TRUNNION BEARING (revisited)

All the stockers are loose after 30+ yrs of steel-on-steel wear. Believe it or not, there were rubber boots on both sides of this thing, and the factory recommended sticking a oilcan spout under the boot periodically & injecting a little motor oil. I've never seen intact boots here on a Pantera. The real key is that it shifts fine. A stock replacement trunnion is best but won't improve the cars performance. If one really wanted a winter project, you could fabricate your own trunnion using a linear ball bearing (wirh felt dust seals) in a custom housing. But again, if the ZF shifts OK, you'de have to point out your neat mod to onlookers as it would not improve things much. Have you removed the extra shift-detent in your car? This often improves EASE of shifting, at zero expense and 15 minutes of clean work.

What's an extra shift detent and how does a guy remove it?

I don't like asking dumb questions, but if it's supposed to take 15 minutes then it'll take me 2 hours. And a dumb question or 20 hours of research....

Ron, The ONLY dumb question is the one you won't ask! The detent is right on top and to the rear of your shift handle/lever. You'll have to remove the center console COVER, and have ready some snap ring pliers or "Dig" the ring out with a very small screw driver. You can't miss it, it's the size of a quarter. You will remove: A snap ring, round cover plate, a spring, and the detent plunger itself. To finish the job off, I put a glob of grease down the detent hole, cover it with a common Quarter(Coin)and them plug the hole with a rubber stopper. The weight of the quarter will slowly ooze the grease into/onto the shifter shaft and keep it lubricated for a long time! Yes!! You will feel much of a difference, to the better, in your shifting. I also went a little further and got rid of the gate completely! In my opinion it just gets in the way, and only a novice would need it. Good-Luck with it, Marlin.

Marlin, what was the original purpose of the detent? Also, will removing it perhaps eliminate the shifter "rattle" that I experience in 2nd and 3rd gear. I also have eliminated the shifter gate, so this irritating rattle is some where else.

Joel

Jack D. could answer this question better than I. The only reason I could see for the detent in the "Shift Lever Housing" would be for a more "Positive Feel" to "Help" In finding the correct gears. OR to keep the shift LEVER upright, and centered, when it is desirable to leave it, and KEEP it in NEUTRAL. As said before, this detent "Fights" against the detent that is in the TransAxle itself, which in some cases will make shifting haphazzard at best. As far as the Ratteling; I have it also, it comes and goes. It is NOT from removing the gate! And I do NOT think it is caused from removing the DETENT, as the tiny nose on the detent plunger ONLY engages a slot milled on the very top center of the corresponding shaft, when the lever is in a straight-UP position! I beleive the rattle IS caused by the NORMAL(30 years right) wear of the pivit/fulcrum bushings, and of the end STOPS that the very bottom end of the lever must push against in order to acheive leverage to acomplish a gear shift. These stops, in the diagrams, appear to be ADJUSTABLE by either locking bolts and/or adding shims. In the near future I plan to pull the shifter housing and machine all new bushings out of Stainless Steel and/or Bronze. Pantera owners could ship me their shifter housings for a complete rebuild! (YES! Would be expensive!) And My work always includes the addition of Zerk fiitings where needed. I am a fanatic for the ease of lubrication without dissassembly. I am also working on a design for a solid Bronze TRUNNION bearing, or bronze bushing inserted into a HEIM Joint, as there seems to be a real need for it. How about a 2-Piece design that can be installed without disconnecting the shifter shaft at all? Any other answers?? Marlin.

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 10-27-2003).]

The 'extra' detent has an unknown purpose- possibly it went in Panteras simply because the factory or Ford distrusted the buit-in detent in the ZF. But 32 yrs of experience has shown the one buit into the shifter is not necessary and since it is NEVER serviced, the original grease, onw rock-hard, it still there. Dennis Quella began removing these detents 20-some years ago as a free service, Nor-Cal Panteras routinely does this at their twice-a-year Tech sessions and I've not heard of one complaint yet. And it IS easily reversible, of course.

I'll have to find some time and check out what I got in there. I have only driven my car and have nothing to compare it to, as far as shifting ease and all. It feels good but I am certain they are smoother shifters out there!
Thanks for the tips on fabbing... sounds like a cool project.

Rich