**pictures don't seem to work so just click on the links for the pictures**(maybe too many pics in 1 post)


Hey guys, I recently bought a red CF boot with black stitching from shiftstyle. His company makes some awesome shift boots that have top-notch quality. On a scale of 1-10 of difficulty, I would give this a 3 or so. I'd give it a three because of 2 reasons.
1. Because 1 of the clips to remove the center console is very difficult to take off, and it breaks very easily. So be very careful!
2. Because matching up the holes can be a bit hairy. Just be patient :)

None the less, this install should take you 15-30 mins depending on how long it takes you to get the center console removed at the beginning.

tools required:
1. Flathead screw driver
2. Super glue
3. Patience

Step 1.
First remove your shift knob. The shift knob just unscrews counterclockwise. Then you need to take out the removable panel on the right side of the cup holders. It can simply be pried out with your fingernails and your screwdriver. (circled in red)
Then you need to proceed to lift up the edge of the panel with the screwdriver as pictured. Be careful not to scratch the plastic. You will hear a pop when the clip that holds down the left corner releases, just pull up to release.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics006-1.jpg

Step 2:
Next insert your thumb through the hole that was created when you removed the small panel with your fingers and screwdriver. This hole is pictured in red. Then put your index finger in the hole just on top of the E-brake handle. The green circle represents where the clip will be that needs to be pressed in order to release that corner. Be careful this clip easily breaks!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics007-1.jpg
This is the dreaded clip that i was talking about.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics024.jpg

Step 3:
continue to simply lift up the center console carefully. This will release the last 2 clips.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics009-2.jpg

This is what under the center panel looks like.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics010-1.jpg

This is what under the plastic center panel looks like.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics011-1.jpg

Step 4:
Remove the screws marked in red.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics012.jpg

Remove after all screws are taken out
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics013.jpg

Step 5:
Remove all these clips around the stock boot
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics014.jpg

should come off like this
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics017-1.jpg

Step 6:
Match up the slits cut out (green lines) as best your can with the screw holes (outlined in red)
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics018.jpg

Step 7:
Match up the clips as best your can with the holes in the boot
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics019.jpg

Step 8:
Screw it back into the circle and it should look like this. Make sure to move the fabric away from the pieces marked in red.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics022.jpg

Step 9:
Now pick up the old shift boot and turn it inside out. There should be a black ring on the top of it. The stock shift boot is super glued onto the ring, simply use your hands and pry off the ring.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics026.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics027.jpg

Step 10:
Invert your new shift boot and grab some super glue. Then Glue your tabs onto the black ring as shown. Pull all the shift boot tabs tight, it will make it look like it belongs there.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics029.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics030.jpg

Step 11:
Once it is glued on, invert it again so it is the way it is supposed to be.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics031.jpg

Looks great!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics032.jpg

Step 12:
Simply place the panel back in the car and screw on your shift knob. It will look fantastic!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics034.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m94/ivoryphoto/modpics038-1.jpg

Sorry for the wordy post, but I'd rather give too much information than too little.

**pictures don't seem to work, so just click on the links for the pictures**(maybe too many pics in 1 post)

now get rid of that stock knob :)

i like my knob thank you :lol:

(pun intended)

good job jordan, you wanna do mine ;)
where did you get the replacement shift boot

Nice job Jordan, watching you do it didn't seem so hard to do!

good job jordan, you wanna do mine ;)
where did you get the replacement shift boot

a guy on here named shiftstyle sells them. 30 bucks for a shift boot, and if you take pictures you get it 5 bucks off :)

Nice DIY man

good job jordan, you wanna do mine ;)
where did you get the replacement shift boot

www.shiftstyle.com ;)

Nice write up and good pics. I'll have to keep my wife's lappy handy when I get mine. Looks pretty straight-forward.

how does that CF stuff feel? ive been lookin at the suede

how does that CF stuff feel? ive been lookin at the suede

The Alcantara is very smooth, but the CF has a more aggressive sporty look.

It really comes down to personal preference :)

how does that CF stuff feel? ive been lookin at the suede

cf stuff is actually a stamped/molded pattern on a durable rubbery type stuff. even from a foot away it looks like real red cf but, when you feel it you know its not. i didn't want the suede because i thought it would look funny in my car. but to each their own.

thanks man, nice write up

well thanks for the pics on how to take the shift boot out.. haha i been dumbfounded by it. so after i seen the pics i went and crappily made my own. i will post some pics up later.

made yourself a shift boot?

haha yeah i had this pretty neato Krew stamped material, i always carried it in my car, so after i figured out how to take apart the shift boot i stitched it onto the actually shift boot, looks pretty nice. haha. it wasnt very hard and i didnt ruin anything so if i wanted to undo it it wouldnt be hard.

haha yeah i had this pretty neato Krew stamped material, i always carried it in my car, so after i figured out how to take apart the shift boot i stitched it onto the actually shift boot, looks pretty nice. haha. it wasnt very hard and i didnt ruin anything so if i wanted to undo it it wouldnt be hard.
pics?

