shift knob

The stock know screws off, but it might take quite a bit of force.

Mike "Red '97" Verive snipped-for-privacy@mverive.com

Thank you Michael, Then I assume there's not much chance of breaking the shaft?

The shaft is two peices with a bonded rubber coupling--it has occurred that some have twisted the bond apart. When I found mine to be quite tight I lifted the center console and clamped the upper portion of the lever with a pair of ViseGrips. Using a plumber's strap wrench on the knob I was able to break it free with no damage to lever or OEM knob...

-cliff-

The knob on the special edition (BRG) has a set screw.

Gus (BRG)

Gus,

Thanks for the reminder - I forgot about that (this subject comes up from time to time...).

Mike

Thanks Cliff ... I will feel much safer clamping the lever before exerting any force on the knob.

Don't use a bunch of force with the visegrips, although the upper lever is quite rugged a really big pair of visegrips could deform it--try to get them as high on the lever as you can, just below the tapered section.

-cliff-

Thanks Cliff: Still can't get it off. I'm still not sure what the problem is ... but it's really stuck ... I can't find a set screw, but am wondering if maybe it has one. I thought it had the original shift knob, but it's not, It's worn but looks like it says MOMO on it. It has a ring at the bottom and there appears to be glue between the knob and the ring. I am going to ask my son to take a look at it (he's a much better mechanic)

Those rubber strap wrenches that are a dime-a-dozen these days would work great for this. Put one around the know and one around the shaft and you don't have to remove the boot and have almost no chance of marring the shaft.

John ('94 Miata) jsgmcclary at cox dot net

Yes sc,

It does unscrew, unless the PO put on an aftermarket knob. If they did, you will need to find the set screws on the bottom to take the knob off.

Roland