DIY: Replacing Automatic shift plate with shift boot
05-07-2009, 12:21 PM
#1
DIY: Replacing Automatic shift plate with shift boot
To start I would like to thank Gomez for saving me time and my clip.
Here's his thread where he explains how to remove the cover for the AFE short shifter.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...+short+shifter
First things first..remove the shift cover.
Here's his thread where he explains how to remove the cover for the AFE short shifter.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...+short+shifter
First things first..remove the shift cover.
First, undo the shift ****. It's a standard R/H thread, undo by twisting counterclockwise. If you have an illuminated shift ****, take extreme care not to damage the wiring, you may wish to release the shifter cover to check on the wiring layout underneath first.
Removing the shifter cover:
You have to gain access to the rear R/H tab of the shifter cover. Remove the small panel located forward of the cupholders. Check out the pic below.....
Edit: Tip for those with long fingers......If you release the handbrake, you can push this handbrake adjust access panel aft by reaching through the gap at the back of the handle and lifting the tang from inside. (Thank's Hymee for this tip)
Removing the shifter cover:
You have to gain access to the rear R/H tab of the shifter cover. Remove the small panel located forward of the cupholders. Check out the pic below.....
Edit: Tip for those with long fingers......If you release the handbrake, you can push this handbrake adjust access panel aft by reaching through the gap at the back of the handle and lifting the tang from inside. (Thank's Hymee for this tip)
Last edited by exsequor; 05-07-2009 at 12:49 PM.
05-07-2009, 12:22 PM
#2
Now having removed the small handbrake adjust access panel, you can get to the rear R/H tab securing the shifter cover. You need to reach in and use your finger to release the tab from the console base. Take care, this one tab is very fragile!!
...
05-07-2009, 12:30 PM
#3
Now after removing the shift cover..
You will want to take off the plastic shift plate assembly that attaches underneath the shift cover. There are four screws that attach it to the silver ring (in my case blue) and the shift cover. This just requires unscrewing it. Then just unclip everything else that attaches the plate cover and push it down and out of the shift cover. Its really easy.
You will want to take off the plastic shift plate assembly that attaches underneath the shift cover. There are four screws that attach it to the silver ring (in my case blue) and the shift cover. This just requires unscrewing it. Then just unclip everything else that attaches the plate cover and push it down and out of the shift cover. Its really easy.
Last edited by exsequor; 05-07-2009 at 12:34 PM.
05-07-2009, 12:41 PM
#4
Here's the trickiest part I found
Get a piece of metal that is straight, narrow and bendable and then mold it around the inside of the shift opening. Once you have it molded tight and perfectly circular, tape the ends together. The piece of metal I used was a diamond band saw blade for one of our big band saws at work. Its property's were pretty much perfect for the application, and of course you aren't limited to metal but that's just all I could think of to use..
Get a piece of metal that is straight, narrow and bendable and then mold it around the inside of the shift opening. Once you have it molded tight and perfectly circular, tape the ends together. The piece of metal I used was a diamond band saw blade for one of our big band saws at work. Its property's were pretty much perfect for the application, and of course you aren't limited to metal but that's just all I could think of to use..
05-07-2009, 12:47 PM
#5
Here's a tip for getting the metal ring snug and flush
First make sure your stitching's line up otherwise you'll have to repeat. The best way I found was making the ring, then dropping it into the opening of the boot, and then carefully wedging it into the plastic ring through the shifter cover. There's a trick to it for sure.
Now once the ring is fit and snug, you gotta make sure it doesn't ever budge. I used contact cement, as it claims to bond to leather & plastic.
First make sure your stitching's line up otherwise you'll have to repeat. The best way I found was making the ring, then dropping it into the opening of the boot, and then carefully wedging it into the plastic ring through the shifter cover. There's a trick to it for sure.
Now once the ring is fit and snug, you gotta make sure it doesn't ever budge. I used contact cement, as it claims to bond to leather & plastic.
11-09-2009, 08:13 PM
#9
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To start I would like to thank Gomez for saving me time and my clip.
Here's his thread where he explains how to remove the cover for the AFE short metro molded shifter boot.
First things first..remove the shift cover.
Here's his thread where he explains how to remove the cover for the AFE short metro molded shifter boot.
First things first..remove the shift cover.
I'm gonna try this one maybe next month. I am still studying every section before proceeding to the main course.
07-11-2012, 11:58 AM
#12
ive done thing, accept the right way with the proper oem parts. looks clean and gives that added anti-theft reassurance as increasingly less people know how to drive manual transmission in the United States. only thing is it looks like you park in 3rd gear lol but ive done mods with my brake pedal and AT shifter to where i can stop where i want to park, leave it in neutral, pull the park brake like you would a MT car for parking, shut the car off and remove the keys in neutral..
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