DIY: Custom Leather Shift Boot
 

This DIY is for custom genuine leather shift boots from Polak Graphics.
Many different color/stitch combos are available to see examples see:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...181#post786181

Price is $39.00+$3.85 for shipping.
For purchase/group buy info see:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...148#post786148

Some examples of finished products:

Step 1:
Remove the pull out tab from the cupholders and either pull up with your fingers or use a small screwdriver to pop up the console piece.

Step 2:
If you have navi, pop up the controls and take out the wiring harness.

Step 3:
Unplug the seat warmers and remove entire piece of the dash by uncliping each of the 4 corners.

Step 4:
Unscrew these 4 screws and pop the shift boot out including its plastic base.

Step5 (for regular boot):
Take your custom shift boot, this one is for the regular (non-illuminated) knob and place the side that has shortest stitch and place it forward on the plastic base.

Place the cutout over the front of the plastic bases front clip and go around the base hooking all of the tabs through.

Step 6:
Screw the shift boot back to the dash piece, reuse the insulation from the stock shifter, then place the dash piece back.

Push down on the shift boot and fold the tabs below the thread lines, that is my Richard Paul short shifter by the way.

Step 7:
Screw you shift knob back on and reconnect all the wiring harnesses and your all done.

Illuminated Shift Knob Boot

For a DIY on how to install the Illuminated Shift Knob see: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...d=1#post786094

Steps 1-4 are the same for the Illuminated Boot after that.

Step 5 (Illuminated boot):
Place the velcro tab of the illuminated boot forward on the plastic base, then place the cutout over the front clip of the plastic base and hook all of the tabs through.

Step 6 (Illuminated boot):
Screw the shift boot back to the dash piece, SCREW THE ILLUMINATED SHIFT KNOB ON NOW.

There is insulation provided when you purchase the Illuminated knob.
Use that in combination with pieces of the stock insulation to obtain the desired girth.

Place the illuminated knobs wire between the two layers of insulation and put some tape to keep it all together.

Step 7 (Illuminated boot):
Slide the dash piece with boot screwed in place, back on over the shifter then velcro the boot tight.

Reconnect all your wiring harness and your all done.

So I gather you put your short shifter in today too? ;) Well done on BOTH DIYs... :D

Nope I did that a week ago, I LOVE THAT SHIFTER!

Got it installed last night!

Looks awesome!

My one tip: Watch out for that pain in the ass plastic latch/tab back by the e-brake handle. Broke off for me when I took off the console. Got it glued back on. Just some unneeded aggrevation.

wow, never seen the navi controls before. Looks like a fantastic place to custom mount an XM or Sirius reciever.

Nice looking boots too :p

You idiot Polak.

Not all the cutout matches exactly. Some are made out of place. Lucky I have my crafting knife handy.

When you said about the shortest stitch to the front. Front left and front right. You see the stiches makes an "X" rather than a "+" . :p

Stop being a prick Taka :p

Front right, if you wanna be specific, it took me a bit of fiddling to get the cutout holes to go on the pegs, a little stretching too but it works eventually.

Hi, I know you post this over 6yrs ago but i was wondering if u r still selling the shift boot for $39.00+$3.85 for shipping? Thanks!

Thanks gonna knock mine out tomorrow.