e21 shifter help?

[CrJdMc]

Hey guys, so i went out of town for a week, and was anxious to drive the e21, it cranked up fine, and i put it in reverse, as i was moving i felt as if the shifter was hitting on something and it was grinding, when i was driving it would get louder and stop completely when the car is stopped, the shifter is now super loose and it is hard to get it into any gear. i got underneath it and pushed up on the plate( number 1 on the diagram below) , and then my helper could shift it easily, so I'm not sure what is going on, has anyone had this problem? it is killing me trying to find out, the linkage looks fine, and all. i may just get under neath and take the whole shifter assembly out and replace it if i cant find the actual problem.

[Madhatter]

part #4 (two of them) holds the shift plate to the top of the gearbox. The other end is attached by a round bush you can see on the diagram next to #3.

If the plate moves a lot, check to make sure it's attached at the end of the plate past the shifter, then check at the gearbox. Im thinking you'll find #4 broken. They are basically a rubber bush inside a alloy block, they wear but also perish due to oil. Not unusual to see them broken clean off and the shift carrier plate just hanging there.