DIY OEM Shift Boot Install on Automatic

Bonzo · 08-20-2012, 09:36 AM

So I had to get working on my silver ring issue again. My original velcro fix didn't work, so I was ready to do the dremel thing I had originally thought about.

That was until I really researched what was going on here. It wasn't just that the clips didn't catch on anything, it was that they were hardly able to catch on anything. Because of the design of these parts on an automatic, the sliver ring just CAN'T go down like it should. The issue is the black plastic shifter gate piece that is too tall. The silver ring comes down and hits the shifter gate, and can't go any further. I figured this all out when I removed both the leather outer piece, and the silver ring. Apart outside the car, the silver ring goes all the way down inside the leather wrap, almost like the stick version.

SO, I decided a new plan, but also involving my dremel. I decided since the gate piece was the problem, that dremeling it woudl allow the silver ring to go in further and have more "grab." it would also look cleaner in the end.

It was a beautiful day out so I did this out on my patio last weekend. It's been a week now since the reinstall and so far the silver ring is staying put perfectly.

I will post some pics next.....

Bonzo · 08-20-2012, 09:38 AM

Here's what it looked liked before the boot mod, as everyone's auto looked. By looking closely you can see how the silver sticks up over the leather by about 1/4" in the back.

Bonzo · 08-20-2012, 09:42 AM

Here's what it looked like after my original go at this mod. You can see the silver still sticks up in the back about 1/4".

Jordo! · 11-16-2012, 05:44 PM

Yikes -- I am having this problem too and was about to try all of the workarounds you had iterated through.

I might try some double sided velcro strips to stick to each other rather than the (useless) spring clips.

I'm kind of leery of taking the whole assembly apart...

Any other suggestions, or is this just a PITA to solve if you want a boot there?

XwChriswX · 11-17-2012, 01:21 AM

^^ Thats why I just used the whole MT surround, much easier than trying to make just the boot fit.

Baer383 · 11-17-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

^^ Thats why I just used the whole MT surround, much easier than trying to make just the boot fit.

Jordo! · 11-17-2012, 10:40 AM

I may have found a work around -- I trimmed the boot so less material pulling on the bezel, and replaced the velvet clip stays with strips of leather from the trimmed boot.

Amazingly, so far so good. Clamped down tight. Does not dislodge when using shifter, even in manual mode.

Jordo! · 01-17-2013, 12:58 PM

Quick comment -- using leather strips in place of the velvet ones on trim clips works very well, and all is still good! Replace at least 3/4 with leather strips as I described above and the trim will stay tamped down firmly

pfdaxe · 01-25-2013, 02:19 PM

I'm thinking about this great mod. Price has jumped a bit. Best I could locate is around $93 + shipping....

Coon-azz · 01-25-2013, 06:08 PM

Not to be a hater, but, why the look of a manual when its not?

Jordo! · 01-27-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coon-azz

Not to be a hater, but, why the look of a manual when its not?

Same reason many autos come from the factory with some sort of boot for the shift knob -- it looks nicer.

See the one for the FR-S/BRZ or really any lux car, for examples.

My shift knob comes from a M45 auto. http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_...506.m270.l1313

There are also visible paddle shifters. It is clearly an automatic. Nothing to hide here.

Honestly, I'd be happier with a bezel that preserves the P-R-N-D, but the G37 one won't fit, and the gear one is in is plainly displayed on the dash.

The boot just looks much, much nicer.

Why swap out the 370Z start button for the red GT-R one -- it looks nicer.

Here's some (crappy) pics of mine

pfdaxe · 02-27-2013, 06:45 PM

I just received my Carbon Fiber & Alcantara Shift Knob back from Tony @ Carbon Fiber Element and added a manual shift boot:

.
.
.

Jordo! · 03-04-2013, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfdaxe

I just received my Carbon Fiber & Alcantara Shift Knob back from Tony @ Carbon Fiber Element and added a manual shift boot:

.
.
.

That looks good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chokeoloko

did you have problems fitting that M45 auto knob on the z? also is it using a clip at the bottom to hold it in place? or is the boot just covering it?

Perfect fit, clips in stock place, actuates like stock.

Chokeoloko · 02-28-2013, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Same reason many autos come from the factory with some sort of boot for the shift knob -- it looks nicer.

See the one for the FR-S/BRZ or really any lux car, for examples.

My shift knob comes from a M45 auto. m45 shift knob infiniti automatic in eBay Motors | eBay

There are also visible paddle shifters. It is clearly an automatic. Nothing to hide here.

