Aftermarket shift knob install suggestion
 

I was installing an aftermarket Grant Evolution shift knob this weekend on an S4, and, like most aftermarket shift knobs, was held in place via allen head set screws.

I will say this once: I HATE set screws.
They always come loose and they knew feel tight. Sure, you can drill into the threads of the shifter, but I still never achieve the firmness I like.

So, I looked to my good friend for a solution: FIRE.

Whipped out the old MPS bottle and took it to the stock S4 shift knob... the synthetic leather burnt off pretty quick, leaving behind a grey plastic shift knob... keeping the torch nice and close to this grey plastic, it quickly turned to liquid and melted away, leaving behind an aluminum threaded sleeve.

This threaded sleeve, after some minor casting flash cleanup with a pocketknife, fit directly into the grant knob... almost like it was made to fit, just about 1.5 cm too long, which was quickly taken care of with the metal cutting bandsaw. I lubed the threads up with green loctite, and then shoved it back into the knob, and let it dry while I installed poly bushings, a CDI unit, and an Ignited push button ignition.

I installed the shifter knob, and tightened the stock jamnut against the shifter, and wound up with: adjustable alignment, perfect shifter tightness, and a knob that fits like stock. This made me happy, considering how easy it was, and how hard it is to find an attractive aftermarket knob with threads to fit an S4.


Short version:
Sean hates set screws. He likes fire. He burnt a stock shift knob and took out the threaded insert from it, and found it fits a grant shift knob perfectly. He used loctite to glue the two parts together, and wound up with an attractive knob that fits like stock.

Definitely one of my less technical posts... heh. Happy New Year.

Cool. I need to do that also

When someone said necessity is the mother of invention , I think they were refering to RX7 owners. Nice bit of creative thinking.

No, I'm just sexually attracted to fire.

Pyrosexaholic eh?

thats the manliest shift knob mod ive ever heard of in my life.

Dont buy your shift knob at autozone. Cardomain has some nice stuff by razo, thay come with plastic sleeves that thread onto your shifter.

true that mess, no autozone....come on over to advanced auto parts, we'll sell you a nice Hurst T-handle shifter (i think it cost $25).

Try the Greddy or Grex knob. Its like 40 bux and threads onthe stock or aftermarket shifter. Just make sure u specify s4 or s5.

Don't even get me started on plastic inserts....

^^ Ditto. GRRRR!!!!!

i see your ditto and raise you one!

i have used B+M and Hurst shifters which have aluminum threaded inserts but i don't think a T handle quite suits an import over a domestic.... :)

Agreed. B&M Hammer shifter knob on a BW T56 mustang does feel pretty good (especially when there's a vortech blower under the hood) ... but it would look pretty goofy in an FC interior.

lol, i was thinking more along the lines of the whole shifter coming off in my hand, i could imagine myself power shifting into second and with one swift jerk the stick comes out of the hole! :)

Personally, I'm a fan of the torch method. Melting the stock shift knob off the threaded insert is so hardcore.

any pics ?

i've seen a sparcco <--- is that right ? shiftknob that i want but its like 60 bucks

i have a HEAVY greddy knob is a solid ball of stainless steel that was threaded all i had to do was thread it on and done and i love it the sheer weight of the knobs makes up for the nochyness (sp?) of the short shifter

I have never had a problem with my old school wood knob.
Of couse the origonal 10-32 set screw is too small, so I tapped the hole to 1/4-20 (a much stronger thread).
The trick is the use a sleeve made from aluminum & test fit the screw to make a mark in the shift lever.
Then file a small flat for the set screw to bite on at that mark.

A 1" piece of heater hose hides the chrome collar & seals the boot.

http://208.62.166.66:82/guest/pics/knob1.jpg
http://208.62.166.66:82/guest/pics/9...C/TECH0006.JPG

for an S5:
Voodoo (name of company) makes a shifer knob for the Miata that has the same thread pitch.
An alum. ball with or with out the shift pattern.

Mazdaracing makes a nice thread-on knob for the S4. It's round and comes in anodized black, blue, red, or chrome, and all have a rotor engraved on top. I just got the chrome one and it looks and feels great. $45 shipped. Website is mazdaracing.com. Click on Billet Shift Knobs.

i wonder if that can work for my Trust shift knob which was threaded for an S5...

Not of the flamage, but the car's owner does have a couple of the insert. I'll grab them from him and post them.

The problem with "fitted" shift knobs is that their styling will not always suit the vehicle owner's tastes... This is a solution to going with a shift knob that fits but you don't necessarily like or buying a shift knob you like that doesn't actually fit.

Example: though the mazda racing shift knobs fit the stock shifter, I personally think they look gawdy. I'd rather have a shifter that I find attractive and make it fit like stock.

This is the shift knob that was installed:
http://www.grantproducts.com/images/prod/1325.jpg
As a review, its a pretty nice piece. It is fitted for right hand grip and feels very nice.