Rcflyboy

That's all there is to it, just turn it about 1/4 turn to the left and it will drop down. Then there will be 4 white tabs, just lift them up a little while pulling the shifter knob upwards at the same time to release it.

UncleDannie

Well, that didn't work ( at least for me). Turned it 1/4 to left, right didn't matter. Nothing I do had even hinted that there is a slot? so the leather boot will drop down. I have a 2009 manual. I can feel a small tab under the leather collar, and it's in the 6'oclock position. I can move that tab, which acts like it is attached to the boot. Is there something else? I have put some downward pressure while twisting, no pressure, pressed hard, pressed softly. Nothing.

kornellred

I used a product called PC-7 Epoxy Paste to re-unite the top half of my shift knob to the lower half.

There is no way the two will ever separate, ever again. Even if it becomes necessary.

Laco

I'm certainly not impressed with the chrome/plastic knob on my 2007 HHR. I've had the plastic chrome coating kind of peel up around the graphic shift pattern, got that smoothed down, and coated it with clear nail polish, borowed from my wife. I was hoping that could just be unscrewed and replaced with a better knob, maybe just black with white graphics. So far its tight, so maybe I shouldn't mess with it, if all that holds it in place are plastic tabs.

pg318

The 'it' you have to 1/8 turn is the little plastic collar in the top of the boot that locks the tabs on the knob, the knob itself stays where it is, since it's supposed to be held oriented by the flat on the lever. The collar tends to slip in the boot, but you can feel it snap to the loose position. Pics here -
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/5-speed-shifter-height-issue-23189/

UncleDannie

I understood about the plastic ring. That is what I'm turning, not the shifter. The ring has, what feels like, a little tab on one side. That is the ring I'm turning, and it turns freely. There is nothing that I feel below the ring, except for the steel rod.

I do not want to take the plastic shifter bezel that the leather boot is attached to, if I can help it. It involves removing a lot of plastic pieces.

pg318

Shifter boot, at least on mine, just pulls up, it's sprung into the console.

UncleDannie

Man, do I feel dumb! The saying a picture is worth 1000 words is true. That was so easy, I feel like a jabbering idiot. Thanks pg318, for working with the mentally challenged. I appreciate it.

UncleDannie

OK, I got everything off and cut my steel shift lever down to a stub. I then added a 1960 era Indy Hurst shift lever, by cutting off 2 inches from the bottom. I then welded the two together. I had to pack the hole with wet towels to keep the heat from the wire-feed from damaging the plastic parts of the factory shifter. Here a the pictures of the final results. A very simple mod, but visually pleasing.

Weld of the two together.


Boot back on, ball attached. Raised sifter height by about 1 1/2 inch.


50th Anniversary NASCAR shift knob by Hurst.