HOW TO - Replace Transfer Case Linkage Bushing - JEEP

How to replace the bushing or grommet which connects the shifter linkage from the shift lever to the shifter arm on the transfer case.
The following part number should work for all transfer cases on the XJ, MJ, ZJ, TJ, WJ, KJ, as well as some JK models.
www.quadratec.com/products/52...
Checkout the D&E Store for awesome Jeep and
D&E MERCHANDISE:
teespring.com/stores/de-in-th...
We hope you enjoyed this video and will keep in mind that all information included is intended to be purely academic and in fact is only the opinion of D&E. We are not professionals, nor are we qualified to knight you a professional. D&E want to ensure that anyone modify or fixing their own vehicle does so in a safe manner which leaves the vehicle in a legal, roadworthy state. In short, DON'T BE A MONKEY WITH A TOOL BOX! If you don't know what you are doing, leave repairs and modification to the professional.

[@SethAndMeghan]

Dude.... I live in Colorado and mine broke on I-70. I've been getting under the wrangler and shifting by hand into 4wd every time it snows. This just saved me $200! Thank you so much!

[@MARZ1911]

You soak the bushing in hot water...it gets squishy and pops right in

[@christopherkatz9484]

that makes a lot of sense, thanks

[@0426dav]

Waiting for parts to do the same on a 2000 XJ.Thank you for your video and thanks to all your viewers for the information they provided as well.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea bud, I would read the comments on this one. People gave some great suggestions that I did not include in the video. Good luck

[@thatoutdoorschick]

I needed this video! Thank you!

[@jasonsteenblik621]

Thanks so much, you are right, there are no other videos showing this.

[@niterbum]

even technicians jeep manual does not show a clear picture of proper install of the bushing......only assy line workers at jeep know for sure

[@codykirkpatrick6200]

So common good vid my man

[@MSTrishRN]

Love your videos!

[@DEInTheGarage]

Thanks for the support!!

[@adamsadamz]

Thank you for this, helped me diagnose and solve my problem. Keep it up, you definitely have a new sub

[@wesbrown1279]

Thank you for the video!

[@keishagibbs3195]

Thank you! If you hadn't made this video I never would have know a bushing fits there. Every time it happened on my Liberty I just thought it was poor design and popped it back in.

[@TugsGarage]

Thank you, I ordered 2 today.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Good luck with it!

[@torpemonguz]

Hi. Thanks for Your usefull video! Greatings from Hungary!

[@ddc316]

This may sounds stupid, but this is one of the most helpful video's I have seen on how to fit those stupid grommets! I have a 95 Jeep YJ - with absolutely NONE of those grommets on the automatic shift linkage - and tore my steering column apart trying to find the noise that was telescoping up the steering shaft from where the linkage connects. These things will restore your sanity... Anyway, thanks a ton for the video! Turned my otherwise 2-3 hour ordeal into a 10 min job.

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

It's always obvious which side it goes into...at least that's what I've always been yelled at for.

[@DEInTheGarage]

He man... it is dark under there... mistakes happen

[@seashorelineone]

Loved the safety wire job! Probably all I need since I only use 4wd a couple times a year when it snows. Also wonder if freezing bushing would shrink it enough to fit more easily. Thx great video next stop Hollywood!😃

[@PaulSter]

Thanks for this. I haven't gotten under there yet, but I think while the arm didn't come loose, I think the bushing just dry rotted and vaporized into thin air. Now I hearing the chirping (annoying AF) of metal against metal. Plenty of time to put the new one in tomorrow. Nothing but time on 3/25/20!

[@jessicacaraballo9265]

Thanks a lot!! This helped a great deal.

[@MICHAELWALTON1]

beauty ! Thanks for the problemo solver answer!

[@MrPhiliphayden]

My 84 CJ7 has that same design to connect the shifting linkage to the auto transmission. With the help of your video I feel like this is a possibility. Otherwise the bailing wire was about to go back on. 😅

[@christopherkatz9484]

haha you're right, most of us car guys aren't also football guys. Great vid, thanks, broke mine on a trail yesterday

[@Cgny]

Just had this happen and my xj was stuck in part 4wd. Got underneath and sure enough. Thanks for making my life a lot easier

[@shake9574]

Good job! I’m in the south and mine has fell apart three times in 23 years

[@jonasch4425]

you know you can just slap a washer on it and couple E clips WORKS GREAT!!!!

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Great video. Here's a thought why not put it in the freezer to shrink the rubber and then slide it in and as it heats up it expands. Never replaced it before but that's how I usually do bushings.

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

Yup. Most things will shrink when they are cold!

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Frank Schwarz haha true story

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea, i can't believe I didn't think of that! That has to be the "correct" way to do it.

[@BrettHoustonTube]

Thanks for the cool tip on the vice grips for the bushing. I wasted the best part of the day trying in vain. Even boiling water to soften it up failed.

