How to change gear knob?

How to change gear knob?

Author
Discussion

stevewushu

Original Poster:

733 posts

200 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
I've done this on other cars in the past but never on my Vantage.

I have a DBS gear knob I want to put on my Vantage.

Is it as simple as unscrew, screw back on?


Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
You'll need to remove the aluminum trim behind the seats and then methodically unscrew/slide the centre arm rest and centre trim; unclipping the connectors to the various switches along the way. Push the gear knob straight down and twist left and then unscrew the gator trim from underneath. You'll need a torx set, so be prepared but otherwise very straight forward. Just take your time.

macpaul

138 posts

160 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
As Mr Donkey says, but do be careful of scratching the leather on the vertical edges of the centre console, if that makes sense.

There's a fair bit of fiddling to do, particularly when you disconnect/reconnect the central locking and tailgate release switches and it's easy to catch the leather with the very sharp corners of the plate surrounding the gear knob.

I didn't scratch it, but if I did it again, I'd put some tape on these corners.

I found replacing the gaiter a fiddly job and I took the whole thing out of the car and turned it upside down on a pad on a table. You may think it won't fit to begin with, but it will.

Key is to relax and carefully handle and store the fixings as you undo them.

There's a youtube video of a yank taking the radio out of a DB9 which will give you a better idea.

Where are all these DBS knobs coming from I wonder.....

v8woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
I remember speaking to Mike at BR about the Sarah Maynard knob in Jessica. He recommended shortening the linkage since the gear knob sits higher than the stardard Vantage one and the throw is longer. This may be true of the V12V/DBS knob also.

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 31st October 10:56

gpb1

572 posts

143 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all

yeti

10,523 posts

274 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
gpb1 said:
What would be a brilliant way to control the exhaust valves!

v8woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
To current DBS/V12V owners, is the knob very cold in winter? I can see that as the only downside to having it fitted.

macpaul

138 posts

160 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
v8woollie said:
To current DBS/V12V owners, is the knob very cold in winter? I can see that as the only downside to having it fitted.
I've recently put a DBS knob in my V8V.

So far this winter, it does get cold but warms up with your hand and the cabin heat and I think gets some from the gearbox/exhaust tunnel etc too.

It looks and feels brilliant, so well worth it. (I paid £350).


tonyhall38

4,194 posts

215 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
does get cold.....but what a knob..!!

v8woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
macpaul said:
I've recently put a DBS knob in my V8V.

So far this winter, it does get cold but warms up with your hand and the cabin heat and I think gets some from the gearbox/exhaust tunnel etc too.

It looks and feels brilliant, so well worth it. (I paid £350).

Great. I just paid £250 and Adrian at BR is fitting it when I have my rear brakes done later in Feb smile

Ice27

802 posts

158 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
macpaul said:
I've recently put a DBS knob in my V8V.

So far this winter, it does get cold but warms up with your hand and the cabin heat and I think gets some from the gearbox/exhaust tunnel etc too.

It looks and feels brilliant, so well worth it. (I paid £350).

+1 thumbup

DB9VolanteDriver

2,612 posts

175 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Little Donkey said:
You'll need to remove the aluminum trim behind the seats and then methodically unscrew/slide the centre arm rest and centre trim; unclipping the connectors to the various switches along the way. Push the gear knob straight down and twist left and then unscrew the gator trim from underneath. You'll need a torx set, so be prepared but otherwise very straight forward. Just take your time.
Just to clarify my understanding of this process...

Is the only reason to remove all of the ancillary bits and pieces is to allow removal of the gaiter, not the knob itself?

tonyhall38

4,194 posts

215 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
knob and gaiter are attached from below....so removal required....

stevewushu

Original Poster:

733 posts

200 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Wow. Some careful surgery then!
Might just be lazy and get Adrian at BR to do mine when it goes in!

Thanks for the replies guys!

macpaul

138 posts

160 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
v8woollie said:
Great. I just paid £250 and Adrian at BR is fitting it when I have my rear brakes done later in Feb smile
Both jobs are easy to do at home!

v8woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
macpaul said:
Both jobs are easy to do at home!
Got a date at Gaydon on the 15th so figured I'd drop into BR and get the brakes done there. Great price and they do a bed in as well. Only 30 minutes to fit the knob so may as well get that done properly as well smile

Day after my birthday so new brakes and knob plus the Gaydon visit will be a nice present.

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
DB9VolanteDriver said:
Little Donkey said:
You'll need to remove the aluminum trim behind the seats and then methodically unscrew/slide the centre arm rest and centre trim; unclipping the connectors to the various switches along the way. Push the gear knob straight down and twist left and then unscrew the gator trim from underneath. You'll need a torx set, so be prepared but otherwise very straight forward. Just take your time.
Just to clarify my understanding of this process...

Is the only reason to remove all of the ancillary bits and pieces is to allow removal of the gaiter, not the knob itself?
As Mr Hall says, the gaiter and knob are one piece. Once the knob is disengaged from the spindle, the only way to free the gaiter is from underside the gaiter surround trim. The beauty of hand built Astons is that everything is very logical when it comes to removing bits of trim. Just take your time, dont lose any screws and don't damage anything!

But it really is very easy.

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
v8woollie said:
To current DBS/V12V owners, is the knob very cold in winter? I can see that as the only downside to having it fitted.
Would you like to hook up one frosty morning to feel my knob?

v8woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Little Donkey said:
Would you like to hook up one frosty morning to feel my knob?
Having taken the plunge I'll be able to feel my own soon smile But thanks for what was an enticing offer biggrin

DB9VolanteDriver

2,612 posts

175 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Little Donkey said:
DB9VolanteDriver said:
Little Donkey said:
You'll need to remove the aluminum trim behind the seats and then methodically unscrew/slide the centre arm rest and centre trim; unclipping the connectors to the various switches along the way. Push the gear knob straight down and twist left and then unscrew the gator trim from underneath. You'll need a torx set, so be prepared but otherwise very straight forward. Just take your time.
Just to clarify my understanding of this process...

Is the only reason to remove all of the ancillary bits and pieces is to allow removal of the gaiter, not the knob itself?
As Mr Hall says, the gaiter and knob are one piece. Once the knob is disengaged from the spindle, the only way to free the gaiter is from underside the gaiter surround trim. The beauty of hand built Astons is that everything is very logical when it comes to removing bits of trim. Just take your time, dont lose any screws and don't damage anything!

But it really is very easy.
So then, if it weren't for the gaiter being physically attached to the knob, push down and twist would suffice for knob removal. Got it!