Gear linkage problem

[Menophanes]

Last week a ball-joint in the gear-change linkage on my 2001 90HDi saloon fell apart in the middle of the road. An AA mechanic improvised a repair but emphasised that it was only a short-term solution. I am hoping to find the necessary part[s] myself so as to minimise the time the car spends in the garage (it is my only transport); the problem is that I do not know precisely what the item is called!

I give an image below, rather poor but I hope sufficient to identify what I need. It is a rod running across the engine compartment a little way above the steering gaiter, ending on the passenger side in a banjo-shaped head with a rubber insert. Only the head is visible here, its original appearance disguised by a sort of metal box which the mechanic has fitted over it. At the top of the image is the underside of the hydraulic reservoir. According to a specification recovered for me by a helpful member some time ago, the car has the DW10TD engine with BE4-5L manual gearbox.

I am sorry to be so ignorant. My only reference source is the Haynes book, which is profoundly unhelpful. Apart from anything else, it states that with this engine the gear-linkages are all cables rather than rods, so that in theory this component does not exist! Any guidance will be appreciated.

Oliver Mundy.

406_gear_linkage.jpg

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Breakers yards has got to be your best bet, or ebay
I replaced all three on my wifes 206 as they go sloppy
Much better with new ones fitted though

[steve_earwig]

Haynes, Haynes, Haynes I've got no idea what that is in the picture, it might be some shelving...

Maybe this will help

[dirtydirtydiesel]

That's the one Steve,
I replaced no 2, 3 & 3, 4 but on a 206 of course,
Made the selection much firmer & more positive

[Menophanes]

Thank you both for your replies. This problem eventually solved itself. I found on eBay a Sasic part, reference 4522852, described as 'Gear control rod' (Biellette changement de vitesses in the maker's French). Having checked the vendor's applicability list against the one on Sasic's own website (where its relevance to the 406 was confirmed), I decided to take the risk of spending GBP21.86 on it. It is now in place. I cannot say whether it is identical to any of the three such rods shown in Steve's illustration; it looks similar to those numbered 3 but seems to have a longer shaft. (I did not think of measuring it beforehand, unfortunately, but it must be about 280mm.) What I can say for certain is that it is the only component of its kind in my gear-linkage; the two other similar rods shown in the drawing do not exist in my car.

Oliver Mundy.