Shifter boot effecting tranny shifts ????

[viper04blk]

My shifter boot is a HARD HARD leather. It feels thick and hard. I can hear the center console shifting and moving when I shift into 2nd. When going into 2nd, the leather folds and you have really try hard to get it to fold.

I think the leather on the shift boot has been hardened from the heat/time. As a result, it has shrunk a bit. I can hear the center console moving because of how tight it is.

It is so tight, that today I saw it pop my shifter out of 2nd gear. Anyone else experience this???

Can anyone confirm if their shifter boot was a soft loose leather from the factory? I am planning on ordering a new one....I just dont want the new one to have the same consistency as the old one. (waste of money at that point)

 

[Kirkinsb]

Ya...my boot is nice and soft. 2003 Viper. OEM.

 

[viper04blk]

Thanks Kirkinsb, I appreciate the info

I took my shifter boot off. Shifts like butter now. That stiffened leather really effected the performance of the car. There is a rubber membrane under the boot that is severely ripped. I noticed ALOT of heat/wind blowing into threw the torn membrane. Perhaps this is why the leather got so stiff?

Can anyone tell me the part number for this rubber membrane? or perhaps a name for it? I want to order up a new one and a new leather boot.

 

[viper04blk]

Research has developed the following

part# 0XP191X9AA
AND
part# 05038653AA

required to correct my problems


Anyone ever seen a write up to replace this rubber boot?

 

[Kirkinsb]

You can use this to check your part numbers just to be sure. http://roeracing.com/oe-parts/index.asp

and this website has instructions on changing a shifter, which includes the boots... http://ipsco.org/Viper_files/GEN IV STS Installation Instructions v0 7.pdf

This should help ya. Glad your tranny shifts good now!

 

[viper04blk]

Thanks for that link to the parts list. Thats getting printed ASAP and stored in the garage.

That tutorial is exactly what I need as well.

I am going to go shopping around for nylon rivets. Hopefully homedepot will have them.

 

[saxon_schmauderer]

You can just buy the 20$ riveter that comes at harbor freight. It includes the needed 1/4" rivets, and makes the job quick and cheap.

 

[cdover73]

I'm trying to get the dealership to install my B&M and First Strike while the trans is out of the car. I saw they had the factory shifter hanging from the tunnel. It looks like he lowered the trans enough to get to the bolts and just undone it from there without going through the console. Does this mean the job of changing the shifter can be done by simply lowering the trans enough to get to the bolts? If so, you should be able to undo the shift knob and slide the OEM shifter out of the boot and reinstall the short throw in reverse. Would this be feasible to do in your garage, or is lowering the trans too much of a pain??? Just curious.

 

[Kirkinsb]

Viper04blk, I did some reading how to soften and recondition hard leather. I read that you soak the leather with rubbing alcohol. Then towel pat it dry. Then rub a butt load of vaseline (no pun intended) into the leather. (Front and back) I did this on mine and it really seemed to work nice. So until your new one comes...you can soften your old shift boot up!

 

[viper04blk]

i might try that. My schedule is so busy for the next 2 weeks, I doubt I will get to drive my car anyways. Parts should be in by then.

 

[Kirkinsb]

Viper04blk, I did some reading how to soften and recondition hard leather. I read that you soak the leather with rubbing alcohol. Then towel pat it dry. Then rub a butt load of vaseline (no pun intended) into the leather. (Front and back) I did this on mine and it really seemed to work nice. So until your new one comes...you can soften your old shift boot up!

Well forget that home remedy. Once all the alcohol dried, I don't think it is any softer. : (

 

[steve e]

Alcohol is an astringent, if that wont dry it out to a dry potato chip nothing will. Soak it in olive oil for a day.

 

[Dom426h]

Lol on the alcohol & vaseline

I took my leather boots from both shift knob and ebrake and used the Lexol Leather Conditioner. Massaged them real good then put in a sealed ziplock bag overnight with an extra couple sprays in there so they would soak up the extra moisture. Turned out pretty good.

My lower rubber boot was cracked. I replaced it with new and a year later that one cracked. It definitely lets a lot of heat up which is pretty annoying.

I drilled out the factory rivets and replaced with bolts that way i can more easily get to my B&M shifter which ive had to replace the thick plastic gasket on twice. I did have to grind the heads down on the bolts so just a 1/8" was left so the consol would fit good. Gen2 here...

 

[viper04blk]

bolts would be a good idea....as I can see this rubber boot ripping again during my ownership.

BUT, a rivet gun is quick and easy......... the plastic rivets are even easier

 

[Kirkinsb]

Like steve e said the alcohol and vaseline method stinks!!! I searched some more home remedies and found either olive oil or coconut oil will do a good job. Since I did not have any olive oil...I did coconut oil (why the heck I had coconut oil is beyond me.) But rubbing the leather down with it made it very soft and pliable. Yup!

 

[steve e]

Kirkinsb, you made me laugh. having coconut oil, in my house we have tons of both, the olive oil for cooking and my wife uses coconut oil in her hair face and who knows where but both are good for people and cow skin.

 

[viper04blk]

i paid the 45 bucks for a new leather shift boot hahaha

 

[viper04blk]

I followed the directions for replacing the rubber boot. Here is what I learned.

Drilling out the rivets *****...i can tell by the crappy build of the rubber boot, I will be back in again to replace this in a couple years. So I used plastic rivets and silicon as the directions suggested
The car now shifts awesome with a new leather boot
My metal ring around the shift boot was hotter then hell before I changed out the rubber boot. It is now cold to the touch. If you have a HOT metal ring around your shift boot, I think it is safe to say your rubber boot is torn.

 

[Hirkophoto]

The rubber boot tears after about 25k. it's a common problem. Not only does it let heat in but also exhaust gas! When replacing use the Harbor freight large rivet gun, it came with all the rivets you would need. I actually removed mine a second time to put a short shifter on, then I used Rivnuts You can get them at McMasterCar. instead so now you can use a allen wrench to remove the boot, slick and easy incase you need to get in there again.