GT86 Manual Shifter Knob Construction
 

Hi All,


New here.


Hoping someone knows the answer about the construction of the stock gear shifter knob.


I want to get the stock one re-wrapped in new leather, and the plastic silver disk around the gear indicator face, and the base of the gear shifter, i wamt to make some replacement aluminium replacements.


So 2 questions:

• How is the gear face and plastic disk mounted to the gear knob itself? Just glued or riveted in or?

• Is the plastic disc (originally silver) around the gear indicator face removable from the indicator face?

Thanks guys!

sure seems like a lot of work:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Manual-Shif...wAAOSwLyVZ27Z5

It is but it's a project.


I've looked at at aftermarket, the one linked has the TRD tag punched into it which i dont psrsonally want.

It’s all glued together.

Interesting... thanks for that.


Do you know if the disk around the gear face is a separate piece?

Yes, the bottom ring and top disk can be pried off. I had Sweidit do my shift knob, he’d probably have a better idea of what was involved.

sweidit86@gmail.com

Many thanks!



Made contact.

Just reread your post and I don’t believe the upper silver ring is removable from the plauque with the gear numbers on it. You may have to buy a gear indicator plaque that’s the same size as OEM to cleanly remove the upper silver ring.

just in case you were mildly interested. Gear number plaque is removable from teh silver disk around it:


https://i.ibb.co/QFkCzzX/image.png


Back side of Gear indicator disk + Silver Ring:
https://i.ibb.co/yRrpxyw/image.png


So the Silver ring is actually just a round holder with the gear indicator plate nestled in it.


The gear indicator disk is just taped / glued in place. So it is removable.

Good stuff!

So just an update on this project so far.
Got the shifter re-wraped in calve leather, with red stitching to match, the stock one results below:

Got a skilled leather craftsman to re-wrap it in calves leather, he did a great job:

https://i.ibb.co/jDKnrCC/0a37ea6e-21...d31e55eb93.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/VN79Mvf/801dc6a5-76...bd759356eb.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/mbhfF3K/5bad2491-ec...0c893f00-2.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/1n6Dp1Q/14bc0312-60...d54da66449.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/mRsfkBv/a19437fc-57...5ec87f8225.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/gw6H52W/f046c875-55...c289bc433b.jpg

Then got another guy who makes metal parts for a living:
https://i.ibb.co/fXn9R5t/a0041ebd-7a...c85f68c6a4.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/tqJyWn7/4872746f-f4...121ccd0a27.jpg

Then he put the pieces together:
https://i.ibb.co/Bn8PkfW/semi-final.jpg

Now i just need to get it shipped back to me, and ill take a few more glamour shots. Think it came out well!

Couple more updates to come. Had the bottom piece made too!
https://i.ibb.co/MNwD7bt/IMG-20200716-WA0000.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/NLqq1hv/IMG-20200716-WA0001.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/pP5WLtf/IMG-20200717-WA0000.jpg


Above is the bottom cap being formed from the Aluminium.





Below is it finished ready for fitting:

https://i.ibb.co/v3JccyY/IMG-20200717-WA0001.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/SKW9bjD/IMG-20200717-WA0002.jpg


I will be getting the bottom cap anodized so it can match the existing faux metal bits in the car already but I will leave the top cap in its raw finished state as per the above post.


Then Ill install it for the final shots.

GT86 Manual Shifter Knob Construction
 

That looks fantastic!

Any chance your guy is willing to make more sets of those aluminum parts? I’d totally pay for a set!

Without a doubt he would be. I've absorbed the cost of paying for the 3d design already so now it would just be a case of plugging the design in and clicking start. Im not based in the states but if that's not a deterrent then you can DM me and we can discuss.

Awesome! I took my old knob apart yesterday. Do you know if you can separate the rubber ball from the metal threaded housing? I would like to do this but only if I can take the weight out of the knob. I don’t like how heavy the stock knob is.

It doesnt appear so. Looks pretty solid. Your only option might be to cut it out and remove the pieces.

Yea that is what it looks like to me

Dude this is freaking cool! How’s the weight compared to stock? So you were able to separate the clear enamel number portion from the silver trim?

The weight is about the same, +- a few grams but absolutely nothing you would notice, because its aluminum its super lightweight.


Yes, the enamel disc can come off, but its not just a simple pop it out from the back, its properly stuck there, like... good and proper. So you will need to use some sort of a solvent to get at the glue at the back like I did.


For this project, I ended up buying a 2nd hand spare gear shifter, so I didnt have to sacrifice my original, and got the 2nd hand one for dirt cheap as it was pretty worn, and just got the refurb done on that one,so if it did go wrong, I didnt lose anything.

Final shots:


https://i.ibb.co/74mZ30B/20200722-114932.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6Bs1xTF/20200722-114818.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Q8yBwJN/20200722-114853.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/QbYzmDf/20200722-114917.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/rFVJnJv/20200722-120658.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/5cQqSkS/20200722-120751.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/dcPvYs7/20200722-120743.jpg


It was 99% press fit/ torque fit, so only a tiny dab of hot glue was used to hold the enamel in place. and make the bottom cap fit a bit more snug, so its all removable too if you wanted to try different finishes.



Really happy with the way it came out, and the pictures dont do it enough justice.
If anyone else is interested in getting the 2 parts, happy to get more made.

Is there a chance for any stainless steel or titanium options?

Not sure about titanium, but definitely stainless.

Well then, I am very interested in a stainless set. It could be the weighted OEM shift knob that a lot of people are looking for.

Ti is a pain in the ass to cut. Probably not worth the extra cost.

GT86 Manual Shifter Knob Construction
 

The stock knob is weighted already though. Heavier knobs cause accelerated selector fork wear.

Factory is 200 grams but the JDM TRD and STi knobs are around 270 grams. If I could get the factory to 270-300 grams I would be very happy.

This should still be light enough not to increase wear. It would be nice to hear from someone that has had say a Raceseng shift knob for a long time and get a report on how their shifting feels now.

GT86 Manual Shifter Knob Construction
 

And here I am trying to remove the weight inside the stock knob! [emoji1787]

My Tomei plastic knob weighs 70g and I love the extra feedback that provides.

Well whenever you ready to take the plunge - happy to help!

How much would stainless be + shipping to California?

That's slick. Do you happen to know the diameter of that bottom piece? Of the narrower circumference where it tapers? (the very bottom)?

I dont I'm afraid, as someone far far more intelligent than I, took the plastic piece and fabricated the metal part. So any dimensions etc I dont have :(

Looks great, interested too.

Spoke to the guy that made mine, while it can be done in stainless, he cant really offering at this point. He does a lot of work with magnesium alloys - so does not fabricate any ferrous metals - due to obvious saftey issues.
So if you interested in the aluminium - then he can help.
Shipping to Cali from my country is about

$23 - $35 - more leaning towards the lesser side, even less once I know exact dimensions.



Yeah can absolutely help you out.




Would like to get an idea of how many people would like these, as the more I make, the cheaper they become.

Finally got pricing. Looking at +-40$ (depending on exchange rate at the time) excl. Shipping for a set in aluminium.

That’s is a good deal! Very interested. Any chance you could source the leather piece?

Hey,


Sadly not - the leather itself needs to be wet-fitted - so the saturate and warm up the leather, and fit it to get a tight fit... and sort for mould it in place, and then stitch it shut - and that might be a bit expensive to do - I cant say refurbishing was done CHEAPER than buying a new one, but I certainly got it done to a much higher standard.