My shifter is super sloppy in my 1995 WRX even after replacing linkage bushings, help?

phoenlx0 · Sep 22, 2025

Hey everyone, I’m having trouble figuring out what is wrong with my shifter in my 1995 JDM WRX (gc8). I’m not sure if it’s something a new shifting assembly would fix or if it is something inside the transmission. It has a ton of slop going left but still has some resistance going right in neutral, but in gear it moves side to side a lot. It also grinds quite bad in first and fifth if I don’t get it perfect. As well as reverse being hard to get into and almost always

If anyone has some inside or tips to fix this that would be awesome! Any questions to just reply to this thread I’ll be paying attention to notifications on here. (Pictures ⬇)

(Neutral right has resistance)

(Neutral left has no resistance at all)

(First as an example goes all the way to the right past where it should)

(This is still first going all the way to the top with no resistance)

bue car · 2025-09-27T11:51:49-0400

I would change the bushings out and inspect while doing so. I just picked up some Cobb 5 speed kits for my toys

phoenlx0 · 2025-09-27T11:55:36-0400

Thank you for the response, I have already replaced all the bushings in the linkage system though and it seemed to do nothing. I lot of them were worn or just destroyed but it still didn’t do much.

bue car · 2025-09-27T12:03:24-0400

Hmmm I know these things can be 'sloppy'. If all is well there, this may be a issue with the linkage to the transmission. Did you change or check out the front pivot point? I believe the spring pin can wear out and get loose. This guy

TiC 5 Speed Subaru Manual Transmission Linkage Update For WRX, LGT & FXT

Turnin Concepts shift linkage update eliminates much of the side-to-side slop in the 5-speed Manual Transmission lever. Designed for pre-2006 Subaru 5 Speeds.

www.iagperformance.com

phoenlx0 · 2025-09-27T12:06:35-0400

I don’t believe I have, someone I know was saying on some older cars they have return springs in the transmission and one of them could be bad or have fallen out, is that what you are refrering too? I was not sure if this car has them or not.

Here is a video as well for reference, it would not let me do video at first.

bue car · 2025-09-27T12:09:53-0400

That would make sense too

https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru__/Spring-Gear-Shift-27/49244132/33022GA081.html

phoenlx0 · 2025-09-27T12:13:39-0400

Thanks for the video! I’ll check it out when I have the time to get under my car and respond to this thread with my findings. Appreciate the help!

bue car · 2025-09-27T12:20:16-0400

Welcome, always glad to help, I hope we get this fixed!

One thing I do is take lots of photos of my work and installs, so I can be lazy and go back and be like oh yeah, they spring is MIA or something. Good luck!

phoenlx0 · 2025-09-28T18:04:27-0400

I cannot believe this, I couldn’t find a video that showed it properly before but that video showed me exactly what I was looking at when I replaced the bushings and there is just no spring there in my car… I dont even have to look I remember wondering what those little hinges were for and now I know they are for the spring😂

My shifter is super sloppy in my 1995 WRX even after replacing linkage bushings, help?

TiC 5 Speed Subaru Manual Transmission Linkage Update For WRX, LGT & FXT

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