Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a park brake mechanism and a shift lever both operably attached to the base, and a console configured to cover the components. The components are designed to minimize parts and pieces, including minimizing time required for subassembly together as a unit and minimizing time required for assembly into vehicles. The park brake mechanism includes a quick-attachment structure for drop-in attachment to a spanning bracket for operably engaging wheel park brake cables in the vehicle to the park brake mechanism. The arrangement provides a balanced pulling force, despite unequal lengths of the park brake cables. Further, the shifter includes a shift lever adapted to shift a manual transmission, but constructed to minimize transmission of vibration from the vehicle to the shift lever during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the space or gap between a rigid, spherical boot and the periphery of an opening in a console trim plate through which the shift lever of the shifting mechanism extends. The mechanism provides both radial adjustment for providing a uniform gap and also allows for the assembly to be easily adjusted up or down with respect to the opening in the console trim plate.

Abstract: A modular shifter and method of assembly is provided with components assembleable in a common direction to facilitate assembly. The shifter includes a multi-piece base adapted to attach to a vehicle, the base including a first side member and a separate second side member. Cross support pins are insert molded into one of the side members so that they extend laterally for connecting to the other side member and to space the side members apart. A lever subassembly is pivotally mounted between the side members on a pivot pin, the pivot pin being supported by the side members between the side members. A cable bracket and a detent plate are connected to the side members by the cross support pins, the cable bracket including a stabilizing flange that abuts and is welded to the detent plate to stabilize same. The lever subassembly includes pawl for engaging the detent plate and further includes cable connector for operably connecting to a shift cable.

Abstract: A shift lever assembly for a vehicle is provided. The shift lever assembly ncludes a vertically oriented detent plate having a Z-shaped slot defining a 2-wheel-drive (2H) position, a 4-wheel-drive (4H) position, a neutral (N) position, and a 4-wheel-drive low-speed (4L) position. An actuator pivotally mounts to the detent plate and transfer case, the actuator including a first arm including a connector adapted to connect to a shift mechanism on a vehicle transfer case, and a second arm. A lever subassembly pivotally mounts to the actuator second arm and includes a detent pin adapted for movement in the Z-shaped slot. The lever subassembly is biased so that the detent pin engages the Z-shaped slot. As the lever subassembly is moved along a first path, it drives the connector on the actuator along a corresponding second path to shift the shifting mechanism.