Shift Knob Removal...repercussions?
 

Okay, so I had my old 2009 370Z and switched out the shift knob without any problems. As you know you should grip the base as well as the knob itself to take it off. That Z is gone...RIP. Not my fault nor was I even in the car when it happened.

Anyway, yesterday I got a new Z, basically the same exact type. So I got a Nismo Shift knob and thought I would take off the stock one again. I thought it wouldnt be that hard. Boy was I wrong, it was way harder than last time. I had a piece of thick rubber around the bottom shaft with strong pliers holding it. As I was turning the shift knob taking it off, it actually was spinning and I had thought that it had gotten loose. And so I turned it a couple of full revolutions thinking that it would loosen up more. I was wondering what was happening but the bottom shaft actually spun with the knob and the knob wasnt really gettting loose. I was very scared that I just effed up my transmission, So I turned on my car and shifted it through all the gears while driving it to see what I had done. Surprisingly, nothing seems to be broken....Thank God. Anyway I just held the bottom shaft on the bare metal and taking off the knob was a lot better.

I was just wondering about things I should look for or feel while driving that would tell me something is wrong with my tranny? So far it feels normal while shifting and engaging gears while semi pushing it. I hope I dont pay for it later on. :shakes head:

FML I cant get this fkn shift knob off with out destroying it. And I want to keep it for winter.

YOu're on the right track. It's best to have a friend to help you out imo. On mines I used the same method, a piece of rubber hose wrapped on the shaft with a vice grip. Then I used the belt strap on the knob itself for the turning. The belt won't scratch up or destroy the knob since there's no teeth like those channel locks what most people uses. Should give that a try.

MIne was such a b.... to take off that loctite was serious

There's a great DIY on this somewhere here. I used that as a guide. It was tight but came off undamaged. No regrets on my new TVM type R.

Mark-

Bring your shift knob along when you install the suspension/exhaust with us and we'll take care of you.

EDIT: Re-read your comment. The way the shifter is mounted it is next to impossible to damage the transmission by spinning the shift knob. I typically like to put the transmission in gear so there's less side to side play. I'm doubtful that you damaged anything- if anything the shifter assembly may have slightly rotated, and if it did the effects would be immediately apparent like not being able to get into gear fully, grinding during engagement, etc. If you want, I can check it out free of charge.

Some of these knobs are harder to take off than others. It depends on the amount of loctite applied and other conditions.

I couldn't remove mine without destroying it. I used a channel lock to hold the shaft in place and then used a basic rubber strap wrench to twist the knob off. Well, the strap wrench generated so much torque that it literally squeezed and warped the knob enough to separate the leather on top.

But it gave me an excuse to buy a replacement :D

Thanks victor. My tranny feels fine. Engagements of gears are working normal so far. Yeah if you could check it out that would be cool.


Anyway my shift knob feels great. I've had the PW JDM one in my previous Z and the nismo one I have now feels just as good...it's just more expensive lol =/

loctite, loctiter, loctitest
 

two dealer sites here won't touch knob replacement for me. one said 'too tight', other said, 'will damange console and won't look good afterwards.'

found these instrux re: Loctite RG&B, :rolleyes: ..

Things You'll Need

*Proper-sized end wrench or socket
*Impact wrench ( handheld or air powered)
*Propane torch (optional)
*Heat gun (optional)
*Soldering iron (optional)


Read more: How to Remove Loctite Bolts | eHow.com How to Remove Loctite Bolts | eHow.com

I lucked out and mine spun right off by hand. Had no lock right. I wonder mine seems to be the only one. Good luck getting urs off.

Guess it depends on what day it was made on.

+1 for great vendor support! :tiphat::tup:

You never had an issue after the shifter shaft spun????? It happened to me today, while I was readjusting my Tommy Kaira and put some loctite to aligned it.... It just end up 1/8" higher than when i first installed it, and ths shaft spun few turns... I am afraid I damage something.... I did as you, and drive the car and shift, and everything seems normal....

Let me know how everything has being after your shifter shaft spun...

Thanks.

the shaft spun a few turns? yeah you might have an issue considering it is bolted to linkage on the bottom and shouldn't be able to spin at all. Either you broke something or it didn't really spin, if you unbolted the linkage first then yeah it would spin but it wouldn't harm anything.

Edit: I would say it is more likely if it indeed did spin then you are more likely to have weakend the actual shifter itself and not the transmission if it still drives fine. it looks like the factory shifter is made from two pieces that are pressed and welded together maybe so you may have spun the top part of it and possible broken the spot welds, but even then i don't know if you are going to see any real problems with it.

It still very very tight.... Maybe I should buy a new shifter and replace the oem....

I hope I didn't damage anything.