From the NON MISSION CRITICAL department: 95 Legacy: The leather shifter knob is kinda trashed after getting dust off my hands from sanding oil primer on it(was in a rush from job, didn't wash hands good) - ate the surface off - anyways, I started to unscrew it and it seems to integrate with the leather boot thru some sort of collar underneath? I just screwed it back and figured I would ask here first before I messed it up = has anyone changed shift knobs, and know how this collar works, also what aftermarket shift knobs would work? Thanks!

Dave-

If yours is like my 90 loyale knob, it does have a plastic retainer collar at the base of the knob. You just carefully pull the top of the boot off of the collar, then unscrew the knob. I recommend junkyard for new (used) knob. There are plenty out there.

 

In my case, my brother (a sculptor) carved me a custom made knob out of Arizona mesquite. Mounted a 12mm (14?) nut inside the knob (I think that's the diameter of my stick, 1.25 thread pattern). Since the old knob had the boot retainer collar built into it (and the new custom knob did not), I found a perfect metal retainer collar at the local hardware store with a built in allen nut to slide down the stick to the perfect height of the boot, tighten allen nut on collar, slide top of boot over collar, screw on new knob and enjoy.

Agreed, it should be possible to pry the "gaiter" of the knob.

Agreed, it should be possible to pry the "gaiter" of the knob.

??pry thegaiter?? THX for the responses tho, I will have to go prowl the junkyards.. THX

The material surrounding the gearstick is called gaiter. In English anyway, what's the American term?

The material surrounding the gearstick is called gaiter. In English anyway, what's the American term?

I always called it a "boot" - but that's the trunk in England, ya? Who invented this language anyways - my concern was damaging the leather boot itself, I really don't want to "pry" too much - if I find one at the junkie, I suppose I could practice on those...