Broken shift linkage
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Moving this over to C5 Tech.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
This is one of our “old” car concerns right now…🫤. To be stuck somewhere in a bad spot.
From looking at older posts it appears in general, and I do mean in general….C5’s in hotter states like FL and TX appear to be more prone to this usually near the 100k or over mark. Of course can happen at any mileage as OP.
Would like to know more on these failures such as are these C5’s usually outside? Is it manually shifted often? Failures appear to be more of complete degradation of the nylon plastic from heat and ozone it appears, occurring over the long age. People say the failed bushings are just crumbled when pulled out. Some see different color bushings grey vs. white, if this makes any difference in life.
I have my notched spare bushing ready for at least the tranny side if it fails.
Anyone planning on preventative maintenance by changing out the entire cable or just roll the dice on the failure odds which seems somewhat low? 🤔
From looking at older posts it appears in general, and I do mean in general….C5’s in hotter states like FL and TX appear to be more prone to this usually near the 100k or over mark. Of course can happen at any mileage as OP.
Would like to know more on these failures such as are these C5’s usually outside? Is it manually shifted often? Failures appear to be more of complete degradation of the nylon plastic from heat and ozone it appears, occurring over the long age. People say the failed bushings are just crumbled when pulled out. Some see different color bushings grey vs. white, if this makes any difference in life.
I have my notched spare bushing ready for at least the tranny side if it fails.
Anyone planning on preventative maintenance by changing out the entire cable or just roll the dice on the failure odds which seems somewhat low? 🤔
Last edited by RedC5; Aug 2, 2023 at 08:15 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 232
Likes: 52
From: Miami FL
officehound, this happened to me twice. The first time was at home when I shifted from drive to park. Suddenly the automatic transmission selector became loose with the car stuck in park, immobilizing it in my somewhat deep carport. I called a tow truck, he lifted up the back, slid a dolly underneath the rear wheels, then towed it to my mechanic with the car rolling on its front tires. (no flatbed trucks available that afternoon) I was not thrilled but had no choice. My mechanic replaced the shift linkage bushing.
A few months later the identical event happened as I was pulling into a CVS parking lot. I called my mechanic. He sent two guys out. They jacked up the car, got underneath, and did some sort of field repair, drove it back to the shop, and replaced the other shift linkage bushing. I learned that there are two, it would seem, one on each end, or something like that.
Profit from my lesson: If one of your bushings gets trashed, replace both at the same time. Don't know why my mechanic didn't do that the first time, but he gave me a price break on the second repair.
Ever since then, whenever I make any shift from or to: park, drive, or reverse, I always do so with two hands, gently and gingerly, never harshly or suddenly. Having an immobilized car, away from home, is an unwelcomed experience that is never forgotten.
A few months later the identical event happened as I was pulling into a CVS parking lot. I called my mechanic. He sent two guys out. They jacked up the car, got underneath, and did some sort of field repair, drove it back to the shop, and replaced the other shift linkage bushing. I learned that there are two, it would seem, one on each end, or something like that.
Profit from my lesson: If one of your bushings gets trashed, replace both at the same time. Don't know why my mechanic didn't do that the first time, but he gave me a price break on the second repair.
Ever since then, whenever I make any shift from or to: park, drive, or reverse, I always do so with two hands, gently and gingerly, never harshly or suddenly. Having an immobilized car, away from home, is an unwelcomed experience that is never forgotten.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
Thanks for the info. My car will be picked up tomorrow for service. Most replies on this forum indicate it's a bushing failure. I did buy a new linkage on Amazon for $29 as some have replied that the link frayed and broke, so I decided to replace the entire linkage. I was fortunate it failed when I was in drive, and in hindsight I should have driven it to the dealership instead of my home in the garage. I intend to have it flatbeded to the dealership tomorrow. I'll let you know how that adventure works out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,568
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From: Conyers Georgia
Oh yes but not as bad as you would think. The flatbed driver would raise the bed inch by inch as the tow driver pushed it on. Getting the vette off was much trickier and involved bricks and lots of lumber. I kept my eyes closed.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Miami FL
I save all my Corvette service receipts. In April 2022, replacing the bushing cost me 1.5 hours of labor plus the bushing for which I was charged $40. The hourly labor rate differs from shop to shop so just plug in yours. The other bushing was replaced in August, 2022, same number of hours and same charge for the bushing.
I must recommend that all C5 owners should seriously consider having both of these bushing changed preventatively, the next time your car is in for service. You will save tremendous aggravation, and a costly towing charge. Trust me because I've experienced this twice in 2022: they fail without warning. No tell-tale noise or performance change. You don't know this part failure happened until you attempt to shift from drive to reverse or park. Simply put, suddenly your automatic transmission shifter is like a piece of wet spaghetti, and you're immobilized wherever this occurs. If you drive into a parking lot with a ruined bushing that you have no way of knowing about beforehand, you're suddenly in a world of hurt.
