Sloppy NV3550 shifter fix - looking for input

[CreepinDeth]

2003 Wrangler X 5 speed, over 200K, has a sloppy shifter.
I've looked into the B&M but mixed reviews, and I have a short throw C7 vette I DD.

I'm not sure I want a short throw in the seated position of the Jeep, but for now I just wanna see if I can fix the OEM one thats there.
Until I can drive someone elses to compare at least, I don't wanna spend the $400+ and not be happy with it.

So I only found one thread on this in the HOW TO section, with the video on disassembly to repair that shifter boot.
Is this plastic pivot ball bushing the only thing to replace to get some tighter play on the shifter, or what else am I looking at ??

https://core-shifters.com/products/...cup-s10-c-k-truck-jeep?variant=39310231109750

@ ~9:00 mark

 

[CreepinDeth]

These 2 plastic bushing I saw in the other video, he says they go in the shift tower
Not 100% sure if I need to seek these out also ?? FIgured I'd ask , and if anyone knows where to source
@ 1:14 mark

 

[mikew31]

I have a different problem. I bought a 2003 tj sport with 7000 miles on it. When I first drove it, it was like a new jeep. Now I have to match engine and trans speed to shift without gear crunch. Would the cluch master cylinder maybe have seals going bad. I changed the oil with red line, made no difference. It now has 8500 miles on it and I wouldn't think it would have a transmission problem. Anyone have an opinion? Thank you, Mike

 

[rweathers2001]

I put the B&M shifter in mine about a year ago and it is one of the best things I have done to the Jeep in the 3 years I have had it. First you get to use the front cup holder in the console again with something larger than a 12 oz can. It really does make it easier to shift especially after I re geared and the low gears hit the rev limit quickly. Any TJ I get with a manual will get this as one of the first things I do to it.

 

[afusco1222]

I put the B&M shifter in mine about a year ago and it is one of the best things I have done to the Jeep in the 3 years I have had it. First you get to use the front cup holder in the console again with something larger than a 12 oz can. It really does make it easier to shift especially after I re geared and the low gears hit the rev limit quickly. Any TJ I get with a manual will get this as one of the first things I do to it.

I 100% agree with this. It makes the throw of the shifter more normal, but definitely not short like a vette would be.

 

[TJ Jim]

I have a different problem. I bought a 2003 tj sport with 7000 miles on it. When I first drove it, it was like a new jeep. Now I have to match engine and trans speed to shift without gear crunch. Would the cluch master cylinder maybe have seals going bad. I changed the oil with red line, made no difference. It now has 8500 miles on it and I wouldn't think it would have a transmission problem. Anyone have an opinion? Thank you, Mike

Redline is highly rated on here but I had the opposite effect. Mine started out with Royal purple so I tried redline looking for improvement. It got really bad. Went back to Royal purple and it’s as good as probably possible.

 

[TJ Jim]

I put the B&M shifter in mine about a year ago and it is one of the best things I have done to the Jeep in the 3 years I have had it. First you get to use the front cup holder in the console again with something larger than a 12 oz can. It really does make it easier to shift especially after I re geared and the low gears hit the rev limit quickly. Any TJ I get with a manual will get this as one of the first things I do to it.

I hated the b&m shifter in mine. Really struggled to get it in gear. The throw was nice but getting it in the gears was not easy. Went back to my comfy slop.

 

[MikekiM]

I put the B&M shifter in mine about a year ago and it is one of the best things I have done to the Jeep in the 3 years I have had it. First you get to use the front cup holder in the console again with something larger than a 12 oz can. It really does make it easier to shift especially after I re geared and the low gears hit the rev limit quickly. Any TJ I get with a manual will get this as one of the first things I do to it.

+1 on this.

I did the first B&M in the stock NV3550 which had a tired and really cranky shift personality. The short shift changed the shifting experience for the good in a huge way. The NV3550 ultimately failed catastrophically and when I swapped in the AX15 from Novak I ditched their shift tower and immediately put in the appropriate B&M. I have since driven quite a few TJs with OE shifter in and it was driving me mad. Ultra long rows, Totally vague positioning. Am I in third? Fifth? Or is that still first? (obviously I am kidding a little) There is zero play in the shifter. In fact, the amount of play in neutral is a fraction of the play I had in the OE shifter while in gear. It's that precise.

This said, I have no idea how to revive the OE shifter..

There was a thread recently about an alternative to the B&M. I think it might be this one...
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/nv3550-replacement-shifter-options.76705/

 

[CreepinDeth]

I hated the b&m shifter in mine. Really struggled to get it in gear. The throw was nice but getting it in the gears was not easy. Went back to my comfy slop.

Ive read 50/50 mix on this and why Im hesitant to just drop $400+ if I can remedy the OEM shifter with some new bushings and what not.

 

[CreepinDeth]

I ordered the RedLine MTL to swap the fluids, but I know the shifter itself has wear and tear bushings.

I just cant find any threads with all the parts outlay besides the boot (which doesnt affect the feel) and one piece I ordered. The two yellow side bushings in that video I cant verify the names to find them

 

[Lou]

Have you pulled the shifter off the trans to inspect? There’s a plastic cup the ball end of the shifter goes on. If that’s gone you’d be quite sloppy. With the shifter removed you can judge if the play is in the shifter itself and verify that cup.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

I can't help with the original question. My Jeep has a bit under 80K on it and the shifter has the same sloppiness as new.

