Thread: How to change shift boot

I am wondering if there is a trick to it. I remove the black plastic shift surround from the car with the boot intact. There are "snap rings" that hold the white plastic part to the shift surround. How do you guys remove those "snap rings" without breaking the plastic leg it stands on. I am mechanically inclined and have any tool you could need to work on these cars and I always snap the legs off... hence the "snap rings" haha. I want to replace my stock boot with one from Shift boot store - RedlineGoods leather shift boots and always have this issue.

I have yet to find out a good method either. =(

I just cut the ring then slip it back into place

Mind boggling to me how something can be so poorly designed. Although I guess you can only order it as a assembled unit per my local parts department. So even though you can take it apart it was never designed to be taken apart haha.



Explain how you cut it? I was thinking maybe a cutoff wheel but I haven't discovered a tool to cut it without breaking the leg off.

I was able to remove mine by taking diagonal cutters to the edge of the snap ring that over hangs the plastic. I bend the lip on the snap ring and work my way around in a circle. Once I get the ring to lift some I take the cutters and bend two sides on the ring up making a tab. The I take some pliers and apply pressure to the ring. twist and gently pull up and the ring comes off with only a little plastic shaving as damage to the stud.

here are some pics.






as you can see it shaves some plastic off the tabs but still usable.

Thats great man thanks for sharing with everyone! I knew someone would have a trick.

I thought I could get the the center of the ring and pry a tab back but my pick set was too big. So i ended up doing this. Its a little time consuming but if your careful it works.