My ST170 has developed a rattle which is coming from the gearbox linkage (the part inside the centre console in the car). I took the cover off to have a nosey around, and I spotted that a bright orange circular clip had broken off (it was just lying there in the bottom of the car), I've no idea where it came from and after having fished it out to keep in a safe place had a clumsy moment and dropped it back down into the hole where the gear linkage is and it has disappeared! I assume it's an important part otherwise I'd have had no problem holding on to it!

Does anybody have any tips on:

1) Making the gear linkage a bit smoother
2) Where this orange clip came from (circular with a thicker bit and a gap on the thin side)
3) How to resolve the rattle. It only appears in third gear, that's also the only gear I can feel movement in the gear leaver. The gearbox still feels strong so I assume it's not excess vibration from there, it only happens at low revs under load too.

 

You can remove the counter weight off the gearlinkage to give you a better feel to the gear change, nice a light.

 

read alot of mixed opinions about removing the counter weight, yes removing it does make the change smoother but would ford have spent ŁŁŁŁŁ's on designing it if the car didnt need it?

 

Well the rattle seems to have gone away for the time being (or maybe I've just got used to it). I've got used to the clunky gearbox and found it is possible to be smooth with it. The orange clip thing has not returned either... maybe it's magically fixed itself - that's what I'm telling myself at least.

 

I personally are of the same opinion, i have not removed the counter weight off my linkage, i think it makes the change feel more positive. The one thing i dont like is the long throw on the box, time for a short throw linkage