I bought a B&M shifter for the TJ NV3550 last winter and the shifter came assembled backwards. There is one side of the NV3550 shift tower where the flat flange sticks out slightly wider than the other. That is supposed to be on the passenger side. My B&M came with it on the drivers side. Kinda assumed a company charging this much did it on purpose. This resulted in the shifting just being off. It didn't want to center between 3-4. Shifting into 5th and R was obviously not right. I wrote up B&M and they sent a replacement. Which was also assembled backwards. I fixed it in 10 minutes.
Corrected orientation

I haven't re-installed it on the Jeep for a different reason. The NV3550 is kinda loud by nature. The factory shift tower uses a rubber gasket to seal the top of the transmission against the shifter tower. That gasket also dampens noise from the transmission. The B&M's billet aluminum body is bolted straight onto the transmission body with some RTV to seal it and a whiny mechanical noise comes straight up into the interior with the shift nob as it's speaker. If you've seen other posts, I've applied sound deadening to my Jeep's interior and this sound was all the more noticeable as a result.

Despite the original shifter being factory assembled incorrectly, it did result in a more precise shift feel and obviously shorter throw. It's a really nice piece and I might give it another go sometime.

 

[AWayne]

+1 on the B&M is an awesome shifter. I love mine. Only gripe is the shifter is very short. I used an XJ sway bar link to extend mine another 6 inches up.

Core Shifters also makes a quality product for a little cheaper. Next TJ will get their shifter.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Have you pulled the shifter off the trans to inspect? There’s a plastic cup the ball end of the shifter goes on. If that’s gone you’d be quite sloppy. With the shifter removed you can judge if the play is in the shifter itself and verify that cup.

Tried to pull the shifter plate off today

The 4WD shifter on the left has a few small bolts that were stripped I guess and wouldnt come out. Thats the final steps to get the big plate off with the rubber seal and they wouldnt come out. Tried to wedge a flat head in there to help them “catch” but still no good

After a good 40 mins of aggravation, I tested the shifter without the handle bar extension on it, and decided an official command of “Fuck this” its fine and reassembled it.

It felt good enough, and Im just gonna swap the fluid
Its my Friday, Im done with it

 

[mikew31]

+1 on the B&M is an awesome shifter. I love mine. Only gripe is the shifter is very short. I used an XJ sway bar link to extend mine another 6 inches up.

Core Shifters also makes a quality product for a little cheaper. Next TJ will get their shifter.

My shifter isn't the problem. When I bought this jeep it had 7000 miles. It was just like a new jeep. Right away the brakes locked up, the fuel pump went, and now I have a slight crunch in 2nd and 3rd. I wonder if the master or slave cylinder seals are going if that would cause a problem. This jeep has been sitting more than going. Thank you

 

[GoldenGorilla]

My shifter isn't the problem. When I bought this jeep it had 7000 miles. It was just like a new jeep. Right away the brakes locked up, the fuel pump went, and now I have a slight crunch in 2nd and 3rd. I wonder if the master or slave cylinder seals are going if that would cause a problem. This jeep has been sitting more than going. Thank you

I think that may be partly an issue. My 04 had about 70k on it when I did an overhaul last spring including a new clutch and throwout bearing (the bearing was the issue). I am the only owner I changed the transmission fluid to Redline MTL as this forum favors and I also feel like the shifting isn't as smooth as it was with the mopar fluid. More in the 1-2 shift than 2-3. Not getting better or worse, but worse than with the original fluid.

If it isn't pulling at all with the clutch depressed fully, I would say there isn't an issue with the fork, bearing, hydraulics or pressure plate.

I would worry that it sat too long and perhaps the synchos were oxidized slightly or the oil left some residue and that the redline isn't helping. It may really need run quite a few miles to clear free up the synchros. But I'd source the mopar fluid. That's what I plan to do with mine.

 

[MikekiM]

My shifter isn't the problem. When I bought this jeep it had 7000 miles. It was just like a new jeep. Right away the brakes locked up, the fuel pump went, and now I have a slight crunch in 2nd and 3rd. I wonder if the master or slave cylinder seals are going if that would cause a problem. This jeep has been sitting more than going. Thank you

Super low miles... Jeep sitting without stretching its' legs. Just like our knees, you "gotta grease the grooves" or stuff gets stiff and cranky. .Arguably as bad if not worse than high miles.

 

[mikew31]

Super low miles... Jeep sitting without stretching its' legs. Just like our knees, you "gotta grease the grooves" or stuff gets stiff and cranky. .Arguably as bad if not worse than high miles.

Maybe I'll just drive it a little more, it just turned 8400 miles. If I match the engine and trans speed it is almost perfect. With that kind of miles you wouldn't think there would be a transmission problem. It seemed perfect when I test drove it. Thank's for your response, Mike

 

[TJ Jim]

Maybe I'll just drive it a little more, it just turned 8400 miles. If I match the engine and trans speed it is almost perfect. With that kind of miles you wouldn't think there would be a transmission problem. It seemed perfect when I test drove it. Thank's for your response, Mike

When it gets to 208,000 miles like mine it will work perfectly

 

[mikew31]

When it gets to 208,000 miles like mine it will work perfectly

I'm 77 years old and to old for a jeep, but I love it, can't stay out of it and at 208,000 miles someone else will be driving it. Years ago I had an old mack that you wind it out to 2300 rpms. Then you let the engine drop to 1200 rpms, and it would go into gear smooth as silk, any other speed and it was not going into gear. That is how I shift this jeep, and I have a slight crunch in 2nd, and in 3rd, third being a little smoother. I ask the question because I just dont want to hurt this jeep. Thanks, Mike