How To: Replacing Shifter Boot

[iScott]

How To Replace the Shifter Boot on any NB Manual Transmission
by: iScott

This is a fairly easy mod to do. Hell, if I can do it, anyone can. It took about 30-45 minutes. Only because there wasn't really an in depth how-to for this. So I figured I'd make one.

1. Buy or make a new shifter boot. I bought mine here: http://www.newbeetle.org/forums/show...new+shift+boot
2. Pull up on the boot so you can see the underside of the shift knob
3. There is a metal ring holding the knob onto the shaft-thingy; somehow either bend this ring or cut it or something... just to get it loose enough to slide the knob off of the shaft (god, this sounds gay)
4. Next you have to pull off the black clamp-like thing that holds the boot onto the knob; to do this just hold the knob with one hand and pull down on the boot with the other hand; it should pull the clamp off
5. Now you can pull off the stock boot
6. The bottom of the stock boot is stapled to a square plastic ring that holds it to the center console - Just undo those staples and now you're free from your old, crappy boot
7. Slip the top of the new boot onto the knob and put the black clamp back on the knob to hold the boot in place
8. Attach the bottom of the boot to the square plastic ring (for this I used a hot glue gun; worked great)
9. Stick the knob (with new boot) back onto the shaft and use a pull-tie to replace the metal ring you took off earlier
10. Place the bottom of the boot back into the center console


If all is good; you're done! Good luck!

[callisto9]

awesome write up! i am so glad you did this 'cause i have been putting off replacing my shift boot...'cause i don't know how. thanks so much! wait, can i give you positive rep or are you still wanting negative?

[from Margaritaville...]

That's an excellent how-to for this task. Thanks for posting the pics. I did mine last week just as you described. I went with black leather/ red stitching...

Thanks, again...

[Mr.Yellow]

that looks so good!!!

[Fowvay]

Nice write up

[marvins_dad]

One of our UK friends wanted to add the following...

BeccyBug...

Where the original poster suggested you cut off the original metal ring that holds on the gear knob: if you tie a cable tie around behind it, you can tighten it enough to slide off the original ring without damaging it, and then just snip the cable tie.

Just a little thing, and probably not much use to anyone, but it worked for me! (I don't like to trash any parts, just in case! )