My shift linkage keeps popping off the transmission. I've been having to hope my parking brake holds, then get under the truck while its running and change the gears. Not my favorite thing to do! I found a replacement at bushingfix.com for a dakota, but the years it is applicable to is 98 and up. I have a 97. Has anyone used this? I'm trying to find out if it works and will work on my truck. Was there a change in the linkage from 97' to 98'?

 

I called Bushingfix.com and couldn't get a straight answer. I don't want to order a whole new shift cable just to get the piece that fits on the transmission. Anyone have an idea?

 

If you're having trouble getting it new, visit a junkyard. Try a ziptie as a temp fix.

 

I know they're available on eBay. Try searching "shift linkage repair" or "shift linkage bushing" along with the year make and model.

 

I found a Dorman "Help" pack at the local auto parts store. Hopefully one of the bushings in the pack fits. $8 vs $25 + shipping

 

So, the generic Dorman bushings didn't fit into the shift linkage. I went ahead and ordered the bushingfix SI2 pack. It came with a black bushing and a green bushing. The person that worked there told me on the phone to use the black one. I removed the old busing out of the shift linkage. It took me a while to get the new bushing into the shift linkage. I finally got it in there and clamped it down on the transmission. Once I got into the truck and tried to shift gears, it was still popping off I took a ziptie and went around it to hold it down and it hasn't popped off yet thankfully

 

Well if it does I just had to replace my whole shift cable this week. The bushing on my old one was still good. I can pop it off and send it your way if its still giving you trouble.