Has anyone removed the knob on a column shifter? If so, what's the easiest way of doing it? I'm thinking about replacing the shifter knob on mine.
I just looked at one and you are right. Looks like it is 2 pieces, 1 metal and 1 chromed plastic. I tried to see if it was threaded but it would not budge. Maybe if someone has an old junky one they could tear it apart to see if it is threaded or a press fit. I looked at both column shift auto and manual shift and they both had a plastic knob end. Interesting .........
I'm sure it's pressed on there or molded on. Just wondering if anyone had removed the knob and what level of difficulty they had, if any. I noticed online that they sell the factory style knob for around $12, so it is replaceable.
AFAIK lever end is splined so is pressed on, but not meant to be removable... Fairly sure the end wasn't serviced by Ford... Either cutting, compressing in vice, or simple ole BFH on the plastic should produce results(yeah you'd need to remove lever on second two options)...
Put the arm in a vise(Or leave it attached to the column)...Heat the knob with a heat gun...Big pair of channel locks/pliers around the knob...Twist/wiggle and pull...Works every time....Its kinda swedged/bonded on there.
If you replace your plastic knob with the D3OZ chrome plated metal knob on an automatic shift lever, be sure to remove about a 1/16th of an inch from the end of the lever or the knob will not fully seat to the lever.