Mk4 Gear Knob Gaiter - Gaiter to Gear knob connection

[frost015]

OK, I have the new Gaiter, have taken the Knob off (thanks to help from other postings at this forum) and have it in unverted umbrella position… BUT … can't for the life of me see how to get the Black Plastic collar (which holds the gaiter to the gear knob) released, and thus .. although I can probably pull the old gaiter off, will be stuck trying to poke the new gaiter into a small gap ...

Does this black collar come off ??

Should I CUT it off ??

Does it TWIST off ??

Any help gratefully received, as I would prefer to do the job properly and none opf the postings appear to address this ...

Thanks !

Ian

[kenney]

Hi If you want a pic send your e-mail address

[frost015]

All sorted (thanks to Kenney ) .. Basically you prise the black plastic collar off the gear knob (using a flat worn screwdriver applied carefully one side, then the other, until it comes off) .. this releases the gaiter … Rest is obvious (if a bit tricky) ..

[m4nix]

I'm a newbie to the forum, and noticed the same question..


Found another post that explains what I need to do... and the member refers to a jubilee clip... cool..


I need to change my gaiter as well (MK4 Golf). I've lifted the old gaiter that has this metal ring that looks like its crimped into place. Did you have this on yours.

Should I just cut this crimped ring?. I'd welcome any suggestions on what to do and how to replace this crimped ring assuming I have to cut it. I was thinking maybe a small jubilee clip ??

[frost015]

Am away on business at the moment ... but have a diagram somewhere...

I really cant remember what I did with the crimped metal thing, but DONT cut it ! I do remember that it was re-usable.. (I think I prised it open, then re-used it ... Key is in the black thing refered to above !

Will post diagram when I get home ...

Ian

[m4nix]

Thanks Ian appreciate your help. I've ordered a new gaitor on e-bay should be getting this soon..

Cheers..M

[MarkRuthin]

Just done this gaiter replacement myself on a 2002 Golf Mk4 5-speed manual. Old gaiter came off the base OK, lift it right over the gear knob to expose the crush clip. Force a screwdriver into the crush clip to open it out enough to slide over the (light grey) plastic retaining clips, then open these out gently with a wide-bladed screwdriver and the gear knob should lift off. You'll then wonder how to get the old gaiter off as it looks like everything is glued together - don't worry, it isn't. Just work a flat-bladed screwdriver in one side, then the other and the black retaining outer sleeve will come free and the gaiter will be released. Put the new gaiter on and push the sleeve home again (I tapped it home with a hammer and a piece of plastic pipe), replace the gear knob on the stick and crush the clip back on. If the crush clip is too damaged to reuse, cut it off and retain the gearknob with a jubilee clip or as wide a tie-wrap as you can get on. To get the gaiter base on snugly it is easier to remove the plastic surround from the central console of the car (it is easy to unclip from the back and slide out backwards), fit the gaiter over it and push the surround forwards and down to get it back into the console. Hope this helps! Thanks for the earlier answers which enabled me to piece together all of this and get a decent job done.

[Stuart_B]

I cut the clip off and replaced it with a zip-tie. Had no problems.

[m4nix]

Just done this gaiter replacement myself on a 2002 Golf Mk4 5-speed manual. Old gaiter came off the base OK, lift it right over the gear knob to expose the crush clip. Force a screwdriver into the crush clip to open it out enough to slide over the (light grey) plastic retaining clips, then open these out gently with a wide-bladed screwdriver and the gear knob should lift off. You'll then wonder how to get the old gaiter off as it looks like everything is glued together - don't worry, it isn't. Just work a flat-bladed screwdriver in one side, then the other and the black retaining outer sleeve will come free and the gaiter will be released. Put the new gaiter on and push the sleeve home again (I tapped it home with a hammer and a piece of plastic pipe), replace the gear knob on the stick and crush the clip back on. If the crush clip is too damaged to reuse, cut it off and retain the gearknob with a jubilee clip or as wide a tie-wrap as you can get on. To get the gaiter base on snugly it is easier to remove the plastic surround from the central console of the car (it is easy to unclip from the back and slide out backwards), fit the gaiter over it and push the surround forwards and down to get it back into the console. Hope this helps! Thanks for the earlier answers which enabled me to piece together all of this and get a decent job done.

Thanks, I managed to do the same. I used a jubilee clip. I tried a cable tie first but could not get it to hold tight enough..