What is this gearbox issue?

[Kronic Budz]

Ok well its not super bad, but on my 97 a4 2.8 122k miles w/ stock clutch that i know is going to be going sooner or later. It is sometimes harder then normal to get the shifter into first and sometimes second gear.

It almost sometimes goes half way and need to push it a little more to get it all the way in the gear. Also. When my shifter is in gear, it has some play, i can move the shifter left and right probably 1/4 of an inch and depending on how much on and off i am with the gas with the car in a steady gear, the shifter will move around slightly. Is this a throwout bearing? Should i just not worry about it since ill be doing a clutch in less then a year anyway, or maybe sooner if it goes out...

i dont feel like changing my fluid unless i NEED to. thanks guys.

[bob12312357]

Its the actaul bushings in the shifter that allow the side to side and back and forth movement your talking about while in gear. YOu can buy a bushing kit and do it oyurself in less then an hour. Me personally I like a lil play so I let mine be.