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Replacement GT 6 speed Gear knob

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knob
3K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  Sharpy63 
#1 ·
Does anyone know anywhere apart from parts world that do a replacement GT 6 speed gear knob, the leather one with the fake alloy top?
Mines really letting the interior down at the minute as it's that worn, but parts world want £80 quid plus delivery. I've seen threads where they are only £39.99 but that was last summer. If not I just need something that doesn't look too far from OEM if anyone has any recommendations?

Also I have seen pictures of the GT gear stick where you can see more of the shaft, with the leather gaiter just at the bottom and not all the way up. I really like that look but is it possible with the lift-up reverse shift?













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#5 ·
I have the newer one which was aluminium laminate and plastic. Looked ruddy awful when worn out as the laminate peels and cuts your hand.

I took mine off, sanded the laminate off and sprayed it chrome with a £3.99 can from b&q. Then used some clear nail varnish to seal it. Looks ok, but not top quality. It will do for now until I source a direct replacement.

I tried a Richbrook replacement for £25 but it needed heavy modification just to fit over the reverse lift shaft, and then it wouldn't sit straight. I would avoid those unless your prepared to glue it on - I didn't want to do that.

Andy
 
#7 ·
Bugger!

Aftermarket it is then...

Might look for something that looks half decent whilst I wait for an original to turn up at a better price. Even the button on the handbrake has started peeling, that as well as the electric window/mirror switches that keep popping out is not good from a build quality point of view. The car has only done 69k..
 
#10 ·
I've ordered a richbrook speed top as it has the correct gate on it. It should be here tomorrow, so I'll be stuck in the garage modifying it to fit Friday night as I'm off to Stratford for the weekend on sat morning.

So far every job I've attempted on a Friday night has gone pear shaped and I expect nothing different here :paranoid::biglaugh:.

Handbrake next as the coating has come off the handbrake button and is bloody sharp. Any suggestions?
 
#11 · (Edited)
Had the speedtop on mine and it fitted with no mods at all, only thing was it had to be dead central to the lift up collar as it was a tight clearance and I had to muck about with the grub screws to get it right.

Handbrakes are harder to replace as not many fit, Momo used to do some that did but they are rare now, I am working on getting a Simoni racing one to fit but it is far from straightforward.
 
#12 ·
Decided to replace the gear knob on my 2008 GT 1.9JTM Cloverleaf as the old one was looking tatty and cutting into the skin a bit due to the silver coating coming off.
Decided on the Richbrook as seemed to look good, only cost £13.80 and people said it seems to fit reasonably well with some tweaking – here is my experience and a few photos
Used grips to remove old knob. After some partially successful twisting I found that it is just a normal screw thread holding it in place with some sort of resin to stick it. Unscrewed with assistance of the grips without issue.
Fitting the new one is a bit trickier. The recess in the new knob is about .5mm smaller diameter than the lift up part on the stick that needs to pull up into the knob when you reverse. You can make the diameter greater using various methods but I took it slow with a round file - slow twisting the knob - emery paper to smooth off then a little brasso. This took me some time (maybe ½ hour) but eventually the lift up slid nicely into the underside of the knob. I would advise making the gap/play considerable more than you think necessary as must have a slightly skewed fit of the new knob on the stick when I tighten it up and this means the lift does not automatically slip back down under the spring pressure after reversing and I have to do it manually. No great hardship but I hope in time it will ease in a bit more or I may have another go with the file if I get a free Saturday.
So to fit the new knob there is a grub screw (point it to the back of the car) but you will also need a small collar (not supplied) as the hole in the knob is bigger than the screw thread buy 2/3 mm. It took some patience but I made a collar out of PolyMorph (really cheap on ebay – melts in boiling water and sets hard). The collar was made a snug fit in the knob hole and then snug fit over the stick thread – don’t rush this as its worth getting it right. Tightened the Allen screw and bingo, its on, pretty straight, feels good, and it looks great.
Note: I didn’t choose to use any glue or mastic etc. as I thought if I ever need to remove it or if I stuck it on wrong it would be hard to go back. Also be aware that as this is a metal (Aluminium) gear knob it will get warm under the hand with use but be quite cold in the winter!!
Couple more photos later (car at Garage and old knob in shed and its raining:biglaugh:)
 

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