shift lever questions. Please help

[sprewell17]

This may sound dumb but what does the black rubber boot under the leather boot do on your shifter? Does it serve any important purpose? Also I can remove my lever and black leather boot but how do I remove that black rubber boot that is underneath? While I'm at it how do I remove that shift lever? I heard a bushing sometimes needs to be replaced on it so I would like to look. Thanks in advance for any help. Great board.

[L8-4-A-D8]

I'm not sure exactly how to remove the shifter, but I think there are two bolts at the base (to remove-or adjust i think) and an E clip to hold the mec to the shifter- The 'inner boot' I think is to isolate outside from the interior-and possibly sound reduction--OT(I shortned my shifter about 1" w/a Dremell saw -both knob and shift lever had to be cut, I then cut the 'notch' at the top of the lever using the cut off bit as a template, worked great- not a shorter 'throw' but feels great & looks cool!) L8r - Alex