A complete guide to gear shift knob replacement
Driving your car with a gear shift knob that is worn out or keeps slipping out of your hand can be very frustrating and dangerous. Driving when some or all of the components are incompatible or unsecured can be very unsafe and reckless. There is an upside though; you can replace the shift knobs. It will not only make driving safer but by getting a custom knob, you can showcase your style.
What is a Shift Knob?
A basic guide to gear stick knobs
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A gear shift knob is an object at the end of a gear stick that allows the driver to get a good grip on the gear stick while changing gears.A weighted shift knob is an aftermarket performance enhancing modification that replaces the OEM knob in the car. It is usually made of steel. The principle of a weighted knob is to make the top-heavy increasing the momentum to reduce the time taken to shift gears. They are more expensive than other aftermarket knobs.Shift knobs are among the most used parts of the car interior, so it pays to invest in a functional visually appealing one. Whether you want to replace your OEM one or get a customized one, there is a wide variety of aftermarket knobs to choose from. Weighted knobs make changing gears easier and fun.When shopping for a new shift knob, other accessories that can come with it are:
- Shifter boots – these protect the gear shifter from dust and debris and give your car’s interior a finished look. They are often made of vinyl but can also be made from leather or fabric. These hold up better against the sun than vinyl. Replacing the shifter boot is a great opportunity to upgrade and make your car interior stand out.
- Shift knob covers – these are used to protect the surface of the knob from scratches, fading and easily give a facelift to an old knob. An ideal knob cover has to have a good grip for smooth gear shifting and also be thermal insulative, e.g., leather, silicone or wool.
- Insert pieces – these are found at the top of the gear shifter knobs. They ensure easy gear selection. Despite the driver’s experience, in most areas, the inserts are required by law to have the shift pattern drawn on them. Over time the surface of our knob wears out, and the insert is the first part to take the most damage. They are an easy way to jazz up the look of your knob even without replacing the whole knob. These metal, brass or plastic inserts are available in various styles allowing you to add a personal touch without equipping the car with a lot of accessories.
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Things to consider when selecting shift knobs
Threads on the knob
A knob can be of a universal-fit or vehicle-specific. Vehicle-specific knobs are designed so that the thread pitch and diameter of the knob will match that of the vehicle model’s gearshift lever, these do not need an adapter piece, OEM knobs are a good example.Most of the custom knobs are universal-fit. This means they are not created to fit any specific car like vehicle-specific ones. They can be screwed onto any gearshift lever, however, sometimes an adapter may be needed to match up the knob threads to those of the lever.
Car transmission
Whether a car has a manual or automatic transmission is important in knob selection because of the way the transmission affects the gearshift lever. Manual transmission knobs mirror the original equipment and are usually made from metal or plastic, with 4-speed, 5-speed or 6-speed shift patterns drawn in the knobs or the insert on the top.For automatic transmissions, there may be additional features to be considered like the shifter button; thus a knob with a button built into it would be ideal.
Material and finish of the knobs
There are plastic, metal, glass, rubber, wood, epoxy and even bone shift knobs. The material a knob is made from depends on the maker. There are different finishes available like chrome plated, polished, anodized, painted, powder coated, stained, sandblasted or they can be left as they are.Consider the materials and finishes as they can affect the feel and handling of the knob. Some materials may not have enough grip, and a finish can help fix it. In different weather, some materials or finishes can get too hot or too cold making handling difficult. So opt for a knob that is easy to handle, thermal insulative and has good grip.
Additional features the knob
Some have switches or buttons built into them. These are perfect for cars with nitrous oxide systems or aftermarket overdrive units. Some aftermarket knobs have locks on them to deter theft or unauthorized users. You can use the buttons or switches for any purpose, and some even have decorative lighting on them.
Handling comfort of the knob
This is mainly dependent on the design, material, and finish of the knob. Knobs can be custom molded to fit your hand’s grip, or padded with leather and foam. Some even have heaters to warm your fingers in cold weather. You can further customize the knob’s look by getting branded ones or replacing the insert pieces on top.
How the knobs are mounted
This will depend on the threading on the knobs. Some have metric threads, and others need an adapter to allow them to be used despite the threading difference on the stick and the knob, while others are mounted simply using a screw set, pressed on or secured in place with a clip.
