Does anyone know if the shifter bushing in the second gen trucks is the same as the 1st gen trucks?  I thought about this the other day because I noticed my shifter was developing a little bit of looseness to it.  These are more like truck trannys, so I can't expect it to be the same smooth and fast shifting as road cars, but I thought I might try to tightened it up a bit and replacing the shifter bushing came to mind.

It's either the same part or a very similar one - I'll check the parts catalog and confirm - you have a 2.0 right?

Yes.  Thank you.

Exact same part numbers used on the SE416 (Gen 1) & SQ416/SQ420 (Gen 2 - four cylinder) ...

28117-60A00 - SEAT, CASE
25551-60A02 - BUSH, LEVER

The SQ625 (Gen 2 - V6) uses a different transmission and shifter arrangement.

Excellent!  Thank you much, Fordem.

You're welcome

I ordered two shifter bushings for my Tracker from Low Range yesterday. 

Interestingly, their site info stated the bushings would only fit through the '98 models.  I asked their on line sales person if they would not work for the 2nd gen Trackers and mentioned that you (Fordem) had done a parts number search for me which indicated they were identical parts between the model years.

After a few minutes of searching, the sales person stated that they would indeed fit all the model years, including the 2nd gens with the 5 speed tranny.  So, they now have an expanded application for their shifter bushings and will probably update their site info on these bushings to reflect this.

It's all good!

In addition to having an old copy of the WWEPC on a PC, which lets me match part numbers in a database,  there's also Rhonda at the local Suzuki dealership - let me tell you, that girl KNOWS her stuff - she can tell you what parts can be interchanged, even when the numbers are different, and what part numbers supercedes what, especially on the GVs.

I've seen occasions on which I walk in & say I'm looking for XYZ, and she will sit and look at me for 15~20 seconds and then get up from the desk and fetch the part, she'll check the computer for the price, but she knows what she's looking for and which bin it's in "off the top of her head".

Oh to have a hi-speed parts clerk like her near me.  Don't get me wrong, there are good people here, but for so many people it is just a J. O. B. from 8-5 and nothing more.  I can't work that way.  If it is good enough for me to be interested in working the field, I'd have to be in it with both feet.

Kinda goes back to what's missing in "customer service" in so many businesses these days.  Tons of  of clerks masquerading as sales persons.... but very few true sales persons who know their products or business inside and out.  It's a joy to observe someone who loves their work going at it.

Installed the new shifter sheet and the new bushing last evening in Buster.  WORLD of difference in gear selection.  Tightened it right up.  No more searching for gears.  Click, click, click into gears again.

I took some pics I will eventually post up.  Especially the side by side of the shifter sheet.  There is a noticeable difference in the thickness of the pocket where the shifter ball rests/nestles in the shifter sheet.  The old one has been worn down to a very sharp edge, whereas the new one has about an 1/8th of an inch lip at the bottom of the pocket.

After you have placed your trans shifter in the neutral position, removed the console and outer t-case and shifter boots, this is a pic of how the shifter appears after you have pulled up the inner rubber boot off the shifter.  Note both of the side bolts are tightened down.

IF both bushings pulled out with the shifter, this is how they would sit on the shifter.  That bushing on the end of the shifter actually sits way down in the bottom of the shift tower.  You need a small, stiff wire to hook it and lift it out of where it seats.

Note both of the side bolts have been screwed out and also note the locking tabs on the barrel that sits over the shifter ball.  There is a spring under this barrel that you simply push down on and rotate it to unlock it.  The springs under the barrel will push it upwards to remove it.  It locks in place just like a tail light bulb.

Those two bolts have to be loosened so the shifter sheet can slide out and the new one can slide in.

I have also wiped a lot of the excessive grease off the parts in the pic so you can see them better.  During install, I coated the throat of the shifter, the shifter ball and the bushings with grease during the install.

This is a pic looking straight down into the shift shaft where the bushing on the ball of the shifter sits.  When you install the bushing, be sure the concave end of the bushing is facing upwards AND that the bushing is fully seated down in the shaft.  When you insert the bushing, you will feel two distinct levels the bushing drops down until it is fully seated.  If your shifter doesn't fully seat, check to ensure the bushing on the ball of the shifter is fully seated where it needs to be.

A side by side of the old and new bushing that the tip of the shifter sits in.

Finally got the pic of the shift sheet to load (which was kinda the point to this post).  The wear between the two is very noticeable.