Honestly, I'd be happier with a bezel that preserves the P-R-N-D, but the G37 one won't fit, and the gear one is in is plainly displayed on the dash.

The boot just looks much, much nicer.

Why swap out the 370Z start button for the red GT-R one -- it looks nicer.

Here's some (crappy) pics of mine

did you have problems fitting that M45 auto knob on the z? also is it using a clip at the bottom to hold it in place? or is the boot just covering it?

z0219 · 03-03-2013, 11:18 PM

i tried google it, not much web has the whole assembly available. i dont know, im too lazy to go to the dealship, anyone who brought it. how much the assembly cost?

08-20-2012, 09:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bonzo Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 690 Drives: Finally, a 370Z!!! Rep Power: 3372	So I had to get working on my silver ring issue again. My original velcro fix didn't work, so I was ready to do the dremel thing I had originally thought about. That was until I really researched what was going on here. It wasn't just that the clips didn't catch on anything, it was that they were hardly able to catch on anything. Because of the design of these parts on an automatic, the sliver ring just CAN'T go down like it should. The issue is the black plastic shifter gate piece that is too tall. The silver ring comes down and hits the shifter gate, and can't go any further. I figured this all out when I removed both the leather outer piece, and the silver ring. Apart outside the car, the silver ring goes all the way down inside the leather wrap, almost like the stick version. SO, I decided a new plan, but also involving my dremel. I decided since the gate piece was the problem, that dremeling it woudl allow the silver ring to go in further and have more "grab." it would also look cleaner in the end. It was a beautiful day out so I did this out on my patio last weekend. It's been a week now since the reinstall and so far the silver ring is staying put perfectly. I will post some pics next..... __________________ Finally Able To Order 2012 Model 8/24/2011 Delivered Tuesday November 15, 9:57 am!!! 2012, Auto, White, Sport, Kick Plates

11-16-2012, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	Yikes -- I am having this problem too and was about to try all of the workarounds you had iterated through. I might try some double sided velcro strips to stick to each other rather than the (useless) spring clips. I'm kind of leery of taking the whole assembly apart... Any other suggestions, or is this just a PITA to solve if you want a boot there? __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it. Last edited by Jordo!; 11-16-2012 at 05:57 PM.

11-17-2012, 01:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 452	^^ Thats why I just used the whole MT surround, much easier than trying to make just the boot fit. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

11-17-2012, 10:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	I may have found a work around -- I trimmed the boot so less material pulling on the bezel, and replaced the velvet clip stays with strips of leather from the trimmed boot. Amazingly, so far so good. Clamped down tight. Does not dislodge when using shifter, even in manual mode. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

01-17-2013, 12:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	Quick comment -- using leather strips in place of the velvet ones on trim clips works very well, and all is still good! Replace at least 3/4 with leather strips as I described above and the trim will stay tamped down firmly __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

01-25-2013, 02:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
pfdaxe A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,070 Drives: 09 Touring AT Sport Rep Power: 16	I'm thinking about this great mod. Price has jumped a bit. Best I could locate is around $93 + shipping.... __________________ Build Thread: http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...xes-build.html

01-25-2013, 06:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Coon-azz Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fredericksburg,VA Posts: 689 Drives: '12 370z Sport DD Rep Power: 15	Not to be a hater, but, why the look of a manual when its not? __________________ I don't care how slow you want to drive; I encourage it. JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE PASSING LANE YOU TUCK FARD!!!

02-27-2013, 06:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
pfdaxe A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,070 Drives: 09 Touring AT Sport Rep Power: 16	I just received my Carbon Fiber & Alcantara Shift Knob back from Tony @ Carbon Fiber Element and added a manual shift boot: . . . __________________ Build Thread: http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...xes-build.html

03-03-2013, 11:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
z0219 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: california Posts: 15 Drives: 2012-370z-White-Auto Rep Power: 14	how much is the assembly online? i tried google it, not much web has the whole assembly available. i dont know, im too lazy to go to the dealship, anyone who brought it. how much the assembly cost?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DIY Shift Boot Install	E-Licious	DIY Section (Do-It-Yourself)	8	10-06-2020 11:36 AM
7AT Shift Boot!!!	CharleyGFX	Exterior & Interior	92	11-12-2015 10:44 PM
shift boot	dangen1980	Exterior & Interior	5	09-15-2011 02:43 PM
New shift boot help	theDreamer	Exterior & Interior	4	01-29-2010 05:24 PM
WTB OEM Shift Boot.	Rps13.jw	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	0	10-09-2009 05:43 PM