pzookey Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 97 Outback wagon with the 5 speed. Shifter has been loose the whole time I have had it but on the way home form work today I had trouble getting into anything other than third or fourth. Interesting when trying to pull off from a stop light at a Highway entrance ramp. I assume it is just to worn to mess with so here is the question. Does anyone know the part number for the shift linkage and is it still available from Subaru? If not where can one be found? I have a back up vehicle in my old 86 Dodge truck so I am not in a rush but the roo does better in the fuel department so if I can get it and back in by next week it would be great.TIA for any answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 You'll need to replace the joint and bushings at the front end of the shift rod. Replacing the joint is kind of a pain since its held to the transmission selector shaft with a roll-pin that's very tight and usually rusty. Once the roll pin is knocked out with a punch the joint has to be wiggled off the end of the selector shaft, also usually rusty. Soak the whole thing in PB or some other penetrating oil to help loosen it up. http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b12/type_20/manipulation/manual_gear_shift_system/ link for reference. The joint you need is # 6, and should include the two small bushings #5. PN: 35047AC030 You may also need to replace # 17 which is the large round bushing that secures the lower stay rod to the transmission, and # 21 which holds up the back end of the stay rod. Google search for Subaru shifter bushing and you'll find plenty of aftermarket replacements for those. Subaru OE replacements are still available but are not exactly cheap. Pretty sure I paid over $40 for the big round bushing last time I needed one. If the center hold of that big bushing isn't ripped/stretched out, you can remove it and wrap it with a couple layers of gorilla tape to tighten it up some in the stay rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golucky66 Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) http://parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_1997_Legacy25L-MT-4WDOutback-Touring-Wagon/__6027007/MANUAL-GEAR-SHIFT-SYSTEM/B11-350-02.html Link to parts diagram for your car. OEM part numbers below. You'd have to call your local dealer for availability because the online catalog is always wrong. Edit: Darn... Didn't post it fast enough. Lol Edited January 21, 2017 by golucky66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) You'll need to replace the joint and bushings at the front end of the shift rod. Replacing the joint is kind of a pain since its held to the transmission selector shaft with a roll-pin that's very tight and usually rusty. Once the roll pin is knocked out with a punch the joint has to be wiggled off the end of the selector shaft, also usually rusty. Soak the whole thing in PB or some other penetrating oil to help loosen it up. http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/us_b12/type_20/manipulation/manual_gear_shift_system/ link for reference. The joint you need is # 6, and should include the two small bushings #5. PN: 35047AC030 You may also need to replace # 17 which is the large round bushing that secures the lower stay rod to the transmission, and # 21 which holds up the back end of the stay rod. Google search for Subaru shifter bushing and you'll find plenty of aftermarket replacements for those. Subaru OE replacements are still available but are not exactly cheap. Pretty sure I paid over $40 for the big round bushing last time I needed one. If the center hold of that big bushing isn't ripped/stretched out, you can remove it and wrap it with a couple layers of gorilla tape to tighten it up some in the stay rod. Thanks for the big picture. I had found it on the Subaru parts site but the picture was small and hard to read the part numbers. It sounds like you have run into this before.... I have a set of roll pin punches and a gallon of PB so that part is good. Time to get the parts located and ordered, A subaru dealer up north had the $60 joint on sale for 46 bucks. I will be pricing and ordering tomorrow. Thanks again. Edited January 23, 2017 by pzookey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 http://parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_1997_Legacy25L-MT-4WDOutback-Touring-Wagon/__6027007/MANUAL-GEAR-SHIFT-SYSTEM/B11-350-02.html Link to parts diagram for your car. OEM part numbers below. You'd have to call your local dealer for availability because the online catalog is always wrong. Edit: Darn... Didn't post it fast enough. Lol http://parts.subaru.com/a/Subaru_1997_Legacy25L-MT-4WDOutback-Touring-Wagon/__6027007/MANUAL-GEAR-SHIFT-SYSTEM/B11-350-02.html Link to parts diagram for your car. OEM part numbers below. You'd have to call your local dealer for availability because the online catalog is always wrong. Edit: Darn... Didn't post it fast enough. Lol I have a brand new local dealer.. I usually order from one closer to Atlanta but I was a little annoyed when they charged me for shipping twice but everything was shipped in one USPS flat Rate box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I like ordering through SPFY if I can't get a decent price through my local dealer. Last thing I got was a driveshaft that the local dealer quoted me over $700. Same thing from