DIY: JDM Civic Type R Shift Knob + Boot installation (2007 Civic Si Sedan)

[BTRobertson]

I just received my JDM Aluminum Shift Knob + Shift Boot parts today and will be installing them tonight on my 2007 Civic Si Sedan. Pictures and a full write-up will be posted here once I'm finished.

*Quick Note: this particular JDM shift boot already has the plastic inner rim stapled to it, so the extra work to change that piece out from the stock boot to the new one will NOT be required, making this an extremely simple install. I'll take before and after pics, as well as pics of the new JDM parts before they're installed in the center console.

I told you guys I wasn't posting until I installed it tonight. Sheesh. lol

Okay, here's the instructions with pics included each step of the way. If anything is in any way unclear, please feel free to hit me up with the questions, as this is my first DIY.

Installation Instructions:

Step 1: Examine the original shift knob, leather boot, and knob nut (pictured below)
Tools needed: "T-20" tort driver ("star tip"); 9/16 wrench (pictured below)
JDM FD2 Civic Type R aluminum shift knob and custom leather boot (pictured below)







Step 2: Using the 9/16 wrench, loosen the knob nut directly below the OEM shift knob (black). This will allow the knob to be unscrewed. Once the knob is removed, unscrew the nut and set aside (you'll need this later!!!)



Step 3: Once the knob and nut are removed, I simply pulled upward on the leather boot - GENTLY - and the silver trim holding the boot in place popped off. If it's stubborn, squeeze gently from two opposing sides and it'll pop off. Be gentle - that's the key.

Installer's note: sorry the picture below is a tad fuzzy. Note the four tort screws holding the OEM boot in place on the underside of the silver trim piece.



The picture below shows the OEM boot on the left, the JDM (FD2) boot on the right, and the silver trim tray beneath - all undersides. Note the JDM boot's screw holes match perfectly with the OEM. No issues here with removing staples or any other part of this boot.



Optional: You can remove the top plastic piece of the OEM boot because it's a tighter fit for the space between the new JDM aluminum shift knob and the knob nut, but this is entirely up to you. I think it looks great the way it is finished, but you will need a small zip tie and cutters to remove the OEM plastic round piece so you can put it on the new boot - but beware that you may mess up the JDM boot during the process. That's why I list it as optional (no pics for this step because I chose not to do this).

Step 4: Screw the new boot using the four T-20 screws the same way the OEM boot came out. There's only one way the boot can be screwed in, so if the holes don't line up perfectly, you've got it switched around! Snap the silver trim piece with the new boot attached back over your gear shift space snuggly (make sure there aren't any spaces showing...snap it in tight, but don't force it too hard; it's plastic after all).

Step 5: screw the OEM knob nut - BUT PUT IT ON UPSIDE-DOWN because the way the JDM boot plastic "top circle" piece snaps over the screw means the knob nut lip has to be on the bottom, not the top like it is with the OEM setup - all the way down the gear shifter until it stops, then screw the new knob (or the OEM one, whichever you prefer or purchased) all the way until it stops - the gear numbers should be tilted slightly toward the driver's side. Then, using the 9/16 wrench, counter-tighten the knob nut up against the underside of the shift knob until snug (don't over tighten for obvious reasons). Then, slide the boot plastic top piece over the screw until it "clicks"...this is what keeps the boot over the gear shift without having it slide down and move around.

FINISHED!! The final look is pictured below:

[Zeuceone]

nice.

[PSU Pinoy PSU]

[sikassdrummer]

Originally Posted by PSU Pinoy PSU

[PSU Pinoy PSU]

VERY NICE....daddy likey!

[BTRobertson]

Thanks PSU (I'm a PSU alumni, by the way, and so is my wife). I did my best considering it was my first DIY. I hope nothing is in any way confusing, but it's hard to get some of these pictures because of the small nature of some of the parts. But just to reiterate a point from the edited Step 5, the OEM knob nut that you remove in step 1 has a lip on it, which is facing "up" when you unscrew the OEM knob (you'll see what I mean).

