View Full Version : How to remove shifter knob?
sferrett 12-01-2003, 03:35 PM Has anyone removed the shifter knob on their 8 yet?
I just got a new shifter knob for my Jeep and it just struck me that it may be appropriate for the 8... I haven't tried removing the knob yet so I thought I'd see if anyone else had already and if there were any gotchas or so forth...
Simon.
I thought you just unscrew it?? :confused:
sferrett 12-01-2003, 03:39 PM That may be the case - I haven't even tried yet (I just got the idea to do it now, and I'm at work so I can't rush out and start tinkering on the car) - I thought I might get a possible head-start on any problems I might encounter if anyone else had removed it.
Rx-Appreci-8 12-01-2003, 03:57 PM sferrett
I had mine off the other day. The manual shifter knob on the RX-8 simply unscrews. Lefty-loosy
sferrett 12-01-2003, 08:42 PM Ok so the good news is it just unscrews...
The bad news is the thread on this shifter I have isn't the same pitch (or something) as the one on the shaft.
Does anyone know what the thread size/pitch is on the shifter? The one I has a coarser thread - my guess is one's metric and one's standard, but I dont know enough about threads to know if there's some kind of coil/insert I can get to change it. The knob I have has a 12mm hole in it and comes with screw in coils to change it to 10 and 8mm - the 10mm one seems to be the right size but the thread is wrong...
Simon.
Tamas 12-01-2003, 08:52 PM Pretty much every thread on the RX-8 is metric. Yes, you probably have a non-metric thread on the other knob.
I can't help you with the thread size of the RX-8 knob though... but if you take it off, you can get the thread measured in a Home Depot or Orchard Supply I think.
Originally posted by sferrett
Ok so the good news is it just unscrews...
The bad news is the thread on this shifter I have isn't the same pitch (or something) as the one on the shaft.
Does anyone know what the thread size/pitch is on the shifter? The one I has a coarser thread - my guess is one's metric and one's standard, but I dont know enough about threads to know if there's some kind of coil/insert I can get to change it. The knob I have has a 12mm hole in it and comes with screw in coils to change it to 10 and 8mm - the 10mm one seems to be the right size but the thread is wrong...
Simon.
The shifter threads for RX-8 are the same as for Miata - 10mm diameter with 1.25mm thread pitch
Here's a page that offeres various knobs and also just the inserts if you want to "roll your own"
http://www.knobmeister.com/DirectorPage.htm
MyRxBad 12-02-2003, 09:43 AM Originally posted by sferrett
The bad news is the thread on this shifter I have isn't the same pitch (or something) as the one on the shaft.
Simon.
This is good news. :D
This is a little off point, but my whole shifter has a tendancy to rotate while I'm moving it from gear to gear (6 speed obviously). Does anyone else's shifter do this, or is the shifter shaft supposed to be held in place? It seems odd to me that it would rotate around while I'm driving. Any answer is appreciated - Haze
sferrett 12-02-2003, 01:58 PM Is just the knob rotating, or the whole shaft?
If it's just the knob, then I'd suggest screwing it on a little tighter. The shaft should not rotate (at least, mine doesn't - nor has any other car I've owned)
Whole shaft.
It's been doing it since I bought the car. Well, looks like I finally found something that I should talk to the service department about. I just assumed that it was weird, but that they all did that. Thanks for the answer.
sferrett 12-03-2003, 12:14 AM How much does it rotate? I had a test of mine tonight on the way home and I'd say it has about 1/4" of 'turn' in the shaft - more of a rotational play though. It definately doesn't twist around though, just back and forth by a small amount.
wakeech 12-03-2003, 03:00 PM Originally posted by Haze
Whole shaft.
:eek: wtf???
sferrett 12-22-2003, 05:58 PM OK - the deed is done. A 10x1.25 thread tap did the trick.
Cheers,
Ouch....that just doesn't work for me, not the right style to match the interior of the 8, but as long as you like it thats all that matters.
sferrett 12-23-2003, 03:40 AM Yeah I know it looks clunkey, which is OK by me at the moment. The good news is it screws right off when i get sick of it!
MyRxBad 12-23-2003, 11:06 AM Your a "rotary-holic" (aka rotorhead) and you took off the rotor shapped shift-knob? Hmmm....
sferrett 12-23-2003, 11:27 AM None of my other rotary powered cars have rotor shaped shift-knobs... Either way I thought it was a little different and somewhat amusing.
Interestingly enough though I did notice the rx8's shift knob had started to wear - the silver plastic around the edge on one side has worn down to the clearish plastic underneath. This is with about 6200 miles on the clock...
M-ster 12-23-2003, 11:50 AM Originally posted by Haze
Whole shaft.
It's been doing it since I bought the car. Well, looks like I finally found something that I should talk to the service department about. I just assumed that it was weird, but that they all did that. Thanks for the answer.
I use to have a Miata, if alot of the things going around in the transmission area are similar to the 8 then, this might help a little.
What's in the pix is basically the shifter being just lifted up/away from the turret. You see that metal pin on the edge of the opening (I've name it MALE), that pin will go into a slot which (I've name it FEMALE) can't be seen from this angle, the slot is on the back of that pivot. When the shifter is in place, the male and female meets thus limiting the travell/rotating of the shifter. The slot is cushioned with a piece of hard plastic. My guess is that female/plastic part is missing or broken. My was broken into small bits and pieces all over in the turret. I think you got to be careful when unscrewing the shift knob off the shifter, some knobs are over tighten, and when you use too much force turning the knob, you could be putting alot of stress on that plastic ...what ever you call that female parts.
This experience was from my Miata's day, I could be wrong.
WHealy 12-23-2003, 05:57 PM Just took mine off. Man you could loose a couple pounds here huh?
Originally posted by sferrett
How much does it rotate? I had a test of mine tonight on the way home and I'd say it has about 1/4" of 'turn' in the shaft - more of a rotational play though. It definately doesn't twist around though, just back and forth by a small amount.
Full 360's around and around and around as much as person could want. I still have to get it to the dealer, but it's going to go.
Thanks for the shifter to tranny info M-ster. I was sort of curious as to what kind of problem I was looking at here to fix this, and it is a help to know just to get a sense of how long they will need to fix it. Many thanks to all - Haze
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