[@richtyler8034]

Dude you are a genius. Thank you.

[@dawoodk103]

Exlnt young man.

[@freeebirdx1316]

Thank You!

[@younggun7901]

Put the grommet in first then pop the bar into it. Much easier

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

I want to see you be a beauty blogger.

[@DEInTheGarage]

That, I believe, would break KZbin permanently..

[@sagebrush2667]

Boiling water under the Jeep was not a possibility so I tried a hair dryer set on low--easy to carry under the vehicle. Warmed up the linkage and the bushing and it got squishy and popped right in using channel lock and very little pressure.

[@dkt1976dt]

I'm getting ready to replace the T Case bushing on my 2004 Jeep Liberty Renegade, its stretched now and I have to hold my T Case lever for it to engage into 4 High and then slowly let the lever go for it to stay in 4 High

[@pablomarquez4431]

Try maybe putting the bushing in warm water to soften it up and then pop it in.

[@MARZ1911]

Put the piece in near boiling water to soften it

[@ponch19821]

If you did it with the grease and vice, long needle noises, or channel lock of some sore are the easiest way I can think of to get them "f'ers" in

[@rickallen64]

Heat It up!! Then viola!! Poof!! Presto (ACCIO!!) lol I put my parts in front of a diesel fired garage heater... Of course, I use this year-round, it is cheap and easier than you may think. I use a salvaged (rebuilt) unit I got free that needed other free parts I found or buy one. Mine is rated @ 75k BTU, But I may have the pump pressure up a little higher than normal. LOL This heater unit I have sits on a table or the floor, I slide the table back and forth facing the heater outlet, from contact to as far as I want to control saturation time. The bushing flange always rides against the part that doesn't move!! The Further away the safer the heat up time of course, I use it for bearings and all sorts of stuff... Try it out, you can use anything to heat it I guess, but I am telling you slick as snot!!! Heat is your friend... You do not want grease, that attracts dust, dirt = wear = failure prematurely. I'd also recommend a hair dryer or industrial type heating iron/dryer for the pure novice. For the Purely Professional he can use the mighty Mapp Gass torch purely backyard TEKnique or is it professional!! LOL Great Video!!

[@talatalkhawaja]

thanks for the info I did check mine and it looked abit brittled and torn and almost gonna fall off how ever I also have another problem at the shiffter rod going into the tcase . it looks like the seal is bad on it and its leaking fluid . the question is do you know if i have to drop and open the tcase to chang that or can i fish the seal from the outside then push the new seal ond o ring around the shaft.

[@patpollifrone1651]

We used a 2 ft pry bar to get that bushing in this weekend. Popped out twice

[@DEInTheGarage]

fun project, right?

[@patpollifrone1651]

@@DEInTheGarage oh let me just tell ya haha. Colorful was the language at best

[@wildbill23c]

This makes me want to go out and work on my XJ...ahh crap I don't have one LOL. I've never had to replace one of those bushings, looks pretty easy to do but you would think maybe a smaller bushing with a retaining clip on the back side of that linkage to keep it from falling out even if the bushing disintegrates. You probably should crawl under the Jeep and spray that bushing periodically with some silicone spray to keep it from disentegrating.

[@DEInTheGarage]

That is the best idea I have heard yet! i hadn't thought about preventative maintenance for those little buggers..

[@landrunner01]

Have you tried warming up the plastic so it is more flexible

[@niterbum]

mine is in exactly the same shape as yours maybe worse with the rust....there is only one bolt securing that lever to the transfer case...i think i am going to remove it sand blast/grind/file prime and paint it back into shape before install new one

[@nicksling-it2167]

Easy, u put it in the hole first then push the other into it, done it lots. Hole first or u fight it

[@alanncsu3243]

Have you tried pre-chilling the grommet so it's external diameter is smaller when installed? Also, if you put the grommet into the bracket first, the channel for which it resides once installed - could (should) have some extra play for installing the bar through the hole afterwards. If you installed the post into the grommet first, it might not leave enough clearance for the grommet to fit into the bracket afterward... so your order is likely the right approach. :)

[@gerardomedina7198]

Thanks brother do u happend to have the part number for the bushing?

[@niterbum]

to make the job easier...one bolt attaches this to lever to transfer case... remove lever clean up and install bushing on the bench.....attach back to transfer case snap in cable

[@l3arrett82]

mine fell out and still has the bushing on it and i cannot get it back in, im thinking of taking it off and cutting the old bushing off and replace with a new one and do it the way you did because it seams near impossible to do it with the bushing still on the nipple.

[@tnargskoorb1]

Another tip is I installed a Crown bushing but I ordered a Mopar one as well. The Crown one is so much harder than the Mopar one which almost has more rubber like feel to it. I would think it would be way easier to pop in than the Crown.

