Sometimes the motorist is faced with the question of why the gear lever is loose, but before answering it, one should clearly understand what this gearbox element is, its structure and what functions it performs.
Shift knob, or what is the system design?
A feature of all manual gearboxes is the need for manual action on the lever. We can assume that it is he who performs the most important function in determining the speed of your movement. This means that without it, driving a vehicle becomes simply impossible. The principle of operation of the lever is quite simple: by tilting in the longitudinal and transverse directions, you set it to a position that corresponds to a certain speed.
The handle of the gear lever is connected to the synchronizer by means of a fork, the position of which transmits information about the number of the selected speed. gearboxes so that the generated engine power makes it possible to move the car at a given speed. When the lever is in neutral, it is held in place by springs. The gearshift pattern is often depicted on the lever head.
How can the gear lever be positioned?
The arrangement of the gearbox levers can be either floor or under the steering wheel. And despite the fact that the latter is considered more convenient to operate, nevertheless, in most cases, car manufacturers prefer the first option. This is due to some drawbacks of the steering column position, including: low speed and clarity, the likelihood of incomplete engagement of gears, the rods wear out much faster, sometimes their jamming is possible, as well as "knocking out" the gear.
But at the same time, in both versions, the device of the gear shift lever remains the same. Differences can only be in length, and if earlier it could even reach 30 cm, today manufacturers are striving to make it as small as possible, eliminating too much travel of the gear lever. Therefore, with a floor arrangement, nothing will change significantly in the design, but there will be noticeably fewer breakdowns.
Shift lever creaks and other problems
From the foregoing, it is clear that this part is one of the most important in everything, and if it fails, then driving such a vehicle becomes life-threatening. The most common reasons why such an emergency can occur are either mechanical damage or the consequences of incorrect operation. Here are a few breakdowns that you can easily find on your own.
You should know that the gear lever handle must move freely, without jamming... In the case when difficulties arise in performing this action, most likely a spherical washer or a ball joint has failed. They need to be replaced urgently. Also, the creak of the gear lever also speaks of a malfunction. If a spontaneous shutdown occurs, then it is definitely worth checking the spring, it is quite possible that it simply jumped off.
How to repair the gear lever?
Anyway, no matter what happens, repair of the gear lever involves the replacement of defective parts, and without its complete removal, it will be impossible to do this. For this purpose, the plastic protective plate is dismantled and the holder of the hinges is released. After that, it is necessary to take aside the jet thrust and remove the entire lever. But in order to free access to all plastic bushings and axles, it is imperative to remove the cover for the gear lever.
Check how the axle moves. If it is free, then it is necessary to change all the bushings, and do not forget to lubricate the new parts with special grease before installing them.
To replace the spring, it must be pulled out, and for this you need to dismantle the retaining ring and the hinge with the lever. In the case when you cannot do without replacing the ball joint, you should carefully push the spherical washer with your fingers and remove the worn part. At the same time, when installing a new one, lubricate it.
The thrust changes as follows. There is a clamp at the bottom of the car, you should loosen it. Then you need to disconnect it from the hinges and, by unscrewing the fastening nut, you can freely pull out the rod. Installation of a new one is carried out in the reverse order. Thus, replacing all damaged elements with new ones, you can drive safely. At the same time, do not forget that periodically it is necessary to adjust the gear lever.
