Recently picked up a 94 Ranger 4x4, supcab, 4.0, 5-speed. The shifter is sloppy as hell, making it hard to find the next gear. I hear there is a rebuild kit for said shifters? Anybody have any experience at doing this? Can I find this kit at local parts stores???

The transmission gears work fine. It's just difficult to shift with all that sloppiness. Mainly to third and fifth... :(

the tranny in ur truck is similar to the fullsize mazda trannys - there are small pins in the shift tower that can back out - some times you can tap the pins back in and put a hose clamp around it - or it will be wasted and you can replace the pins - bushings - and tower - go to your local tranny shop - they should stock the pins / bushings / reman or used towers - for cheap - if not free - ive done it on my old f150 and my brothers f150 and a few rangers - very easy - just tear up your shift boot and carpet - :shaking:

the tranny in ur truck is similar to the fullsize mazda trannys - there are small pins in the shift tower that can back out - some times you can tap the pins back in and put a hose clamp around it - or it will be wasted and you can replace the pins - bushings - and tower - go to your local tranny shop - they should stock the pins / bushings / reman or used towers - for cheap - if not free - ive done it on my old f150 and my brothers f150 and a few rangers - very easy - just tear up your shift boot and carpet - :shaking:

So is it an M5R1 (or M5OD-R1)? I can actually pull the shifter straight up and down about an inch and it flops around but still moves the gears ok. If I hold it up tight against the top, it shifts fine. Seems like it's just worn out bushings. I guess I'll try the local parts places and see if I can find a rebuild kit. If not, I"ll try a Ford place. Thanks... :D

I have a 1991 tranny with the same shifter mine is so bad that i can act like i am shifting through the whole gear pattern while in 1st gear but i can always find the right gear maybe it just takes practice how many miles on it i have 177,000 miles

There are two plastic bushings in there that seem to be getting to that age where they like to disintegrate.

You can get new ones at a dealer dirt cheap (like $4-5).

One issue though, they for some reason only stock the upper bushing. To get the lower, you have to buy the ENTIRE top cover of the trans :shaking:

Fortunately the bottom bushing is identical to the top, you just have to either modify the bushing, or drive out one of the shifter pins to get it seated in the bottom of the hole.

BTW, Ford calls the bushing a "spring" for some reason.
pt# 1L2Z-7228-AA

It's $$$, but Hurst makes a shifter for the M5OD... I know they at least do for the F150's, not sure about the Rangers... I put one in a GM I had a while back.... It was like it was a different transmission....

interesting, cause I had a hard time sourcing that bushing kit, and it cost lots of dollars, must have been the whole top plate I was having to buy. I ended up making my own set pins out of some 3/8 (IIRC) clevis pins from home depot. I just copied the one that did not brake.

I found this waay the hell over in Michigan but it looks like just what I need. $69.95 plus 9.00 shipping. :D Here's what it says:

Ford Ranger and Explorer owners with the 5 speed manual transmission known as the M5R1, this is the kit you need to "Renew" that sloppy shifter assembly back to "Factory New" condition. These transmissions have been used by Ford for their light duty 5 speed line, such as Ranger, Explorer, Aerostar, ect since Ford aquired a major part of Mazda in 1988. They are very good trnsmissions with a few minor flaws, one of which is the "Wear" items in the shiftting lever mechanism. This kit will give you ALL the components you need to return it to very tight original factory shifting condition. You recieve, new upper and lower shifter socket bushings, the required "tabbed" and flat wear support washers for the bushings, shifter retaing pins, and a new top seal to replace your old one that ALWAYS leaks from the rotted area, right where the rubber is "Vulcanized" to the metal part of the top seal. All this for very little money, to insure that your 5 speed shifts perfect, and does NOT RUN OUT OF OIL, and meet an untimely end, as so many do from leakage in this area. Thanks for looking, please view our other auctions, Happy Motoring!

: I can't find anything around here like this...

- thats the kit - i got mine from my local tranny shop - they had it all in stock - i think i paid 30 or $40 - but they know me - and my c6 and e40d and my sisters 700r and and :smokin:

Look out for the rubber plugs that dry out and allow it to leak.