PICS or it never happened lol, na jk cool idea dude...im excited to see it

ok so these shhould be the pics.. haha you can can see my Razo shift knob,nitto phone holder thing, and my cool saint christopher and lil cross thing i have around my shifter too.
hope you like.

cool dude

oh werd. thats pretty intense. not my first choice for pattern but it looks pretty official the way you did it so nice job.

thakns glad you guys like... i know that the pattern isnt the best matchignf ro the car, but hey i had to try it with something.. haha. its only took like three or four trys to get the fitment right..

um... some of you guys might have better luck with not matching the 4 slots with the four screw tabs and instead following the oem pattern and matching just 2 of the slots on the shift boot with those two things sticking out of the frame. (by those "two things sticking out of the frame" i am referring to the only other things sticking out of the circle that aren't screw tabs.)

um... some of you guys might have better luck with not matching the 4 slots with the four screw tabs and instead following the oem pattern and matching just 2 of the slots on the shift boot with those two things sticking out of the frame. (by those "two things sticking out of the frame" i am referring to the only other things sticking out of the circle that aren't screw tabs.)

not to be rude sounding, but that was the msot confusing thing i ever read.

he is referring to the slots cut out for the screw holes in step 6. and yes as he stated...every shift boot will be slightly different and you have to adapt to every situation. just fit the shift boot as best you can and it should look great.

thanks i did this but the people gave me the wrong shift boot it was too small on the bottom it had some elastic band on it:banghead: looked nice though real all black leather

thanks i did this but the people gave me the wrong shift boot it was too small on the bottom it had some elastic band on it:banghead: looked nice though real all black leather

What do you mean?

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff188/Coastlinesales/Headquarters%20Toyota/DSC00812.jpg it was like this but all black though

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff188/Coastlinesales/Headquarters%20Toyota/DSC00812.jpg it was like this but all black though

Should have gone with one of ours: www.shiftstyle.com

All custom made for the RX-8!

damn i already bought an oem one from mazda:banghead:

damn i already bought an oem one from mazda:banghead:

Well, for $30, you can't go wrong with ours :)

Can't get the tab off :( my finger is bleeding and bruised from trying to get it off for like 40 minutes :banghead:

well mine just broke, and its not HUGE deal if it breaks, the dash does not come off easily when it breaks anyway. if you have to just try and pulling up on it to break the tab. after that first tab just gently pull up on the center console evenly and the other clips will just pop open. that first one is the hard clip. If you can't get it to open just let me know. ill try and be more specific.

for the last hour, i was trying to get that dreaded clip off on right side......no luck..my finger is hurting like crazy......lol......that damn clip....no matter how hard i push..it wouldn't come off at all...i don't really want to break it...so i guess....i'll just leave the shift boot alone for now........I put on the ebrake wrap...it's pretty neat...:D

:( sorry i dono how els to help you out. I guess just come to it another day and try again. hope it goes on smoothly next time.

It's all good. You've been pretty helpful with the DYI pics and everything...I've been thinking..maybe...if i take the console kit off on the right side...i could push the clip from the side.......i'm going to try it again today

I just ordered my new red leather shift boot today and cant wait to get it and put it on. It should be just what my red/black leather interior needs to spice things up to my liking. Thanks in advance shiftstyle. Hoke

i got the shift boot today and installed it tonight. its too dark to take pics right now but ill get to it eventually.

couple of problems i ran into:

1. the bastard clip near the parking brake that everyone has problems with gave me problems as well. i just pulled as hard as i possibly could and finally popped it off. it broke (still on there but broken on one side) but it doesnt affect anything anyways. the console still holds as well as ever. its a useless clip, dont worry about breaking it.

2. the ring that was superglued to the stock shift boot gave me the worst problem...when trying to take it off it broke into 6 pieces. so i had to individually pull off the 6 pieces of the plastic ring and puzzle them back together. i then superglued all the pieces together to form the circle again. I guess im good at puzzles cause it came out perfect in the end =D haha.

3. the tabs that you have to slide the shift boot onto were annoying but you just got to keep messing with them and turning the shift boot til it fits right. oh and be sure to keep looking onto the side that will be visible to make sure the stitching is centered and looks even on all four sides.

all in all it wasnt too difficult just took longer than i expected. thanks shiftstyle and thank you ivory8 for the excellent writeup!!!

the only problem i have is where u slide the tabs in the ones that kinda go into where the ashh tray is it wont pop in and one more thing u guys gotta look out for is when changing to manual mode sometimes the boot gets caught and wont let u shift gears

:D another happy fellow

thanks shiftstyle

Thank you :)

I did this today. The instructions were very good.
I had a few complications. The clip that is very easy to break broke about the second I touched it. But the panel goes right back on and nothing seems out of place.
The black plastic ring around the top of the boot was already broken into about 8 pieces. I used a twist tie instead and wrapped the tabs with a thin strip of electrical tape.
Looks terrific and it was actually easy!

Thank you all for the support.

Here's a discount code for 50% off all purchases on our site until July 31: RX8JULY

This is your chance to get a shift boot or armrest covers for half the price!!!

Please feel free to pass this discount code along.

Thank you again :)

couldn't pass up 50 percent off, placed an order

+1000 for shiftstyle. After placing my order I received an email stating that a special feature I ordered wasnt available and did i want a refund or to change my order. i emailed back expecting to get a response tomorrow but no, response was within a minute.

Not only did they correct my order but credited back my paypal for the difference. Excellent service!

Just ordered armrest's. mmmm.Couldnt work out the discount code, never mind,they look great in the pics.

Just ordered armrest's. mmmm.Couldnt work out the discount code, never mind,they look great in the pics.

We've credited the 50% discount to your Paypal account.

Thank you again :)

and 4 days later the new boot is sitting on my desk waiting for tomorrow to install it. 4 days from order to arrival on a custom made boot... WOW!

and 4 days later the new boot is sitting on my desk waiting for tomorrow to install it. 4 days from order to arrival on a custom made boot... WOW!

Thanks, and glad your are happy with your new boot.

Could you possibly post a photo when it is installed?

Thank you again :)

Bump :)

pic of the new shift boot:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Shifter/db6bacb0.jpg

pic of the new shift boot:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Shifter/db6bacb0.jpg

Looking good!

Thank you again :)