I recently rebuilt the auto trans shift gate on my 1970 280SL. There is a spring in the housing that keeps pressure on the shifter rod. When I disassembled the gate, the open end of the spring was facing the passenger side. However when I look at the tech manual on this site, the photos show the open end of the spring facing the drivers side. To me, it makes more sense for the open end to be on the passenger side because the "hooks" on the end of the spring fit perfectly around the fork at the end of the shift rod. If installed facing the driver side, the hooks just sort of sit on the gear selector shaft. Any info would be appreciated. Also fyi rebuilding the gate is a must if your shifter is loose and doesn't stay firmly in position. There are a number of bushings in the assembly that break down over time and make a huge difference.
