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97 Outback 5 speed, First, second and fifth gear hard to find.


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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.

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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.

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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 by golucky66
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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 by pzookey
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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.

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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.

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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...

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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