96 Rover Mini Cooper Gear Lever Buzzing Rattle Sound?

[Snoop]

Has anyone ever had a buzzing rattle sound coming from the gear lever (see below) which seems to stop and start and comes out of no where? It's a vibration type sound that drives you up the wall and at time it sounds like its at the top of the gear lever, then at the bottom of the gear lever then in the middle. Any ideas on a simple fix would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[CooperTune]

I recondition rod change shifters. I have bought reamers, machined alignment bushings to allow opening the shaft bores to 9/16 press steel backed bronze bushings in place. Then ream in line to 1/2 inch in the housing. I also set up the shift eye in my lathe, bore it to accept a bushing I machine then hone the bore to match the ball at bottom of stick. I'm currently out of cold rolled 1/2 steel rod. Once new rod is made and installed, I add a grease seal to the front 1/2 id 1 od. I also add a SS hose clamp below the pins that secure the stick cap to reduce rock at that point. Steve (CTR)

[minibitz]

As a rule rod change selectors don't emit vibration noise even when totally flogged out.

I would suggest checking that there are not any other components too close to the selector that could vibrate against it such as poorly aligned exhaust.

Check that the bush in rear of diff housing that selector support bar bolts through is still intact. These can fail.

Aside from that I would also check any steady bars and brackets to make sure they are good as sometimes sound will not necessarily be coming from where you think.

[Rubber Sprung]

After market engine mounts spring to mind once again ?

[Snoop]

Thanks for the suggestions which I will check out, cheers