[@noisylobster499]

Do you know the mopar P/N?

[@tnargskoorb1]

@@noisylobster499 No I’m sorry I don’t remember what it was.

[@FORGERPRIME]

I've seen a push/pull cable setup that replaces the whole linkage, but it's a coupla hundred bucks I think. What about fabbing up a piece of flat stock w/ a hole in each end and bolting that in place of the rod that popped out?? I'm wanting a TJ, but I'm guessing a lot of what you and BJ do on XJ's will apply, so I'm watching and rewatching y'alls videos to learn as much as possible so I can hit the ground running on that magic day the Jeep Fairy comes.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea, at the end of the day all these Jeeps are very similar, especially the TJ, XJ, and ZJ. They share the same motor, transfer case and the entire front suspension setup is identical. The stuff Matt over at BJ used to do with XJs is insane. He is the reason I started this channel. haha

[@OutJeeping]

I would check out the "Azzy Design Works" XJ linkage. Its a far better design then factory and easy to install.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I will have to do that. Thanks!

[@kc_stunna]

Is it the same process on a 03 Grand Cherokee? I have selec trac

[@billlee5287]

Heat it up with a heat gun then pop it in place, then use heat gun again to heat grummet again then pop in Lever!! Done

[@katielindsay3812]

You’re a saint for this! Been looking everywhere to figure out how to get it....I don’t quite have the strength of a grown man to get it in there easy. I’ve seen forums talking about how someone used a nylon bushing 5/16” from a hardware store instead for it to last longer? Thoughts on that?

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea, I have seen folks do that, but have never tried it myself. It never seemed to me like it would actually last longer, but I could be wrong

[@JohnSmith-xz5fb]

This is for the second shifter in the car that lets you shift to 2wd and then Part-time 4wd then High 4wd then low 4wd? this is the problem I am having can't shift that into gear .. stuck in part-time right now. Pain .. please respond if you can. Thank you so much JP in Michigan .

[@tnargskoorb1]

I used channel locks but I put a small plumbing nipple on other side so pliers aren’t pushing back against the taped side of bushing that is trying to come through hole. Nipple fits around other end. Popped right in. Took like a minute. No heating bushing. No grease.

[@DEInTheGarage]

that is a great idea actually. thanks! I hope I never have this issue again, but as I am sure I will I will use that method

[@tnargskoorb1]

D&E In The Garage ya and if you use channel locks it squares them up nice to push bushing in straight.

[@tadavis12]

Man this makes me wanna go wrench on the xj. Got a couple little things to work on it but it’s 22 degrees here so..... nah

[@DEInTheGarage]

I hear that, buddy.. if I can;t do it in the garage this time of year, it doesn't get done!

[@MC-eh2ot]

Good video bud! Have some clinking noose when I'm in drive on the transmission but stopped. When I start to drive it disappears. When I put it in park it disappears. Could this be it? Or something else?

[@DEInTheGarage]

Hmmm... This could be it. not sure. definitely get under there and see if something is loose

[@zachariahhogge83]

So the truck to this is to use rubbing alcohol as a lubricant. I know it sounds funny but it makes rubber extremely slippery for a few seconds before it evaporates off. If you use rubbing alcohol they will slip right in no pliers needed.

[@DEInTheGarage]

No kidding?? I never would have guessed that. Thanks!

[@tnargskoorb1]

Thanks that’s a good tip. Gonna put it in hot water then use rubbing alcohol.

[@robertlogan7691]

Rubbing alcohol worked! Used some channel locks and squirted the rubbing alcohol on the grommet and it took about 30 seconds to get it installed. Prior to this I had wasted so much time not being able to get that stupid bushing installed. Awesome tip!

[@JohnSmith-xz5fb]

2000 Jeep grand cherokee larado cable bushing for 4-wheel drive shifter ????

[@tonypalliser3761]

I had the same issue today - in fact the car is now stuck in HR 4x4 (KJ Jeep Liberty). While I wait a few weeks for the bushing to arrive (I am in Australia) - is it possible/easy to move the lever back into 2 WD by hand?

[@shake9574]

Maybe late, but yes. You just crawl under and move it by hand

[@choppedandscrewedcustoms]

Would that plastic piece work on the shifter on a 98 grand Cherokee the cable keeps coming off on mine when I shift from park to drive and vice versa

[@DEInTheGarage]

No, this part is only for the transfer case linkage. There is a different part for the transmission linkage. I admit that I am not sure which part you will require

[@pablomarquez4431]

Do you know if they make a bushing for the 42re shifter cable bushing? Mine is zip tied. And never realized it.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I would check on Quadratec. They likely have something

[@df9398]

If you would of put it in really hot water for a few mins, the rubber would of been soft enough for it to be playable for a better result and only would of taken a few mins to get it done

[@DEInTheGarage]

That is very interesting and something I had not thought of... That just might be enough to make this job a TON easier. Thanks!

