Shifter problem...?? a little bit long

[Guest Anonymous]

Last night when driving home i was coming off the highway and I heard this weird..."Ba-Dwaaanngg!" that sounded like some spring let loose from something, but i couldn't tell if it was in the car, or outside, or someone else's car.

Anyway, my shifter felt a little loose and had a lot of extra movement, but still shifted about the same. I pulled the boot around the shifter. Now the balljoint where the stick comes down in to, moves back and forth quite a bit... It doesn't look right.

Any idea on what may have let loose? Let me know what you think it might be as well as where I could pick up replacement parts. Also, would this be something a novice mechanic could do, or would i need to take it to a shop.

thanks,

Baron

portland,or