SPFY was $475 and they shipped it free. They usually have some kind of free shipping deal if you spend X amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 Just ordered the parts from a Subaru dealer in CT as they were a lot cheaper than the locals. Next weekend should be a good time to work on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 And yes fairtax I did order the #21 bushing. There was no part number listed for 17 but I may have found a urathane replacement. Just have to confirm it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Yeah I know the #17 is still available, but it seems they've superseded the part number and Opposedforces doesn't list it, at least not for that year vehicle. I'm not sure of the last time they actually updated that site. Seems like it may be going down the Internet tube... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 I found the #17 on a Subaru parts page but at 46 buck for one bushing I think I am going with an aftermarket urathane one provided I can find the right one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 Ok, just got in the house from an oil change and new pressure sender on my Dodge and checking out the shifter on the Outback. I found just about every bushing is worn out. I am glad I ordered just about every bushing. I may have to get a spring and I am trying to locate the right big bushing aftermarket as Subaru want $46 just for it. I may drop the cross member to make it easier to get to everything. Fairtax4me, thanks for mentioning the #21 bushing. It has quite a bit of vertical slop in it. Good thing is that it does not look very rusty anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Yeah that big round bushing if it's just kinda loose but isn't ripped or torn you can wrap it with gorilla tape a couple times and stuff it back in there. You'd be surprised how well gorilla tape holds up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 Yeah that big round bushing if it's just kinda loose but isn't ripped or torn you can wrap it with gorilla tape a couple times and stuff it back in there. You'd be surprised how well gorilla tape holds up. Lucked out with info from the outback forum. I have ordered a urethane bushing from Amazon that someone else used in a 97 outback. At $23 it was half the price of the original. It should get here at the same time as the rest of the parts. I forgot to order the return spring but I am hoping my new local dealer has one in stock or can get it before next weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Kudos to subarupartsandaccessories.com. When I ordered the parts online from the diagram it showed the bushings as separate pieces from the joint. I ordered them that way. Yesterday I received an email informing me that the joint came with the bushings already installed and asking if I wanted to cancel and get a refund for the two bushings that I wouldn't need. Today I got the refund and the tracking number for the rest of the parts. Most places would have not said a word and just shipped what was ordered. I appreciate the time taken and I saved $23 int he process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted January 29, 2017 Author Share Posted January 29, 2017 Well the post office apparently had a delay in their shipping. The parts were supposed to be delivered yesterday but according to the tracking number they are still in Atlanta. That pushes the work back to next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 Rebuilt the shifter linkage today. This is the shortest throw shifter I have ever driven and I had a short throw Hurst shifter in a Beetle I owned many years ago. All the bushings from Subaru were Urethane and fit perfectly. The new large bushing I got from Amazon and was a perfect fit. I did have one issue. I went to test drive and my hand hit the dash going into first. The shifter had spun around when I was underneath and I bolted it back in that way. Pulled the bolt spun the shifter and back to working. The return spring was there and in good shape so it got re-used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted February 5, 2017 Share Posted February 5, 2017 It's amazing how little slop there is in the shifter when all those bushings are new. Give it about a month and they'll wear in a little bit. Glad to hear you got it fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted February 5, 2017 Author Share Posted February 5, 2017 I love the way the shifter stays in place now instead of flopping around....lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted February 6, 2017 Author Share Posted February 6, 2017 Thanks again Fairtax and everyone else. The linkage came out easily. A roll pin punch made quick work of it. I took the extra 10 minutes and pulled the support for the trans mount. Gave me a straight shot to the roll pin. I found going back together to be more off a pain than coming apart. but then My big hands don't like fitting in those small places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzookey Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Its been a couple weeks and the shifter is still nice and tight. Easy to shift and no guess work trying to find the right gear. Shifter stays right where you put it. Easy enough to replace everything. Should have done it a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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