[@RE-mw5jy]

My whole 4x4 is messed up on my jeep, my linkage rod is in my hand and idk where yo put iy

[@metropcs7250]

Let the bushing sit in hot water for 10 20 min before you put it in the hole.

[@user-ex2hi2vj7v]

🤗👍

[@daveshane957]

Depending on what kind of plastic it is, it might be worth trying to warm up the bushing with a heat gun to soften it up a little.

[@CFITOMAHAWK]

or hot water for 10 minutes +/-.

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

Fingers first!

[@DEInTheGarage]

There was just no way to get through this video without an abundance of innuendo...

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

@@DEInTheGarage I thank you.

[@meadowbyastream]

Hey, I've got a strange one, and yours is the closest vid so far... but not quite it. That bar, that goes into the frame itself, that all the likage is connected to. Mine is sliding in and out of the bracket on the FRAME of the Jeep... like maybe there is a retainer of some sort missing. If I could find a good pic, diagram, etc, of what it's supposed to look like, I could sort it out!

[@meadowbyastream]

At 3:24 in the video, see where your hand touches the frame on the right side of your hand. Go straight up, and see the round rod there, that is slightly yellow? Right THERE is where mine is sliding in and out of the frame to it's right.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I am not certain, but I think this same part is what you need. They dry rot and just fall out

[@meadowbyastream]

@@DEInTheGarage Thanks, D&E! I did find a repair kit for it, sounds like you were right on.

[@mikeboston421]

@@meadowbyastream had the same problem, should be a green bushing in there, if not you need the green one, all the replacement part kits include a green bushing

[@albertwykoff4795]

I think it be time to get some new linkage Set rusted stuff get some new linkage if you can

[@MrMikebizzle1]

holy rust

[@niterbum]

i was quoted $57 at the stealership today for that bushing does that sound right?

[@mcanderson3511]

I know this is an old question, but that's more than a fair price. When I retired in 2013, the "stealership" labor rate was at least $120 per hour. So if that part was 3 bucks, you got it done for .5 hours and the dealer didn't really make anything substantial on it.

[@officialWWM]

Holy crap, there’s some rust under there!

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

It slides on and goes in the hole....That's what she said!

[@DEInTheGarage]

There he is! This one was so full of Frank bait, that I finally just had to shout you out...

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

@@DEInTheGarage Frank bait. Love it!

[@danhambrick6331]

Wow,that big ass box for that little part...lol...

[@DEInTheGarage]

Right?? Could have saved everyone a bunch and put it in an envelope!

[@jtmoffroad]

I’ve got a video on it! Haha it’s not as good as yours though. I didn’t show me doing it cause I fought with mine too until I used some channel locks to press mine in hahaha

[@DEInTheGarage]

Hmmm... so maybe this IS the "right way"

[@danpeterson4920]

I was about to thumbs down you because you're a bears fan. You would understand because I'm a Packers fan. BUT seriously the sanding trick bro come on genius s$&# right there. Thanks

[@scottcorrell3139]

hey I like football better than working on my frickin jeep!

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

That diagram......oh my LORD.....

[@DEInTheGarage]

Christ, you are right... I really should have just kept this video to myself. HAHA

[@iggyp06]

Brah cmon.......Family, guns, Jeeps and COWBOYS are some of the best things in life...... I wont hold it against you though boss for being a fan of a sad team.😂😂😂

[@DEInTheGarage]

LOL... Being a Bears fan builds character.. believe that!

[@Cherokee-sz7xi]

Jesus god ! How the hell do you guys deal with that damn rust?

[@DEInTheGarage]

I get asked that a lot... I only buy really cheap Jeeps to daily because i also plow with them and put about 30k miles per year through NJ road salt and snow. It makes more sense to get a rust bucket, ride it hard for 3 years and then set it out to pasture. I would like to spend the money on a really nice - rust free - XJ, but my lifestyle would destroy it in a few years...

[@robgittens4533]

Welp you've just shown the easiest way to fix it ...colorful language and a pair of vice grips......LMAOOOOO

[@DEInTheGarage]

The only way I've found yet...

[@sheilamariesmet6738]

Get a pen to push it in

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

"I don't know the right way to put these things on is..." I've said that before and have 4 kids to prove it.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Dang, buddy... four little Franks running around??

[@FrankSchwarzfree]

@@DEInTheGarage i never learned what caused kids.

[@PaulSter]

@@FrankSchwarzfree lololol

[@joshuabird852]

You must not be using Morris repair kit retainers. They break installing them that way even greased. Cheap junk parts

[@davidmeyre7303]

Lol underneath a freaking jeep...lol

[@islandlazy99]

Don’t shave it down.

[@user-uj3zk2cx8t]

Awful lot of talking for a five minute job