Shifter wiggles left and right while in gear

[GLImk2]

I brought my Jetta in to get the shifter rebuilt. Lo and behold all that was replaced were the bushings. This made each gear feel more in place, but the shift lever still has lots of play going left and right if i wiggle it while in gear. Since the mechanic doesn't seem to know what's up, does anyone here no which part(s) I need to replace? I know GAP should have whatever it is I need.
Thanks in advance guys!

[ncbrock]

shifter box bushing (the orange one AND the big one around it) also the shifter rod itsself, and everything else in the box. I have a USRT kit and rebuilt everything and mine still wobbles, I just think that since there are so many linkages\connections its just going to be that way

[chrisgilmour]

ya i don't think it will ever be perfect, but what make a huge difference are the orange big bushings that are on the main shift rod

[GLImk2]

Damn, I think he replaced that bushing as well. It moves about an inch each way though. Like when I'm in 1st I can move it all the way over past where 3rd is haha.

[under the radar]

who cares...your hand shouldn't be on your shifter unless your shifting.

[Smiff]

I've been thinking some kind of bearing setup on the shift rod at the box exit might take some slop out. Something similar to the steering column arrangement, probably overkill and wouldn't necessarily fix your problem.

[GLImk2]

who cares...your hand shouldn't be on your shifter unless your shifting.

Haha it would just be nice if it was firmly in place. I love me a nice firm shifter

[under the radar]

Haha it would just be nice if it was firmly in place. I love me a nice firm shifter

get a USRT kit and replace all the other factory bushings and it feels pretty damn good.

[Mr. Knappy]

Just get the USRT bushings. Don't waste the money on the fancy rods. I have the bushings in my car and it feels just as good as the set that comes with the rods.

[89Coupe]

What about the pivot point under the console? Was anything done to that?

[Hombre3000]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that you don't need the USRT kit to have a relatively slick/tight shifter. Your mechanic may have told you that he replaced all of the bushings, but you're going to have to look at the whole linkage and see what's causing the extra play.
Can you lift up your shifter at all? That's the shifter ball.
Side-to-side play, as others said, is likely caused by the 2 orange bushings on the main shift rod. There's one in the bay and one at the shift box. Your mechanic probably didn't get to the rear one, as it's much less convenient to replace.

Keep in mind, too, that some of the play comes from the transmission itself. You can look at the bracket coming right off the transmission when someone is shifting or wiggling the shifter and see that it gives a little.

Good luck!

Edit: Also, you can grab a weighted shift rod out of a Mk3 in a junkyard. They came stock and they're a direct replacement for the long rod. Makes a big difference.

[VR6 GLX Man]

I got some left and right play in my shifter also, I've gotten used to it, I've been told that I need the ball though, so when I can see it being done in the future.

[08-Jetta]

Take the shift boot off and check the orange bushing where the rod exits towards the front of the car. Wiggle it left and right and see if that is the bushing causing it to be so loose. This was the problem on my first car.

[GLImk2]

Wow thanks for all this insight everyone! That's pretty interesting to hear about the MK3 weighted rods. There are endless MK3s at my local scrap yard. And my mechanic said he could take another look after I told him of the wiggly shifter haha