997 Shift knob removal (manual, not tiptronic)?

[Barrett]

I tried to search this forum for the answer, but wasn't able to find one.

I have an '06 997 S with the stock shift knob (and the sport short shifter underneath). I recently purchased the 997 turbo shift knob, and I'd like to remove my original shift knob to put on the new shift knob.

Here's what I recently bought and want to replace my original knob with:

On my previous 996 C4S, it was just a matter of using elbow grease and pulling up the original shift knob. Is this the case for the 997S as well, or is there a screw or some other added step?

Many thanks in advance!

[CJ_Boxster]

pull straight up really hard, they arent screwed in. The base shift knobs are slip on but fit very snug.

[Tool Pants]

I have not done this myself. I watched a mechanic do it on a 987 when the 987 first came out.

Lift up the boot. There is a round black plastic ring. You need to rotate that ring to the unlock position. Then you pull like heck to get the knob off. The mechanic actually stood on the seats, reach down, and pulled the knob off.

I have seen pictures of it being done another way, but try that first.

The picture below is after it was pulled off. You can see the grooves on the locking ring.

[topspd]

I found it much simpler to lock a set of vise grips just below the shift knob then use a set of open needle nose pliers to lever off the vise grips to lift the knob. Using this method required very little force and I didn't have to stand on the seats and risk breaking the windshield like I've read happening to someone else.

[RFM]

I'm agree with Tool Pants.

[stevencr]

Barrett,

I have the same setup: '06 997S with short shifter. I'd like to upgrade to the same knob you show or the carbon fiber version. Are all the knobs standard size or does the short sshifter setup require a different knob? Did yours come with the leather shift boot to match the interior or did you purchase the knob separately? Any helpful hints for completeing the upgrade would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve