shifter boot help
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Darth Cup
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From: Austin, TX
shifter boot help
Hi fellas,
I just received an aluminium shifter boot to replace the standard leather one. Problem is that I believe that my new shifter is missing one of the inner black rubber pieces that hold the shifter tunnel to the actual shifter rod. I noticed that with the aluminium shifter the tunnel that goes over the shifter rod is way too large for the rod and so fits onto it with two rubber pieces, one at the top of the **** and one at the bottom of the tunnel, unlike the standard leather shifter which has a full rubber tunnel that completely fits the shifter rod. Well, i'm missing the bottom rubber piece. I can tell that the piece used to be there because i can see the pattern where the rubber had rubbed off onto the aluminium tunnel.
Anyone know where i could get that replacement piece or can anyone think up an alternative solution. I can already hear the dealer saying, "Nope, you need to buy a whole new shifter."
Thanks!
I just received an aluminium shifter boot to replace the standard leather one. Problem is that I believe that my new shifter is missing one of the inner black rubber pieces that hold the shifter tunnel to the actual shifter rod. I noticed that with the aluminium shifter the tunnel that goes over the shifter rod is way too large for the rod and so fits onto it with two rubber pieces, one at the top of the **** and one at the bottom of the tunnel, unlike the standard leather shifter which has a full rubber tunnel that completely fits the shifter rod. Well, i'm missing the bottom rubber piece. I can tell that the piece used to be there because i can see the pattern where the rubber had rubbed off onto the aluminium tunnel.
Anyone know where i could get that replacement piece or can anyone think up an alternative solution. I can already hear the dealer saying, "Nope, you need to buy a whole new shifter."
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Darth Cup
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From: Austin, TX
Update...
I think taking a hacksaw to the end of the original shifter and jamming it into the aluminum tunnel as a replacement piece might do the trick. It might even work better than the original piece as it will be longer fitting.
(original shifter pulled inside out)
Anyone see why this wouldn't work?
I think taking a hacksaw to the end of the original shifter and jamming it into the aluminum tunnel as a replacement piece might do the trick. It might even work better than the original piece as it will be longer fitting.
(original shifter pulled inside out)
Anyone see why this wouldn't work?
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 172
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From: United Kingdom
Kevin
Before resorting to the hacksaw take a picture of the new shifter boot and **** and post them on the list(inside out and the right way around). Your first picture confused the hell out of me. I have done a similar job to yours on my C2 If I can help offer some advice then I would be more than happy to oblige. FWIW my replacement alloy gear **** (see below) had 4 small allen screws that fastened it to the top of the gear lever, the leather boot had a threaed alloy collar that screwed into the ****.
Before resorting to the hacksaw take a picture of the new shifter boot and **** and post them on the list(inside out and the right way around). Your first picture confused the hell out of me. I have done a similar job to yours on my C2 If I can help offer some advice then I would be more than happy to oblige. FWIW my replacement alloy gear **** (see below) had 4 small allen screws that fastened it to the top of the gear lever, the leather boot had a threaed alloy collar that screwed into the ****.
Thread Starter
Darth Cup
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From: Austin, TX
Hi Steve,
Too late, already resorted to the mini hacksaw...
I should probably clarify that the alum shifter I upgraded to is the factory shifter that came with widebody cars (i don't like the look and feel of the "cueball" alum shifter or the "plastic" look of the RS shifter.)
Replacing the missing piece with one i fabricated from my original shifter worked well. The fabricated piece would only fit backwards, since the tunnel on the alum shifter is wider at the end and my piece was larger at the top. The plastic stuck out about a quarter inch past the tunnel, but it wasn't a problem when i put the boot back onto the shift rod.
The widebody shifter looks alot better, but i kinda miss the softer feel of the narrowbody one. I also noticed that the stiching around the perimeter of the boot is no longer hidden under the console (maybe my bad installation); but i guess i can live with that. But amazingly, the car seems to shift into gear somewhat smoother than it used to. Go figure.
Too late, already resorted to the mini hacksaw...
I should probably clarify that the alum shifter I upgraded to is the factory shifter that came with widebody cars (i don't like the look and feel of the "cueball" alum shifter or the "plastic" look of the RS shifter.)
Replacing the missing piece with one i fabricated from my original shifter worked well. The fabricated piece would only fit backwards, since the tunnel on the alum shifter is wider at the end and my piece was larger at the top. The plastic stuck out about a quarter inch past the tunnel, but it wasn't a problem when i put the boot back onto the shift rod.
The widebody shifter looks alot better, but i kinda miss the softer feel of the narrowbody one. I also noticed that the stiching around the perimeter of the boot is no longer hidden under the console (maybe my bad installation); but i guess i can live with that. But amazingly, the car seems to shift into gear somewhat smoother than it used to. Go figure.