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Hey Peter - stumbled on your thread and wondering if you ever resolved this? I've got a variant of the same gearbox in a 2005 Saturn Vue with the same issue (difficulty moving the shifter side to side, the lever indicated in your image is remains difficult to move with shift cables disconnected). Haven't found many other resources talking about this. Am I following correctly that you lubed the indicated area below (in case the image doesn't show where the shaft meets the mounting plate for this assembly)?
I am pretty confident that the lack of lubrication at the bell-crank bearing, indicated by my red arrow, was the source of my problems.
The solution, the lubrication of that bearing still holds, the gear selection still works perfectly.
Only other thing I did was to re-lube that bell-crank a few days after the initial WD-40 treatment.
For re-lubing I used 3-in-1 oil, and stuck a similar straw into the oiler'* nipple like a WD-40 can has. In this way I managed to get the oil to that open bearing.
As for the shaft indicated by your "red square", I do not thing it would cause any problem, unless it becomes rusty. If you use the car regularly I do not think that would happen. The rod'* sliding bearing is inside the gearbox, there is always oil there, and at the shaft output there is just that rubber oil seal.
I am pretty confident that the lack of lubrication at the bell-crank bearing, indicated by my red arrow, was the source of my problems.
The solution, the lubrication of that bearing still holds, the gear selection still works perfectly.
Only other thing I did was to re-lube that bell-crank a few days after the initial WD-40 treatment.
For re-lubing I used 3-in-1 oil, and stuck a similar straw into the oiler'* nipple like a WD-40 can has. In this way I managed to get the oil to that open bearing.
As for the shaft indicated by your "red square", I do not thing it would cause any problem, unless it becomes rusty. If you use the car regularly I do not think that would happen. The rod'* sliding bearing is inside the gearbox, there is always oil there, and at the shaft output there is just that rubber oil seal.
Regards, Peter
Appreciate the reply Peter! The whole area has a crust of rust (midwest vehicle), so I hosed it down with PB Blaster a couple times and that improved the action considerably. Once it'* a little warmer I'll try to get in there to properly take care of it. Thanks again!
Manual Transmission Shift Lever Bushing
