The 350Z is the latest version of Nissan's popular Z-car lineup, which was established in 1969 with the introduction of the Datsun 240Z. Some Z-car aficionados like to personalize their cars with aftermarket gearshift knobs, while others need to replace shift knobs that have become worn. If you want to replace the shift knob on your 350Z, you can perform the task yourself following a few simple steps. This job should be done with care, however, to avoid damaging your Z-car's interior trim or the car's shift linkage.
Cover the end of a flat head screwdriver with a piece of electrical tape to prevent it from scratching interior trim.
Pry up the boot trim at the rear of the shift boot with the screwdriver. The piece is held in place with clips that will take a little effort to free from the console.
Disconnect the ribbon cable for the climate control buttons that are located on the boot trim in front of the shift knob. Pull at the connector and not on the actual ribbon cable to avoid damaging it. Remove the trim from around the shift knob.
Cut a piece of radiator hose into two three-inch lengths. Make a cut lengthwise down the side of each length of hose.
Wrap one of the pieces of hose around the metal shift lever that was revealed when the boot trim was removed. Make sure the hose is only making contact with the metal portion of the shift lever.
Place vice grips onto the rubber hose around the shift lever as tightly as you can. Wrap the other piece of three-inch hose around the bottom of the shift knob.
Grip the base of the shift knob where the hose is wrapped around it with channel locks. While applying force in a clockwise direction to the vice grips wrapped around the shift lever, turn the shift knob counter clockwise with the channel locks to loosen it from the shift lever. The point of turning both the vice grips and the channel locks is to prevent the force needed to loosen the shift knob from transferring into the shift linkage, which could cause damage.
Unthread the knob by hand once it is loose. Remove the knob and the brass ring under it. Clean up the threads on the shift lever with a rag.
Install the shift knob by tightening it down on the threaded shift lever as tight as you can, if installing a stock shift knob. Use the rubber hose, the channel locks and the vice grips to tighten the knob in the same way that it was removed. If you are installing an aftermarket shift knob, you may have to thread a nylon insert onto the shift lever and then install the shift knob over the nylon insert.
Reattach the ribbon cable to the climate control knobs. Snap the shift boot trim back in place by pressing down on it until it snaps into place.