The way the JDM boot is configured, there's two small plastic tabs around the top rim of the plastic top circle piece (the piece that's nearest to the knob) which snap OVER the knob nut. If you put the lip up so it's right up against the new shift knob, those tabs won't snap over it and it keeps sliding around and down the gear shift column. The edit I put in simply reverses the nut direction so the lip is facing down (toward the bottom of the car) - this enables those plastic tabs to snap over it and stay UP!

I didn't notice this until I just took the car for a spin to see how it shifts. I fixed it and now it's really good. It feels good to shift.

[PSU Pinoy PSU]

Originally Posted by BTRobertson

Thanks PSU (I'm a PSU alumni, by the way, and so is my wife). I did my best considering it was my first DIY. I hope nothing is in any way confusing, but it's hard to get some of these pictures because of the small nature of some of the parts. But just to reiterate a point from the edited Step 5, the OEM knob nut that you remove in step 1 has a lip on it, which is facing "up" when you unscrew the OEM knob (you'll see what I mean).

The way the JDM boot is configured, there's two small plastic tabs around the top rim of the plastic top circle piece (the piece that's nearest to the knob) which snap OVER the knob nut. If you put the lip up so it's right up against the new shift knob, those tabs won't snap over it and it keeps sliding around and down the gear shift column. The edit I put in simply reverses the nut direction so the lip is facing down (toward the bottom of the car) - this enables those plastic tabs to snap over it and stay UP!

I didn't notice this until I just took the car for a spin to see how it shifts. I fixed it and now it's really good. It feels good to shift.

Nice...another PSU alum! My girlfriend and i are alums (she was c/o 2004 i was 2006 only becuase of an almost deployment) i totally understand about the small parts in the shift boot....i got the suede JDM style shift boot and the skunk2 shift knob....those screws that attach to the boot are small! And if you ever get the new comptech short shifter...the 2 little screws that tighten up to the shifter are crazy small!

[BTRobertson]

Originally Posted by PSU Pinoy PSU

Nice...another PSU alum! My girlfriend and i are alums (she was c/o 2004 i was 2006 only becuase of an almost deployment) i totally understand about the small parts in the shift boot....i got the suede JDM style shift boot and the skunk2 shift knob....those screws that attach to the boot are small! And if you ever get the new comptech short shifter...the 2 little screws that tighten up to the shifter are crazy small!

Actually, I do have one of those on order, but it's backordered until Comptech gets that thread goo straight on the new version. CorSport said a week or two at most. Either way, is there a DIY for that part? Thanks man! Nice to meet more PSU alums.

[Mabuz]

nice write-up, and shift knob/boot...and go PSU!

[c130turboprop]

excellent job on your first DIY..., i like the look of this, i may consider this in the near furture

[JCool]

nice work

[BTRobertson]

Thanks all. Maybe they'll make this one permanent then.

[PhantomSi]

i really want to buy that shift boot. AJ racing told me they where out of stock. does anyone know where i can buy one of these?

[FG-JOE]

i think jdmland

[BTRobertson]

GT Motoring: High quality performance parts supplier or CorSport Inc. - Import and Sport Compact Aftermarket Automotive Performance Parts - Honda Acura Civic Si Integra RSX CRX Element Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII IX MR Scion xA xB tC Nissan Subaru STI WRX s13 s14 ep3 fg2 dc5 - CorSport USA (actually, CorSport is awesome to deal with and offers free shipping on all U.S. orders. They don't list the JDM parts on their site, but contact them and tell 'em B.T. Robertson sent you.

[BTRobertson]

Can we sticky this in the DIY Interior thread?

[Arganon]

Thanks BT, this helped me a lot! +1

[vit0]

man that looks sexy wow
where did you buy the knob and the boot
cause i want my install to run just as smooth
as yours did

[BTRobertson]

No problem guys! Glad it's helping. Also, vit0, I bought them from CorSport since they're so awesome to deal with and they have free shipping. They're not on their site, but email them and they'll hook you up.

[VTECnical]

Wow. That looks great. I have to talk to the guys at CorSport!