OK - I am at a loss....I have done everything I can do to try remove my shift ****!!
I have lifted the leather boot and rotated the locking collar 90 degrees clockwise. For the life of me I absolutely cannot pull off the **** -

I have read on rennlist and 6speed that it takes a good deal of force but I am a big guy and with all my might I cannot get the flippin **** to even budge. it is a 2005 997.1

This is one of the first and (supposedly) easiest steps on the SSK install and I just cannot get it.

Can anyone offer advise or shed some light PLEASE!!

 

I have read the following but it does not make sense to me - if anyone has a better description of how this method works let me know...

"Instead of pulling until I was blue int the face I found it much simpler to lock a set of vise grips just below the shift **** then use a set of open needle nose pliers to lever off the vise grips to lift the ****. 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."

 

he is saying clamp the vise grips below the collar and use them as a fulcrum to pry the **** off with the needlenose pliers. it just takes a great deal of force to pull it off the shaft. open the sunroof so you dont smash the headliner

 

Here's my DIY.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ml#post3118006

 

You don't need tools. A vice grip will likely damage the leather and plastic locking collar.

There is a plastic collar that locks the **** to the boot. The collar is hidden under the leather boot at the top where it connects to the ****. It is a hard plastic ring.

Grab the plastic collar and rotate the collar and boot clockwise. This unlocks the boot from the ****.

Then, grab the **** and pull up.

The reason the **** isn't coming up is it is locked to the boot. When the two are locked together, the **** won't pull upward.

 

the vice grip will grab the metal post, just 1/8" under the plastic ring... then the long nose pliers, will go between the vice grips and the plastic collar. I did this with mine and worked like a charm...

 

I installed mine yesterday , I got it out with quite some effort by pulling hard like everybody does.

 

Thanks for the advice!

32Krazy - i have tried to figure it out but the vice/pliers/pry method still doesnt make sense to me....

bbyu - thanks for the DIY but i had already twisted the locking ring clockwise and the **** just doesnt budge off the shifter.

SO....here is where I am at....with a lot of swearing and twisting myself into a pretzel, I have removed the entire ****/boot, center console, AND gear shift housing completely out of the car as a single unit. The whole thing is now out of the car but still all attached to eachother. LOL
I am thinking i will just take this whole unit over to a porsche shop and see if they have any better luck than i have....story of my life...

At least the SSK is installed and feels great through the gears. Cant wait to drive it.

 

Now THAT makes a bit more sense to me.....I will give that a shot.

 

then pry upward. but it needs to be installed so the entire unit is stable and only the **** moves

 

damn, that was a nice pair of needle nose.....

 

I am going to have my Indy put this in, I heard if not installed correctly it can hurt your Syncro's. Add in this nightmare and it is a no brainer.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

 

Nothing like adding salt to the wound.....

no...but really, i am so glad it all worked out for you!

 

Exactly. Especially since many of the DIY's end up at the dealership sooner or later anyway for cable adjustment. Paid my dealer $180 for the install. 100% perfect out of the gate and stayed that way for 35K miles.

 

+1

I used the vice grip on the metal post, but put thin rubber strips in between to not scratch the post. Then instead of long nose pliers, I used an open ended wrench as a lever to "push" up the shiftknob from the base. It came of easily with this technique.

Trying to "pull" it off from above is an insane task, much easier with some leverage.