VERY stiff gear change.

BackintheFold · 01-09-21, 08:50 PM

Working in an MB Quattro.
Gear lever is very stiff. Doesn’t return to centre if moved left and right in neutral.
Has to be pulled back out of 1/3 and into 2/4 with some effort.

Makes a bit of a squeaking sound.
Could it be a VERY tight rubber cone that the shaft goes through from
Inside passenger cell to the engine bay?

Or might one of the balljoints be too stiff?

Any hints welcomed before I work on it tomorrow!
Thanks

Isimmo · 01-09-21, 09:52 PM

Not really….. but, years ago in really snowy conditions ours jammed up in a similar fashion and it was the accumulation of snow packed up into the transmission tunnel. Clearly snow isn’t your issue but the same components exposed underneath might be.

BackintheFold · 01-09-21, 10:09 PM

Hehe. No. No snow.
Does seem to have new linkages with new rubber ball joints though.
Am wondering if they just need lubricating.

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tractor Dave · 02-09-21, 06:59 AM

It's probably the shift ball dried out. Remove the cover and inspect. Is it full of crud? Clean out and 're lubricate with white grease. I don't think new ball parts are available but I believe you can use golf parts. This is the case with the S2.

larry49 · 02-09-21, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BackintheFold

Does seem to have new linkages with new rubber ball joints though.

There's a clue there....has the linkage and lever been set up correctly after this work ?

BackintheFold · 02-09-21, 07:41 AM

Well, it selects perfectly so I will have to say yes.
The parts marked 27 and 35 are very tight when the gear selector is moved there is a squeak from at least one of them. It is as if the ball is a size 10 and the rubber is for a size 6.
The gearstick will (barely!!) return to centre when moved to neutral.
The nylon ball is free moving. I have disconnected it to check that.

My next step is to remove the arm 35 and see if the stick will centralise properly. Then grease the rubber ball joints.

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BackintheFold · 02-09-21, 11:35 AM

I had a quick prod around just now. It seems to be 27 that is tight-as 35 is not so tight.

Very difficult to get to the part though, so will have to wait a while to resolve.

Isimmo · 02-09-21, 12:48 PM

Try drenching it in -

BackintheFold · 02-09-21, 04:48 PM

Certainly should help!
Anybody know what causes the gearstick to spring back to centre in neutral?
I mean, when you pull the stick back from first, you are pulling it back, but what makes it centralise between 3rd and fourth?
Is it spring loaded inside the gearbox or is there a spring on the outside of the box that puts it back to centre?
I can not see any external spring on 7zap.

EDIT
Had a chance to look at mine briefly.
There is no spring on the gearstick. The centralising action comes from the lever or the box, and I believe it is the box.

So the most likely explanation for the tightness is just that-tightness in the rubber balljoints.
I will get under the car tomorrow with any luck and try to remove and grease up the balljoints. If possible, I would like to remove the gear linkage and make sure the springiness is coming through from the gearbox selector lever and just getting lost due to tight joints first.

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BackintheFold · 04-09-21, 05:06 PM

Access is better from below but not great. (Surprise!)
The tightness comes from the balljoint connected to the gearbox lever. I soaked it in white grease and it made a bit of a difference. Ideally it needs to come off and the joint enlarged internally a fraction. But it centralises ok-enough to change gear smoothly Id say, and will improve with use -although now greased it might be a while.
Anyone got an Audi tool 3084?

That helps with setting the gearstick correctly if I need to work on this again.
EDIT. with one person holding the gearstick centrally, this was simple enough to get the position right and tighten up the pinch bolts underneath. The tool would be useful if doing this solo.

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01-09-21, 09:52 PM	#2
Isimmo Super Moderator Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sissix-by-the-sea Posts: 15,218	Not really….. but, years ago in really snowy conditions ours jammed up in a similar fashion and it was the accumulation of snow packed up into the transmission tunnel. Clearly snow isn’t your issue but the same components exposed underneath might be. __________________ 1985 WR quattro, 1985 20vT RallyRep, 1993 MTM ABY S2 Avant. 2010 S3 Sportback. Last edited by Isimmo; 01-09-21 at 10:18 PM. Reason: Auto correct spilling agin

01-09-21, 10:09 PM	#3
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,188	Hehe. No. No snow. Does seem to have new linkages with new rubber ball joints though. Am wondering if they just need lubricating. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

02-09-21, 07:41 AM	#6
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,188	Well, it selects perfectly so I will have to say yes. The parts marked 27 and 35 are very tight when the gear selector is moved there is a squeak from at least one of them. It is as if the ball is a size 10 and the rubber is for a size 6. The gearstick will (barely!!) return to centre when moved to neutral. The nylon ball is free moving. I have disconnected it to check that. My next step is to remove the arm 35 and see if the stick will centralise properly. Then grease the rubber ball joints. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

02-09-21, 11:35 AM	#7
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,188	I had a quick prod around just now. It seems to be 27 that is tight-as 35 is not so tight. Very difficult to get to the part though, so will have to wait a while to resolve. __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

02-09-21, 12:48 PM	#8
Isimmo Super Moderator Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sissix-by-the-sea Posts: 15,218	Try drenching it in - __________________ 1985 WR quattro, 1985 20vT RallyRep, 1993 MTM ABY S2 Avant. 2010 S3 Sportback.

02-09-21, 06:59 AM	#4
tractor Dave Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Wales Posts: 1,173	It's probably the shift ball dried out. Remove the cover and inspect. Is it full of crud? Clean out and 're lubricate with white grease. I don't think new ball parts are available but I believe you can use golf parts. This is the case with the S2.

02-09-21, 04:48 PM	#9
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,188	VERY stiff gear change. Certainly should help! Anybody know what causes the gearstick to spring back to centre in neutral? I mean, when you pull the stick back from first, you are pulling it back, but what makes it centralise between 3rd and fourth? Is it spring loaded inside the gearbox or is there a spring on the outside of the box that puts it back to centre? I can not see any external spring on 7zap. EDIT Had a chance to look at mine briefly. There is no spring on the gearstick. The centralising action comes from the lever or the box, and I believe it is the box. So the most likely explanation for the tightness is just that-tightness in the rubber balljoints. I will get under the car tomorrow with any luck and try to remove and grease up the balljoints. If possible, I would like to remove the gear linkage and make sure the springiness is coming through from the gearbox selector lever and just getting lost due to tight joints first. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur Last edited by BackintheFold; 02-09-21 at 05:32 PM.

04-09-21, 05:06 PM	#10
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,188	VERY stiff gear change. Access is better from below but not great. (Surprise!) The tightness comes from the balljoint connected to the gearbox lever. I soaked it in white grease and it made a bit of a difference. Ideally it needs to come off and the joint enlarged internally a fraction. But it centralises ok-enough to change gear smoothly Id say, and will improve with use -although now greased it might be a while. Anyone got an Audi tool 3084? That helps with setting the gearstick correctly if I need to work on this again. EDIT. with one person holding the gearstick centrally, this was simple enough to get the position right and tighten up the pinch bolts underneath. The tool would be useful if doing this solo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur Last edited by BackintheFold; 12-09-21 at 08:20 AM.