Shift Knob Replacement

[MBowen574]

marc said:

Before I order the Lucerne knob. I am trying to get the shift knob on my 2001 to budge. It won't. I am getting the idea that maybe the factory manual doesn't have the right procedure to remove it.

About that... I tried for 15 minutes or so last weekend and then gave up. Our is loose (has been since we got the car) and rotates either way a half inch or so on the stick, but will NOT come straight up off. I thought you had to unscrew it, but it won't move that way, either. Infuriating...

[Custom88]

My knob came off relatively easy.. I'm pretty strong, but, I don't think that is the biggest factor. Are you guys using both hands to get it off? I put my elbows on my right knee and carefully pulled up FIRMLY until it came off. I didn't think it was all that hard... I am actually able to get it off with just one hand now though.

[MBowen574]

I was sitting in the driver seat and used my elbow against my thigh as a leverage point (with the parking brake on, the ignition in the Acc. position, and the engine off) and was lifting straight up. Never came up. I tried several other arrangements but nothing worked...

[Aurora40]

Question, does the flared chrome part under the leather come off too? Or should I be putting leverage on the leather itself?

Mine does not easily pull off, but I didn't put a ton of force as I wasn't sure what part should come off.

[Marc]

I put the stick in neutral & tried pulling up with both hands. It moved only a small fraction of an inch. I wasn't
using any leverage points.
From the way it looks to me, I think that the leather part
and the small chrome piece should come off as one unit.

[bufo]

Would you post a photo of the installed Lucerne knob?

I wonder if my wife would like a new knob for her ride.








;D

[kbpickle]

The top part of the shifter post has a flat side in the otherwise round cross-section. The knob has a flat along the top 1" or so of the bore - that's why you shouldn't try to twist it off. The flat on the post mates with the flat in the bore. You won't be able to twist it without damaging something in the knob.

The bottom part of the shifter post is fully round in cross-section, and it has a single shallow circumferential groove running around the post. Up in the bore, the knob has two opposing ledges of metal that jut just a bit into the bore. It appears that the two pieces of metal are intended to maybe "snap" into the groove when the stock knob is properly seated. It appears to me that what we are trying to do is to pull up on the knob enough to pull those two pieces of metal up and out of the groove on the shifter post. I can't say why it should be so difficult on one car (like mine), and so easy on another (like my wife's). Perhaps it has something to do with the sort of life one has led.

As per published instructions, I saw no clips, pins, or fasteners - - other than the sort of friction fit that I've described above.

The whole knob comes off as a single piece, leather and metal together.

Ken

[kbpickle]

Oops, I see Marc has already explained the shape of the shifter post in the other thread. Sorry to be redundant.

Ken

[kbpickle]

First attempt:

[kbpickle]

Others tell me that the color is not an exact match, but I can't really see it.

See how the knob rides a little higher than the stock knob.

[kbpickle]

Note that the pictures above were taken with a flash, so that the actual appearance under most lighting conditions is a good bit darker.

Ken

[kbpickle]

Last one, I promise.

[Marc]

That looks good. To my eye, there is very little difference in the color of the woods.
I have sent to www.gmpartsdirect.com for a Lucerne shift knob. I hope that I'll get it this coming week.

[Aurora40]

marc said:

I have sent to www.gmpartsdirect.com for a Lucerne shift knob. I hope that I'll get it this coming week.

Heheh, have you ever ordered from them before? Speedy shipping is not their thing. Shoot for getting it this month, and you won't be disappointed.

[macadamiaman]

The wood is lighter. I prefer the leather look.

[luvmybravada]

Looks pretty good to me. Hey, if you like it then forget what others think right?

[Custom88]

that shift knob is mahogany, the Aurora wood is Burlwood, that's why it looks slightly different. The difference isn't huge, but I can tell. It doesn't look bad at all though. I like the Lexus shift knobs, I just wish they were push-on, not screw-on.

[luvmybravada]

But that's what Lexus does best, screw you on all their parts. Hehe.

[Marc]

aurora40 said:

marc said:

I have sent to www.gmpartsdirect.com for a Lucerne shift knob. I hope that I'll get it this coming week.

Heheh, have you ever ordered from them before? Speedy shipping is not their thing. Shoot for getting it this month, and you won't be disappointed.

They had said that shipping is being delayed because of a move, but the latest notice on their site says that they're shipping again, so I've got my hopes up.

[Wacko]

I've found that Van Devere ships very quickly.
www.worldparts.com/vandevereoldsmobile/

[Custom88]

This is the Lexus shift knob that I was referring to.. I REALLY like the loooks of it, but I don't know if we could get it to fit, or not.

[Aurora40]

custom88 said:

This is the Lexus shift knob that I was referring to.. I REALLY like the loooks of it, but I don't know if we could get it to fit, or not.

You won't know until you try, but since ours is slip-on, that helps. If that one is too small, you could drill/bore it out. If it's too big, well you could try to shim it up or something, or fill it in and then drill it.

[Marc]

custom88 said:

This is the Lexus shift knob that I was referring to.. I REALLY like the loooks of it, but I don't know if we could get it to fit, or not.

Try putting it onto the stick, but easily. Don't do any forcing.

[bufo]

Not an exact match, but close. Thanks for posting the pics.

My wife prefers the leather shifter, so we'll stay with that.

[MBowen574]

Looks great in those pics! It isn't exactly the same color, but it's close enough that without very close examination, no one would really notice. Excellent! Even if Buick doesn't sell a ton of Lucernes, they'll still make a bit of money selling Lucerne shift knobs to Aurora owners. Heh.