New Shift Boot installed w/pics
 

Yesterday I decided to finally get around to installing my replacement leather shift boot which I purchased from http://www.aglausa.com/ who supply http://www.type-911.co.uk/ac_carinteriors.htm in the UK apparently. The boot cost $54.95, plus $12.00 for the special colour and $6.75 for S/H for a total of $73.70.

I had purchased it some time ago along with some replacement handbrake/console trays. Also, I had previously replaced the handbrake lever and broke the sensor spring so I had ordered a new spring and sensor ($16) and decided to install these as well.

This is the worn-out old boot (pretty nasty). I removed the base of the boot by placing pressure along the bottom left hand side where the base (which contains a wire frame) is held in place by 2 clips:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/gearshiftarrow.jpg

Here you can see the base released from the clips and also I have peeled back the top of the old boot (not necessary) to expose the knob:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/peeld_back_boot.jpg

This is the new leather boot prior to install:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/new_boot.jpg

To remove the entire knob you simply pull up on the knob until it slides gently off the shift lever underneath. You can see the lever and rubber boot in this pic:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/rugger_boot.jpg

Once removed you can pull out the knob from the old leather and then remove the wire frame (you will need both of these to re-install). The wire frame was sown into the base of my boot and I had to remove with a craft knife:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/underoldboot1.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/underoldboot.jpg

Next it is necessary to pull the new leather up and over the old black knob. This takes some fairly strong and gentle effort to ensure that there is enough overlap (around 50mm is recommended) to tuck over the top edge of the old knob. Also remember to line up the stitching on the boot with the grooves in the knob.

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/newcovering.jpg

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/lookingat_top.jpg

Once I had pulled the leather sufficiently over the knob, I had to ‘train’ the leather to fold over the sides quite a few times until I was able to squeeze the cap (top of shift knob containing gear map) on without the leather bunching or jumping out of the way. It may take numerous tries to get this how you want.

Next step is to insert the wire frame into the base of the boot. Don’t worry, it is not necessary to sow or even glue this in place; the new boot is elasticated and very snugly holds the frame in place. Just be sure to line the stitching up with the approx center of the correct side of the frame:

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/un...h_new_boot.jpg

To install the finished shift simply push the knob back down onto the shift lever. Next push the base down under the console and then position the right hand-side up against the console where it belongs – all that’s left is to raise the left hand-side so the frame snaps against the clips. I had a struggle getting the frame to snap back in place, so I had to remove the 4 screws holding the center console in place just enough to get my fingers underneath and apply pressure from below to ‘pop’ the frame into place against the clips.

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/finishedproduct.jpg

All in all, once the new black plastic trays were in place, I was very happy with the finished result, although my fingers are still sore and I wish it was less “bunched up” – although I think this is probably as good as it gets without buying a pre-installed boot!

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/fi...roductdown.jpg

Now not all was sweetness and light yesterday...I had decided to replace a broken sensor spring in my brake lever that I had broken (at least I thought I had broken) some months ago when I replaced the lever.

Originally when I had installed my new brake lever, the light stopped functioning and I found a broken sensor spring on the floor which appeared to make sense. I went and ordered a new one (plus a new $16 sensor) from Pelican and left the job until my other new parts where to arrive.

Yesterday AFTER taking the brake lever out I discover that the sensor and spring are perfectly intact and that the spring I had found previously was off the OLD lever (Doh!!) so I reassemble the damn thing and then go and BREAK the spring a second time putting it back!! (Does this misfortune only happen to me?)

Bottom line is that I still have no working handbrake sensor! Looking at the brake it appears that the spring is riveted in place? Anyone know how to replace this?

On a side note John B, I also thought yesterday before I started that my handbrake was nice and tight and decided that I had 'imagined' any wiggle way back when I replaced it. Now I've had it removed again......it feels like it has play in it!!!! I am convinced this is ALL IN THE MIND!!!!!!

:cheers: