting really sloppy due to the shift rod digging into the threads and essentially stripping the bolt near the middle where it passes through the side of the rod, the header bolt is higher grade and mine has been fine since
