Replacement shift knobs.

carolinus · 03-07-2003, 05:54 AM

I am looking for a high quality replacement shift knob and boot for my car. It looks like it will be an interesting fit, though. What do you guys recommend?

BTW, for those guys who are following my problems, I think I have them all fixed again. I used a smoke machine on my vacuum setup again, and found it was leaking at the intake boot. Seems the clamp screw there keeps backing out. Tightened it down, and viola! I now have a nice clean idle. Of course, this was after finding countless broken and worn out hoses under the intake manifold.

As for the no-start problem, it turned out to be the battery in the end. I got lucky, in that almost every part of the system was bad (cables, starter, and battery), and had to replace them all to fix it. Urgh.

Frank B · 03-07-2003, 06:04 AM

you said knob.. heheee..

scottmandue · 03-07-2003, 09:29 AM

My two centavos,

The shift knob on the 944 series does not lend itself to aftermarket mods. That is to say it is a one piece stick/knob unit as opposed to sticks that have the knob threaded on or use a set screw. I didn't like the "look" of the stick shift when I bought my car however I have found the design very ergonomic, you can even hold it like a joystick and pretend your in a jet fighter.

Having said that some folks have changed theirs so it is not impossible, but it seems to be more trouble than it is worth.

Hoo boy Franks going to have a field day with this post!

carolinus · 03-07-2003, 09:37 AM

Apparently, I have used my knob too much, and it is really worn out. All of it. I understand it is not very pleasant to change one, but....a factory replacement is undoubtably very expensive and hard to find.

Frank B · 03-07-2003, 09:38 AM

Quote:

you can even hold it like a joystick and pretend your in a jet fighter.

Playstation anyone?....

Quote:

That is to say it is a one piece stick/knob unit as opposed to sticks that have the knob threaded on or use a set screw.

My Willy's jeep had a shift knob Clear with a toy Rifle in it..and My sister's Lemans has a shift knob with The Virgin Mary in it.. hehee..
oops you said Knob again.... heee..

85944na · 85944na's Garage

Performance products sells a factory replacement that is very similar to the factory knob for around 75$ I think, Factory ones are very expensive I've heard. Otherwise you can get an aftermarket knob and boot to fit it, someone put a boxter knob on their car that looks good, and there are a lot with momo knobs I think, I have the performance products knob. I checked pelican, they don't have any that fit.

85944na · 85944na's Garage

wow, I said knob a lot.

anotherblack944 · anotherblack944's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by carolinus
... I understand it is not very pleasant to change one, but....a factory replacement is undoubtably very expensive and hard to find.

I had heard it wasn't fun either but that's referring to replacing the boot itself. Using the hints I'd seen here it really wasn't that bad. But, if your knob is really worn to the point it needs to be replaced I have seen combo boot/knob in the catalogs for ~75$. You just have to re-use the shift pattern button from your old one. Haven't looked to see if Pelican has them.

Hate to say it but I see them on e-bay quite a bit too.

Frank B · 03-07-2003, 11:53 AM

Quote:

wow, I said knob a lot.

That's because you like knobs ... alot....uh....h h h hhehehee...

Frank B

scottmandue · 03-07-2003, 12:05 PM

When you say worn badly do you mean the leather? It certainly would seem to be easier/cheaper to install a new knob/boot cover than to buy a new knob and retrofit.
Dunno

carolinus · 03-07-2003, 12:52 PM

Is it possible to replace the leather over the knob too?

scottmandue · 03-07-2003, 01:17 PM

Yes... I'm fortunate mine had been redone when I bought my '84 944 with 142K miles. As I understand you get the recover kit that is a one piece shift cover and boot thing.

anotherblack944 · anotherblack944's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by carolinus
Is it possible to replace the leather over the knob too?

After time the leather will just begin to fall apart. Its one piece from tunnel to top. There are two basic different makers of replacement boots (don't remember names). One is the guy that made the OEM boots and it recommends glue as part of the procedure. It's the glue that everyone I saw complained about making this a pain. The other comes in a bag with red and yellow label. I got one from partwerks for 30$.
Be sure to check the inner boot as well as I found mine to be all cracked.

Ok, This is how it went for my 84 so your should be the same (in horrible detail) the included instruction aren't great for either boot (seen both).. takes about an hour or so.

1) Pull lower edge of boot up and off of retaining clip.
2) Lift carpet on tunnel right ahead of console switches. There is a translucent plastic clip that slides under the retaining clip to hold it down.
3) CAREFULLY pry up plastic retaining ring with a small screwdriver. There are ~6 small clips that hold it to the tunnel and they break easily.
4) Pull inner rubber boot up and off of metal retaining ring on tunnel.
5) Invert both boots up over knob and you will see a "m" shaped retaining clip on the base of the knob. Remove that and the knob will lift right off.
6) There are two rubber bushings on the shift lever that sometimes also get worn. If your shift knob wobbles on the lever also replace those.
7) Remove the shift pattern button by prying it up and off with a small blade screw driver.
8) Cut (or peel) off the remains of the old boot.
9) Slide the replacement onto the knob from the bottom as far as you can making sure that the seam lines up with the groove in the rear of the knob. It's tapered so you'll only be able to get it part way on.
10) this is the only "difficult" part.. I used a small channel lock pliers to grab just the upper edge of the taper. Push down on the center of the knob and "walk" the leather up the knob. As you get more of it on you will be able to use the curved head of the pliers to lever it up. Keep this up till you have ~1/4th inch excess when you push it toward the center of the knob.
11) Using the screwdriver again, holding the boot against the top of the knob, push the escess down in the outer groove in the center of the knob. It takes a little while but eventually it will conform and start to stay in the groove.
12) Hold the leather as tightly as you can all the way around the top center of the knob and press the button back on (pay attention to the position relative to the front of the knob). It may take a whack from a mallet to seat it tightly.

Installation is just the reverse of removal. The new inner boot is folded accordian style in the tunnel.