G260 Selector Not Centering

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  • dice2012
    Noobie
    • Mar 2021
    • 38
    #1

    G260 Selector Not Centering

    Hoping to get some help on this. My gear selector feels sloppy in neutral but only on one side. It feels like the spring that centers from 1st and 2nd is weak, and not at all equal in force to going to/centering from 5th. Reverse is super snappy. (Talking about the play in neutral, not actually putting it in gear)
    I have the transmission out, and am directly turning the selector shaft and it is still happening, so I don't believe the shift linkage or bushings are the problem. I'm trying to figure out if there is any way to fix this, other than tearing open the gearbox and replacing the selector retaining spring (which is NLA).
    Click image for larger version Name: image.png Views: 0 Size: 202.1 KB ID: 10150396
    From looking at realoem, I think my problem is either #02 or #20. Unfortunately, both are NLA.
    Am I missing something? Is it supposed to feel this way? I assume the centering force should be equal between 1st/2nd and 5th.
    Last edited by dice2012; 11-06-2025, 08:03 PM.
    Tags: None
    • 82eye
      E30 Mastermind
      • Jan 2009
      • 1903
      #2
      i'm no help but have seen posts suggesting the lean is due to those springs and the detent pins. it's more common on e36 zf boxes but something similar does happen to the earlier getrags.

        Comment

        • dice2012
          Noobie
          • Mar 2021
          • 38
          #3
          Yeah that's what I thought at first, after seeing a vid on someone replacing those very same ZF detent springs/pins.
          I took off the detent spring cover (part 27 in the pic) and took out the springs(part 16 in the pic below), but nothing changed between either direction of selector rotation. I believe that those detent springs and balls are for keeping the shift rods (#9) in place, though I may be wrong.
          Click image for larger version Name: image.png Views: 0 Size: 187.4 KB ID: 10150423
          I'm wondering what part 8 and 9 do in the original pic, as they seem to just rest on the reverse plate. Thinking it's just the reverse lockout?

            Comment

            • 82eye
              E30 Mastermind
              • Jan 2009
              • 1903
              #4
              Originally posted by dice2012
              Yeah that's what I thought at first, after seeing a vid on someone replacing those very same ZF detent springs/pins.
              I'm wondering what part 8 and 9 do in the original pic, as they seem to just rest on the reverse plate. Thinking it's just the reverse lockout?
              i have a cousin in law who is a heavy equipment and transmission mechanic. all i can say for sure is he would essentially replace all the springs, balls, and pins in pretty much any manual when he fixes them.

              i dunno where he gets the springs, but i know he buys by spec and not brand. he's had pins machined when not available, and the balls can probably be found by spec as well. he's worked on and gotten vintage stuff working so it's gotta be possible.

              there's probably enough g260s around that it may not be worth the cost of overhaul though.

              edit: it could also be the sum total of other worn shifter parts. i rebuilt my shifter a while ago and it made a huge difference. if having to do it over i'd get a dssr as well, i'm kicking myself for not doing it while i was there.

                Comment

                • dice2012
                  Noobie
                  • Mar 2021
                  • 38
                  #5
                  Originally posted by 82eye

                  there's probably enough g260s around that it may not be worth the cost of overhaul though.
                  Yeah I'm thinking the same. I'm guessing it's part 2 in the first pic, in which case I'd have to source it (NLA) and then tear apart the entire gearbox to get to it. Probably will just have to live with it until I find a good deal on a ZF or 6 speed


                  Originally posted by 82eye

                  edit: it could also be the sum total of other worn shifter parts. i rebuilt my shifter a while ago and it made a huge difference. if having to do it over i'd get a dssr as well, i'm kicking myself for not doing it while i was there.
                  The shifter parts were for sure making it worse in the car. Probably had 2" of play on either side before actually engaging the selector shaft. I isolated it to the gear selector shaft in the gearbox, so I think it's internal, but I'll be rebuilding the shifter as well. I'll have to look into the DSSR, thanks.

                    Comment

                    • 82eye
                      E30 Mastermind
                      • Jan 2009
                      • 1903
                      #6
                      Originally posted by dice2012

                      Yeah I'm thinking the same. I'm guessing it's part 2 in the first pic, in which case I'd have to source it (NLA) and then tear apart the entire gearbox to get to it. Probably will just have to live with it until I find a good deal on a ZF or 6 speed




                      The shifter parts were for sure making it worse in the car. Probably had 2" of play on either side before actually engaging the selector shaft. I isolated it to the gear selector shaft in the gearbox, so I think it's internal, but I'll be rebuilding the shifter as well. I'll have to look into the DSSR, thanks.

                      i see you posted about an s5x swap, it may simply be best to live with it until you do the swap and go with another box entirely. if it were me i'd be looking at the current parts as stuff to sell to help defray the swap cost.

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