Dana 20 shifter rattle

[KaiserMan]

Two out of three of my Jeeps have a rattle coming from the shift lever at speeds of around 50MPH +. I haven't had a chance to pull one out and dig into the shift box to see what's causing it. Anyone else fixed this issue before?

This is on the 66-79 style shifter on the passengers side btw.

[J20 project]

Most of mine did as they got older. Rhythmic vibration as a result of probably gearbox and driveshaft slip yoke wear. Thatcombined with looseness in the shifter assay allows it to show up that way in the shifter.
J20

[FSJunkie]

I don't think quiet operation at highway speeds was a design consideration of a Jeep shifter in 1962.

Mine does it at certain speeds, especially with the air conditioning on. I used to shove a piece of foam between it and the underside of the dash to make it shut up on long trips.

[KaiserMan]

My dually with 25K miles doesn't do it, neither did my 71 when I bought it with 40K miles. Seems like it's a wear issue with mileage.

[Gladiator4x4]

Do you have the single lever with the u shaped pattern? There is a grease zerk on the bottom side of the shift box may have to dig through some mud to find it. Look at the ends of your box where the linkages stick out, one of the brass bushings fell out of mine and link was just hanging in the bore.

[KaiserMan]

Do you have the single lever with the u shaped pattern? There is a grease zerk on the bottom side of the shift box may have to dig through some mud to find it. Look at the ends of your box where the linkages stick out, one of the brass bushings fell out of mine and link was just hanging in the bore.

I've been pumping mine full of grease regularly, but never though to take more than a passing look at the rest of the under side of the box. I'll give it a good look over the next time I have it on the left and take a look at the bushings.

I've got some NOS gaskets for the lower cover of the shift box, I may just pop it apart and dig around.

[threepiece]

Two out of three of my Jeeps have a rattle coming from the shift lever at speeds of around 50MPH +.

This is on the 66-79 style shifter on the passengers side btw.

My J20 has/had a rattle at those speeds. I always thought it was the transfer case but didn't think to check the shift lever as I was driving it.

Something let go in the drive train recently, I noticed the day before it let go the sound of the rattle had changed slightly. I have removed the trans (T18) and transfer case and am installing one from my old Cherokee.

This thread has prompted me to look closer at the shifter while it is on the bench, I don't see any looseness or anything I consider unusual. Can you actually stop the rattle when the lever is held?

Here is a link https://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums...ad.php?t=49387 of a thread that shows a hoist that I made to ease the removal and installation. I may post a separate thread showing the link for others.

[KaiserMan]

Can you actually stop the rattle when the lever is held?

Yes, light pressure held against it in either direction makes it stop.

[timwiller]

sloppy shifter

had the same with mine. guts are worn.
somewhere in the forums dude takes the shifter housing apart and does some creative welding{add material} and grinding on the parts that are worn to restore them. claimed it worked.

there are no parts, when they are worn out that's it

anyway, get a twin-stick.

.

[bufurd]

Pull the 4 little bolts on top, pull the cover and take a shim or two out that'll tighten it up.