Removing shifter knob

[Daiji]

I have a MY99 996 C2 and I am looking for suggestions for removing the original OEM shifter knob which is just pressed on to the shifter. I tried pulling it straight off with my bare hands, as well as using a suggestion that I read, which mentioned using screwdrives as a fulcrum to pry it off. But, its still stuck on there tight.

Any suggestions on how to remove the shifter knob?

Since I am planning to put on a new knob, I'm thinking of drilling a large hole in the top of my old knob and using a gear puller to pry it off.

[Loren]

Check for a set screw - if none then twist and pull at the same time.

[Daiji]

Thanks Loren, there is no set screw and I tried the twisting and pulling with no luck. I was hoping somebody had a different method to pry it off.

[1schoir]

Thanks Loren, there is no set screw and I tried the twisting and pulling with no luck. I was hoping somebody had a different method to pry it off.

You're not pulling hard enough. It takes a lot of force to pull it off, and you've got to be careful not to smash yourself in the face once it pops off!

Regards, Maurice.

[Ahsai]

Jam an adjustable wrench horizontally at base of shift knob and lift with another hand holding the shift knob. It takes some force. Be careful not to knock yourself in the face.

[mikop1]

I had that problem, I thought it would never come off. I took out the whole shifter, step on the shifter while pulling it off, it came off easy. Just put force it should pull off easily. Good Luck!

[KevinMac]

If you have no setscrew, while pulling up twist at the same time!

[Daiji]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I am going to try Ahsai suggestion and use an adjustable wrench for leverage. I had heard of people getting hurt trying to remove the shifter knob, so I have been little leery of putting all I got into pulling it off.

[Malakas]

I've been trying the same thing - and the whole mechanism is out of the car!! Good luck - i suppose it just takes a lot of force as already said...

[roastduck88]

I just replaced mines not too long ago. It took ALOT of force, luckily I have a convertible so I just put the top down, stood up and pulled. It came off after a lot of effort! It also helped to look at my replacement shift knob so I knew exactly where I could pull without breaking anything. My original shift knob was all scratched up, so for my new one I sprayed on a layer of clear coat just in case (make sure you tape up all the edges).

[Daiji]

Okay I finally got that shifter knob off.

Thought I share on how I did it.

Got the largest crescent wrench that I had. Layed some rags over the shifter console right behind the shifter so as not to damage the the plastic housing. I then layed a piece of scrap 2" X 4" over the rags and the housing, and used that to lever up the shifter knob with the crescent wrench. Prior to that I used my air compressor to shoot some air up between the rubber and the shaft. Don't know if that helped but it might have freed up the rubber from the shaft.

[phillipj]

Glad to hear you finally had success! :D