How do you change the shift cable on a Chevy Siverado 1500?

Answer 1

If this is the same as the 98 Chevy 1500 Cheyenne (which I have) then I can tell you the following:

As you probably already know, the cable is pretty $$$ - mine was $134 from Autozone.

You'll need to removed the lower part of the dash under the steering wheel by removing 4 or 5 screws then you'll find a couple of hex screws from the cover under the steering wheel. Do your self and removed the steel bracket behind that as well - you'll be glad you did. There are a couple of cables connecting to the shifting lever, you are going for the one on the right. To be sure of this look at the new cable you just bought to identify the connection type. You can carefully pop this off the connecting stud with a large flat head screw driver. Next you'll need to pop out a metal u shaped bracket that helps in holding the cable to the dash frame. The cable has a grommet with tabs/wings on it that keep it in place - these need to be squeezed to allow the cable to slip back out of the steel frame. Now you'll need to pull the carpet back. Before doing this it is best to remove the 2 bolts that hold the driver side of the bench seat. Pull the carpet back as far as you can exposing the shift cable path going down just under where you sit, actually a little closer to center floor of the vehicle. Climbing under the vehicle you'll see a rubber seal around where the cable goes through the floor. Pop this out with a flat head screw driver, this is actually part of the new cable so no worries of nicking it. Repeat the same process of removing the cable from under the truck as you did in side with the tabbed grommet as well as popping the cable off the lever of the shifter on the transmission case.

When installing the new cable - run the cable up from under the truck into the cab first and route. Also, VERY important - ensure that you get the cable is secure in the areas where the tabbed grommet hold it in place, failing to do so will cause the cable to fail in shifting and you'll have the same symptoms you started with - a sloppy disfunctional shifter.