I must recommend that all C5 owners should seriously consider having both of these bushing changed preventatively, the next time your car is in for service. You will save tremendous aggravation, and a costly towing charge. Trust me because I've experienced this twice in 2022: they fail without warning. No tell-tale noise or performance change. You don't know this part failure happened until you attempt to shift from drive to reverse or park. Simply put, suddenly your automatic transmission shifter is like a piece of wet spaghetti, and you're immobilized wherever this occurs. If you drive into a parking lot with a ruined bushing that you have no way of knowing about beforehand, you're suddenly in a world of hurt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Must be nice to have a reasonable mechanic you know. If you take your C5 to a Chevy dealership they will want to replace the entire shift cable which is probably $600 these days. 🤷🏻♂️
Thats why I’m “semi prepared” to attempt a bushing change tranny side if fails - have the bushing and a low scissors Jack ready in the trunk just in case and this also gives the ability to shift the lever from the tranny by hand so not completely stranded. The only issue is after starting in neutral or park - how to safely shift into drive when you have to get under car to move the lever? Assuming you are alone..
Thats why I’m “semi prepared” to attempt a bushing change tranny side if fails - have the bushing and a low scissors Jack ready in the trunk just in case and this also gives the ability to shift the lever from the tranny by hand so not completely stranded. The only issue is after starting in neutral or park - how to safely shift into drive when you have to get under car to move the lever? Assuming you are alone..
Last edited by RedC5; Aug 7, 2023 at 11:42 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
From reviewing all the threads on failed shifter cable bushings I can summarize, very much in general sense, the following trends/questions:
1. Failures appear to be more in hot states like FL or TX but not always. Some profiles not updated.
2. Unknown how many of these failures are attributed to manual shifting the gears while driving more often, vs none, fatiguing the bushings.
3. Do these C5s see the track or longer rides in hot weather where the bushings tend to heat up more and more prone to degrade?
4. Some people see a difference in colors - grey vs yellow/white if this makes any difference in the suppliers nylon and any issues in C5 years.
5. Mileage of failures trends to be on the higher levels, but not in every case of course.
6. Do these failed C5s tend to also sit outside in these hot environments?
7. Failures don't seem to be super wide spread - maybe about 20-25 reported. Who knows how many not reported or not even on forum.
Is this really a widespread issue to worry about and replace cables as prevention?🤷🏻♂️ At least have a plan to be able to jack the rear and change out the trans bushing and the ability to shift the gears by lever.
1. Failures appear to be more in hot states like FL or TX but not always. Some profiles not updated.
2. Unknown how many of these failures are attributed to manual shifting the gears while driving more often, vs none, fatiguing the bushings.
3. Do these C5s see the track or longer rides in hot weather where the bushings tend to heat up more and more prone to degrade?
4. Some people see a difference in colors - grey vs yellow/white if this makes any difference in the suppliers nylon and any issues in C5 years.
5. Mileage of failures trends to be on the higher levels, but not in every case of course.
6. Do these failed C5s tend to also sit outside in these hot environments?
7. Failures don't seem to be super wide spread - maybe about 20-25 reported. Who knows how many not reported or not even on forum.
Is this really a widespread issue to worry about and replace cables as prevention?🤷🏻♂️ At least have a plan to be able to jack the rear and change out the trans bushing and the ability to shift the gears by lever.
Last edited by RedC5; Aug 8, 2023 at 06:43 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 232
Likes: 52
From: Miami FL
To aid the analysis: I purchased my Corvette 2nd hand in FL in 2015. Never tracked it. Covered parking always (carport at home, parking garage at work) except for local errand trips like Home Depot. I pretty much stay local, rarely more than 30 miles from home. Both bushing failures occurred at around 52k miles, last year. I never manually shift the automatic transmission while driving. Don't know the color of the failed parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
The last factor other than heat (being a Materials Engineer) is that if these bushings are Nylon 6 or 6/6 (doubt they are nylon 6/12) they are highly prone to water absorption, swelling, and eventual fatigue/degradation. Definitely a factor in FL moist environment..,,🤷🏻♂️
https://www.intechpower.com/material-information/effects-of-moisture-absorption
https://www.intechpower.com/material-information/effects-of-moisture-absorption
Last edited by RedC5; Aug 9, 2023 at 09:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Delrin would be much much better choice and of course it’s more expensive. Used in many bushings and pumps etc. Not sure they would have used this in 97 - 2004 for this shifter cable part. I need someone to send the remains of a failed bushing to check in our Chem lab. I’m only guessing it’s nylon 6 or 6/6.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
I've been away from engineering materials for many, many years, mostly working with commodity resins (PE and PP). I don't know what is available today. I am sure it's changed a lot over the past 30 years.