elfarmcrew
Junior Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2014
- Posts
- 3
- Reaction score
- 12
- Ram Year
- 2014
- Engine
- 6.7 Cummins
Shifting into reverse to come out of a parking spot, I heard a "pop" and the column shifter flops around like a fish. Luckily, I was able to shift into drive and get home. In the driveway, I pull the boot to have a look at the innards and sure enough, the shifter bracket is broken. Looking at this bracket, I'm thinking what brilliant engineer designed this? A cheap cast aluminum part that's supposed to clamp around a hollow shifter rod and subject to being yanked on 50+ times per day. That'll hold up, right?
My first thought was to just buy a new bracket. They're less than $100, but it was Sunday and I was about to head out on a trip. Besides, what makes me think that the newer brackets are any better than the one that broke? So, here's my fix. I started off with some scrap steel, probably 3/16" thick or so. I drilled a hole at one end for the clamping bolt, then gently massaged it (read merciless beating with a ball peen hammer) to wrap around the broken piece.
I then drilled and tapped 4 holes near the free end of the strap into what looked like the meatiest part of the bracket. Basically, the broken piece is now a spacer for the shifter and the steel strap is the actual clamp.
A shot of silver paint and reinstall and now the shifter feels better than ever. Hopefully I'll never have to worry about this part ever again
My first thought was to just buy a new bracket. They're less than $100, but it was Sunday and I was about to head out on a trip. Besides, what makes me think that the newer brackets are any better than the one that broke? So, here's my fix. I started off with some scrap steel, probably 3/16" thick or so. I drilled a hole at one end for the clamping bolt, then gently massaged it (read merciless beating with a ball peen hammer) to wrap around the broken piece.
I then drilled and tapped 4 holes near the free end of the strap into what looked like the meatiest part of the bracket. Basically, the broken piece is now a spacer for the shifter and the steel strap is the actual clamp.
A shot of silver paint and reinstall and now the shifter feels better than ever. Hopefully I'll never have to worry about this part ever again