Hey bro, yeah I can take some measurements but don't have a caliper for precise by the mm measurements, might pick one up from harbor freight for that.

Remember my 5-speed linkage is slightly different, including the selector rod, I'm actually theorizing one of the DSSR's he sells might work on my 5-speed, will have to measure the length though, there does not look to be any issues with clearance of a DSSR on the 5-speed, but the shape of the revised shifter arm on the 6-speed might be.

I'll get some measurements for you man, and work on that clip later. I tried using an 8 mm allen wrench and pushing with Hulk strength last night, no dice, c-clamp will have to do it, worst comes to worst I'll take to the indy and let him figure it out, but I don't think it will come down to that. One thing is certain there is barely any flex at all in that arm after 10 years and 71k miles so Rob is correct, Delrin in the shifter arm is completely unnecessary!

I'll have my new clip on Thursday, just called the dealership, wish me luck getting it out tonight, my problem might have been that I was using PB Blaster on it last night and since it makes rubber swell, it might have tightened up the bushings on the retaining clip of the shifter arm, but either way I'm sure its rusted up pretty good.

If you live in a snowy/salty region, anytime you work on your X you should be using this on EVERYTHING, no doubt my new linkage will go together with some of this:

http://www.expeditionexchange.com/bl...eize%20006.jpg

Oh and since I have the updated "rod joint" which has no washers on it, I'm literally going to just leave it as is. There is no play in the joint as I was wiggling it blind last night, the play comes from the selector rod itself, and honestly with my clip being seized up I'm sure that pin that is in the selector on the trans is probably rusted in there good too, so I'm just going to leave it for another day.

ok so you definitely need a 2" c-clamp to get that pin loose, my 1" mini clamp isn't enough to get on the other side of the shift arm. just spent an hour prying again tonight on the clip and its not loose yet, but by now I'm going to get that arm out come hell or high water because with all my prying i'm sure I have loosened the bushings somewhat and they definitely could use to be replaced. A 2" clamp from Harbor Freight should do it.

Limited space to pry is the biggest pain by far to get this "bitch clip" to slide out, I also need to pick up some WD-40 as well to lube up that area a bit.


probably a stupid question as well, but is it possible I need to place a jack under the transmission to take any pre-load of the shift carrier bushings and subsequently the clip itself? It's literally ridiculously hard to press out or pry out, hasn't moved a mm but yet I can flex the shifter arm slightly, so I don't think its totally stuck.

Maybe UUC Rob's charging six hours' labor for the install isn't so bad after all ......

That was your total labor bill for the driveline fluids change and CDV delete as well right Riggo? If so that's not bad, I paid a few hours labor when my driveline was done.

I'm going to call Rob this AM and pick his brain about the DSSR one more time (my 5 speed selector rod is different shaped than yours), and as well ask him if I'm doing something wrong or get some tips, I find it hard to believe I'm the only person on the forums (and I searched google) to have a seized retaining clip on top of the trans that wont simply pull out. I only jacked my car up on one side and put a jackstand under it, so my theory is that somehow the load is shifted and preventing the pin from being pulled out, whereas if both sides are in the air, or up on ramps, perhaps the weight of the trans is evenly distributed? Idk, I've been working on cars for the past 10 years and never had something so stubborn. Its not even like the clip is visually rusted/seized, its still silver on the other side of the trans.

In all honesty once that clip is out (and it was easy to pry up by the way), you could have the whole install of the SSK done in 1 hour. There is plenty of room in the tunnel with driveshaft, etc in place.

And also, if you have nimble hands, you probably could do the whole install of the SSK in the car, including installing the height adapter on the shift carrier with the 6 small screws. No need to remove shifter arm from the car itself, unless you can't get the tiny screws threaded, or are replacing the bushings in the arm like I am. Rob is right however, the arm is definitely tight, with the two bushings in the arm and dual mounts on top of the trans.


Got another surprise for my manual E53 brethren to fully update my X to a true sport model, stay tuned for another thread...

Unfortunately, no, I was billed time for the other services, too. I could have griped about it, since I know from time in shop that actual work time was less than I was billed for, but I understand service shop economics, and knew them going in. Its why those of who can, when we can, do work ourselves .......

If Rob dropped your exhaust, lowered the trans and dropped the driveshaft to really get a good look at the shift parts, rod joint, etc, 6 hours is a reasonable time spent. No worries, I'm glad you're loving yours and jealous that mine still isn't in yet!

No kidding. It's no longer a bitch clip, it's a straight up man-hating, lesbian/feminist leader, hell-bent on making your life miserable.

You have no idea how bad I wish I could fit a mini sledge up there to totally Hammer of Thor that fucker out. Will update after I speak with Rob, hoping he tells me I'm doing something wrong, was thinking about supporting the trans with a jack to maybe take pre-load off the bushings on the shifter arm.

Yeah I bet your right on the money with an uneven torque/pressure differential on the linkage. It might have some preload on it like you pointed out. Put a set of jack stands under the X to make weight distribution as even as possible. I'd look to see if the rear bushing mount can be loosened easily as well to give yourself some play.