DIY: Shift Boot Change
 

**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/m...dpics006-1.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/m...dpics007-1.jpg
This is the dreaded clip that i was talking about.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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/m...dpics009-2.jpg

This is what under the center panel looks like.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...dpics010-1.jpg

This is what under the plastic center panel looks like.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...dpics011-1.jpg

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

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

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

should come off like this
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...dpics017-1.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/m...modpics018.jpg

Step 7:
Match up the clips as best your can with the holes in the boot
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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/m...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/m...modpics026.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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/m...modpics029.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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/m...modpics031.jpg

Looks great!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...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/m...modpics034.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...dpics038-1.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!

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

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

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

It really comes down to personal preference :)

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.

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.)

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.