My new (used) shift level feels very gritty. Seems like it needs a total disassembly, cleaning, and regreasing.

Shift lever is already out of the car, any special instructions for removing the guide pins and springs? Is this thing going to explode in my face? Never to be re-assembled?

any suggestions would be appreciated.

When pulling out the pins, point the springs away from your face. From what I recall, the springs were a real bitch to get back in, and it took 2 people to do. I'm sure there's a better way, but I don't know it. I bet James Adams would know the best way to do this.

Sorry, not much help...

no problem Mike, I appreciate the warning

Where are you in Dallas? Bring it over and I can go through it for (with) you.

McKinney actually (extreme N Dallas)

you?

West side of Fort Worth.

thanks for the offer. Is it really that difficult?

Not hard. I pop them right in all the time. It's all in the technique, but I can't explain it without doing it again and paying attention to how I actually did it!

I use the housing. First, get a pin ready with one of the C-clips on it. Next, Put the Spring in, one end near where pin will go in. Put other end on the opposite side, but slant ways across the housing.

Using a cloth or to protect in case the spring gets loose, start compressing the spring, by sliding one end of the sping towards the other end of the housing. Once it's compressed, quickly get the pin inside the spring. Now use the pin to move the spring around until you get the pin the rest of the way through the housing. Insert the other C-clip.

Repeat for the other spring. Definitely wear eye protection for this.

For removal of the spring, put a cloth of the springs, pull the pin out, then use a screw driver to pry the spring out of the housing.

It's pretty obvious what I mean when you have the peices in hand.