If you plan to replace your shift knob, good luck..

[eculley]

Holy hell. I read elsewhere this thing was tough to get off, but I wasn't prepared. Multiple people, multiple pairs of vice grips and a pipe wrench later, we were able to get it off. The stock knob didn't make it out unscathed, unfortunately.

With that being said, this knob from Z1 is really great. I was worried I wouldn't like the stick style, but I do. The weight isn't significant compared to the stock knob, so if it's weight you're after, this isn't it. You feel a lot more of the transmission given it's straight metal, which I think is my biggest compliment to it.

 

[Jah_Happy]

Nice! I replaced mine back in June and can confirm, it was extremely hard to unscrew. I was surprised actually lol. Thought for sure I had the right tools / leverage and it was just a pain. Didnt use a strap wrench which is apparently much easier but who knows.

 

[Bodz]

what tools did you guys use to remove the shift knob ?

 

[Jah_Happy]

what tools did you guys use to remove the shift knob ?

Like the OP, I man handlded mine off with a pipe wrench and duct tape. Mines not ruined but does have some big scratches. Not surprising, I was in a hurry and knew it wasnt the proper way. Grab yourself a strap wrench and that should work without ruining the original.

 

[Maximus]

I could’ve believe how hard it was to remove the factory gear knob. We used a pipe wrench to hold the shifter under the shift boot, wrapped a THICK piece is rubber strap around the factory gear knob and a strap wrench around that rubber strap so the factory gear knob wouldn’t get ruined. Holy hell was it hard AF! Two hours later….it came off and was well worth the struggle

 

[Hatoshi]

I heard it was locktite'd from the factory

 

[2017370ZBlack]

I have the black version of the Nismo knob on my 370, which is nice, but I'm tempted by that Z1 knob!

 

[Hackattack07]

Has anyone else had luck getting this thing off!? I’ve been working at it for a while and can’t get it turned more than a quarter turn. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NocturnalEmber]

Has anyone else had luck getting this thing off!? I’ve been working at it for a while and can’t get it turned more than a quarter turn. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There's a forum member on here that posted about how to get his shift knob off the linkage without damaging it not too long ago. Do a search and you will likely find it. If memory serves he used an old t shirt to protect the knob then wrapped a belt around the circumference of the knob and t shirt, then used a pipe wrench, or vise grips would likely work out as well. Didn't see any visible damage in his after photos that I could tell (removing the knob undamaged was the main point of his thread.)

 

[trackratZ]

Thank you for your service, you diehards!! Nice shift knob options but think I'll leave mine alone. Whew!

 

[Hackattack07]

I tried the cloth over it with vise grips and it just ripped the knob apart. I was eventually able to turn it but it actually twisted and snapped off I ordered the Z1 short shifter for replacement.

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

I tried the cloth with a leather belt and heatgun budged a little. Then the knob was getting ruined because the cloth was slipping a little. This was due to the knob not moving. The shifter said, i cant hold it any longer and snapped off

I went with torque solutions and will be installing this weekend

 

[Bumflik]

Thank you for your service, you diehards!! Nice shift knob options but think I'll leave mine alone. Whew!

Yea. Me too

 

[Meg_Z]

As I posted earlier on another thread it was a PITA! I tried a belt wrench first it didn’t budge it. I finally used large channel locks. I followed some of the recommendations on this forum wrapping it, but I still ended up damaging it. It looks like they used some type of loctite. Be careful if using a large wrench that you don’t accidentally damage the interior trying to get the knob loose.

 

[ZillaZ]

As I posted earlier on another thread it was a PITA! I tried a belt wrench first it didn’t budge it. I finally used large channel locks. I followed some of the recommendations on this forum wrapping it, but I still ended up damaging it. It looks like they used some type of loctite. Be careful if using a large wrench that you don’t accidentally damage the interior trying to get the knob loose.

I really like this one. Wish the "Z" logo was the current style though.