Shift knobs style
Go for something that not only fits your hand but is also aesthetically pleasing and fits your style. Also, check whether the replacement knob you are getting has the shift pattern in it, some areas have this as a requirement by law.
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Do all Shift Knobs fit?
Tips on fitting aftermarket knobs
Knobs can either have a universal fit or vehicle specific.
Vehicle-specific Shift Knobs
They are tailored specifically for a particular vehicle. The knob threads match those on the shift rod, for these, you need to have the vehicle’s model number.
Universal Shift Knobs
They use an adapter to fit onto any gear stick. The adapter has screw threads on the inside and outside that match the rod and knob respectively. You do not need the vehicle’s make and model number for these knobs.There are several options available in regards to knobs. What you should work out first, is if you want to replace the OEM knob or get a custom knob.With OEM knobs are usually vehicle specific, and thus the selection is limited to what the vehicle maker has available. They are still good looking options for your car, but if you want a unique, stylish look, get a custom knob.
OEM knobs do have some benefits
- They allow you to replace worn stock knobs without changing the interior’s look.
- They are easy to put in
With custom knobs, you have to figure out if they are vehicle-specific or universal fit.
- They add a touch of luxury and individual style to the car.
- They have built-in buttons and switches that allow for further customization of the car.
Putting in a custom knob is easy; however, not all may fit onto the shifter rod; thus an adapter is needed. They bridge the thread pitch and diameter gap between the knob and the shift lever. The adapter piece is usually a short round tube that has both inner and outer threads. In a typical adapter installation, the external threads of the adapter screw into the new shift knob; and the inner ones attach to the car’s shift rod. Most adapter kits have a jam or lock nut which secures the new knob so that it stays in place. There are standard adapters, short-throw shifter adapters, and reverse gear lockout adapters.To ensure you get the right adapter, it is vital to understand thread measurements. This is critical to getting the right thread matching knob. If you do not know the thread pitch and diameter of your shift rod, enquire from your vehicle maker. Measurements for inner threads are denoted first followed by the outer threads. For the metric system, this is how measurements are indicated M7-1.5 x 25, for example. The “M” stands for metric, and the number following it is the diameter in millimeters. The “1.5” refers to the thread count, which is the distance between the threads in millimeters, and finally, the “25” refers to the length of the adapter piece also in millimeters.Because U.S measurements are in inches and not millimeters there is no “M” in the adapter measurement reading. They are instead denoted like this ¼”-25 x 1.5; the ¼ signifies the diameter with a thread pitch of ‘25’ – the number of threads per inch – and an overall 1.5- inch length.
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How do you remove and restore the shift knob in your vehicle
Steps to installing the coolest shift knobs
If your gear stick knob has come loose, worn out or it has been installed incorrectly, you will want to remove it and replace it or properly install it.
- First for safety reasons, set the emergency brake. The precise tools needed depends on the knob and the one you are replacing it with. So get the right wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and wire clippers.
- Most knobs are directly screwed onto the shift rod, but some vehicles have a locking mechanism under the boot. You will need to remove the boot cover and disengage this lock before you can remove the knob.
- Remove any covering on the knob, check to see if any screws are securing the knob in place. If there are none, look for a retaining clip under the trim, this can be removed with pliers. Cut the overdrive wires and unscrew the knob and set it aside. If there is a small hole with a screw securing the knob, start your car to the pre-ignition state and shift the first gear. Using a screwdriver remove the screw and set it aside. Carefully pull the knob off the rod a lot of power may be needed to remove it, do not yank it off, this may damage any wires connected to the knob. Once you have pulled or out cut the wires, this allows for maintenance of the greatest length possible at the lever end.
- For OEM knobs you will screw it on, custom knobs may require adapters. You will have to place the adapter piece first then screw on the custom knob. Use the jam nut, if it is supplied, to secure everything at the right height on the rod. Use the right wrench size to tighten the nuts.
- If the new knob has an overdrive feature, place the new knob on the shift rod and attach the wires as per the instructions in the kit. The process will be the same as how you removed the old knob.
- Overdrive is the highest gear in a car transmission. It allows the engine to work at a lower RPM making the car more fuel efficient and quieter.
- Once you are done, turn the car on and enjoy your new gear shift knob.
This post, we hope, has given you a handle on the many choices available for shift knobs from OEM to custom-made and all you need to know about them.