2008 Mustang GT. Need help with Pro 5.0 shifter install

ironmike666 · 06-03-2008

Just got a 2008 GT. wanted to upgrade the shifter. Just got finished installing the pro 50 and it is almost impossible to shift into 5th and Reverse. Its way too hard to shift into those two gears...seems to shift nice into the other 4 gears. Any info would help. Thanks!!!!

**stlwagon** · 06-03-2008

Check your install and make sure everything is torqued to spec. I will admit that 5th and reverse were a little tight at first.

travelers · 06-03-2008

Mine was tight at first but it does loosen up some with time.

ironmike666 · 06-03-2008

Thanks, glad to hear mine isnt the only one that was tight...but this seems a little too tight. I will go thru it tonight after work. First and second still have slop(left and right movement) when in gear...not too sure if its the same with 3rd and 4th. Is this normal? I know it had been doing the same with the stock shifter. Just thought it would be better with the new shifter. Any more help and comments would still be greatly appreciated.

Kyle F · 06-03-2008

Your new shifter should have very little slop in any gear.

You definately want to re-check your install. Sounds like you could be rubbing agais something, or have your linkage attachedon the wrong side.

**stlwagon** · 06-03-2008

+1... Should be no side-to-side slop.

ironmike666 · 06-03-2008

Heres a kick in the pants. I reversed the bushings just for the heck of it(instructions say the larger bushing goes on the shaft on the drivers side...which is exactly how I had it) NOW its hard to shift into 1st and 2nd and easy to get into 5th and reverse. I'm about to say screw it and throw the old one back on.

EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED

**stlwagon** · 06-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironmike666

Heres a kick in the pants. I reversed the bushings just for the heck of it(instructions say the larger bushing goes on the shaft on the drivers side...which is exactly how I had it) NOW its hard to shift into 1st and 2nd and easy to get into 5th and reverse. I'm about to say screw it and throw the old one back on.

EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED

That's weird. Might be worth a call to the Pro 5.0 folks.

ironmike666 · 06-03-2008

I think I got it figured out. After I reinstalled the factory shifter I realized that the spacers/bushings are quite a bit bigger than the factorys plastic bushings. Makes sense cuz when I switched the bushings around, the tight spot switched sides. I dunno if they sent the wrong spacers or what...gonna have to take out my factory shifter again and get someone to machine the bushings down to match the factorys. Thanks for all the help.

PS: will try calling pro 50 again.

**stlwagon** · 06-03-2008

I suppose they could have sent the wrong part but the S197 shifter is brand new so there should be no way for them to have mixed parts from an older version.

ironmike666 · 06-04-2008

well you would think that, but the bushings are definitely way wider than the factory ones. Wish I would have compared the two before reinstalling the stock shifter. Oh well, guess I'll have to find a few spare hours some weekend to tear the stock one off and have the bushings machined to the right size...what a pain. You would think install would have been a breeze without any headaches. Oh well I guess

jaja6009 · 06-04-2008

Sorry to hear that its not working. I have a Pro50 shifter in the garage. I havnt had time to put in in yet. Hope you get it figured out. Hope I dont have any problems.

PLstang · 06-04-2008

I would definitely call Pro 5.0 and get there take on it. I'm sure they would send you some replacement bushings if that is the problem.

It's unrelated but I recently had some issues with blowing out LCA bushings. Happened three times! we thought it was because of the hard launches and were about to go to solid end links and I decided to call BMR. I told the guy what was going on and he knew exactly what the problem was with out even looking at a picture. A simple item that was not covered in the instructions and probably wouldn't have been relevant had we not been putting 660 to the rear on slicks.

My point being give them a call and save yourself some possible work. I could have kicked myself for not calling BMR sooner!

**stlwagon** · 06-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLstang

I would definitely call Pro 5.0 and get there take on it. I'm sure they would send you some replacement bushings if that is the problem.

It's unrelated but I recently had some issues with blowing out LCA bushings. Happened three times! we thought it was because of the hard launches and were about to go to solid end links and I decided to call BMR. I told the guy what was going on and he knew exactly what the problem was with out even looking at a picture. A simple item that was not covered in the instructions and probably wouldn't have been relevant had we not been putting 660 to the rear on slicks.

My point being give them a call and save yourself some possible work. I could have kicked myself for not calling BMR sooner!

I had issues with split BMR LCA bushings to. I've since switched to CHE LCA and no more problems.

PLstang · 06-05-2008

I ended up having the LCA's installed flipped with the short side to the inside of the bracket instead of the outside (size difference was barely even noticeable). Swapped it around and all was good, no more problems.

I do understand that earlier on they had problems with a bad set of bushings. I know this because they asked the shop how long they had them before installing them. There first thought was we had one of the bushings from the bad batch.

They also recommended relocation brackets that were welded into place. they said below a 1.6 60' (I believe that was the number) welding the brackets became necessary.