Landseer

Here are a few random pictures for those who have contemplated doing this and need to visualize the pieces/parts.

tailpipe

awsome pics was your cable broken or are you just replacing it because its old? is there any adjustments that go with a new cable ?

Landseer

I don't know yet, completed the shifter reinstall and trim work, did some cleaning, and went to sleep.

Now need to complete the connection at the transmission. I think it will be straightforward, though.

Cable seized in rear-most guide tube. This is the car Stan Shaw had with Euro front fenders. I had forced the shifter into low gear and it got jammed there. Wish I had forseen, I would have lubricated the cable before hand. Could not get it free, figureed I couldn't make it smooth as it needed to be, so bought a replacement.

Here's a shot of the underside of the shifter trim plate.

Those pivoting locks hold-down the trim plate along the edge near the driver.

They were fragile, pivoting on plastic pieces, and got broken. I was able to drill and put tiny screws in place to remount the pivots, now better than new.

Landseer

Here's one more for now.
Positioning the shift lever assembly during reinstallation.
Needed a lot of leverage to persuade the unit into place, with foam rubber interfering towards the back with the cable slipping into the hole above the torque tube. Lubed the cable with Sil glide. The pull was easy, no problem. The final positioning needed this screwdriver treatment.

Mrmerlin

nice job and thanks for posting pictures, it saves a lot of time when you can see whats next.
So I guess that your car has had a color change? I like the new color, anyway there is a rubber bootie that covers the lower portion of the trans shifter cable , if you dont have one it might be a good idea to get one so the cable will stay dirt/water free

Landseer

Thanks, I'll post some more from beneath during the mount/hook-up of the cable at the transmission end. The lower boot had worn-out and let sand and grit in. Got a new one, will make sure its seated.

Color? The red car was resprayed, but it done pretty well and it seems to be the same color. Maybe you refer to the car next to it, which is my son's Craigslist-find 944. Its been in for a TB/WP/Balance Shaft job. Last touch, injectors are expected back from Witch Hunter on Wednesday.

More trans cable pics to follow.

mj1pate

This is an old but useful thread, since I’ll be replacing my 86.5 cable with an ‘88 cable.
The question I have is what is the best lubricant for the (used) cable?

…and BTW: there were some expressed concerns from the forum about the ‘88 hoisting up into the ‘86.5 tunnel and it went in place fine.

Landseer

You might have another challenge.

32 v up thru 86.5 Bowden attaches at very front of engine compartment.....isnt 88 too short?

mj1pate

the 86.5 Bowden reaches, but securing it (keeping it fastened and steady) requires different method than the bolt eye on the cable that attaches to the transmission bell housing. I’m still working that out.
but I’m currently replacing the 86.5 trans shift cable with a healthy looking ‘88 cable and want to properly lubricator it and get that part done.

Landseer

Not sure best most proper way to lube that shift cable. I improvised back then. Would like to hear the expert way too!

tsill13

Another holy thread revival batman! Looking to see how in the world to pull the cable forward enough to undo the front nuts? WSM states to lower the trans and remove parts up to the upper control arms...

I cannot get my shifter assembly to come up and over the ashtray/center console trim area. hence likely the WSM stating to lower the trans.

Landseer

Gosh, it's been 14 years since this install.
Car is still back in Indiana, I left it with a friend 5 years ago.

Probably best that an S4 owner weigh-in on exact method. Although, seems like you could unhook cable at trans. Remove from linkage at trans. I remember there being a hard to reach mounting point also off the torque convertor housing. Can you see that point and remove that clip?

tsill13

I did get the cable disconnected from Trans no issues.
Its that i cant get the shifter assembly pulled forward through the center section. Any S4 owners done this?

mj1pate

After typing a long, detailed message and losing if entirely (on travel, poor connection), I’m trying much more briefly. The resistance to pulling the shift lever up and out is made worse by foam that the cable passes through providing cable resistance. Disconnect the cable at the transmission, lubricate the cables outer sheath from below as much as possible, then before you pull the old cable up and out, attach the front of the new cable to the lower end if the old cable. Use the old cable as a pull string for pulling the new cable up and into position. About that shift lever, with the old cable lubricated, it may become easier to pull, twist, wobble that shift lever up enough to detach the micro-miniature c-clip that retains the old cable to the lever crank, pull up and out the old cable, while simultaneously pulling the new cable in position.
attachment if the new cable is the reverse. Don’t lose that little c-clip in the process.

tsill13

Apologies for the time it took on the detailed message and losing it, I can tell you I really appreciate the response. I know what I feel is a lot about these cars especially having a 79 an 80 an 85 and also now a 90 s4.

Hoping to someday be able to provide back help to someone in need. To date I've only been able to post my own trials and tribulations, which hopefully can be helpful to someone else.

I will definitely lube the cable, and may have to raise the center console a bit to clear the shifter, and also appreciate the, "dont lose that c clip : )". It's those types of things that add an hour or more to a project when you drop it and say, oh man, where did that go i cant even see it...

Cheers, will report back when I am successful.