Abstract: A manual transmission shifter includes a shift lever pivotally supported on a base for multi-axial pivoting movement, and a bell crank pivotally supported on the base and operatively connected to the shift lever by a pivot/slide connection. Two cables are operatively attached to the shift lever and the bell crank, respectively, for shifting the transmission. A pivot/slide connection includes an aperture in the bell crank with grooves, a bushing operably mounted in the grooves for both linear sliding and rotational movement on the grooves, and an arm on the shift lever that telescopingly engages the bushing. A top cover compresses the flat spring between the top cover and the socket. The shift lever includes arms that attach to bushing blocks, which engage the flat spring so that when the shift lever is pivoted in the one direction, the associated opposing portion of the spring(s) biases the shift lever back toward a centered position.