Just got a shiny new gear knob for Christmas! How do I remove the original one? Is it a case of just twisting it off? (seems very tight if it is!) (1/00)
Yup it unscrews, the more you do it, the looser it becomes (ooh err ?) (1/00)
If it's got an original knob, you just unscrew it. You should be able to do it by hand, but they can be tight! Eat some spinach first! ;-) (1/00)
I think that to get it off you turn it anti clockwise like you would a normal screw. Mine was very tight the first time i took it off (here we go again :) ) (1/00)
Are you sure there is not a little 'grub screw' in it? It may be invisible unless you shine a light into the hole. (2/00)
Depends on the knob. Certainly the Momo ones are held on by three grub screws. (2/00)
Check there aren't other grub screw/allen key holes. Momo knobs, for instance, are held/centred by 3 allen key grub screws. A rubber insert also ensures that the knob doesn't rattle on the gear lever, and sometimes this can stick. (2/00)
I have an Autolock locking gadget which sleeves over the handbrake and locks around the gear lever. When bought new (mine was actually secondhand) these come with a phial of glue to fix the gear knob on since otherwise the lock can be removed by unscrewing the gear knob. Perhaps your car had one of these once - the only solution may be to cut the knob off and replace both knob and lever though I'd be first to admit this sounds rather severe. (2/00)
To all those who provided answers to my problem of the immovable gearknob - Many Thanks. It was indeed that tiny little grub screw which needed an allen-key to open. Thing was so small I couldn't see it. Thankfully all my wrenching prior to that hadn't caused any damage !! (3/00)
The gearknob isn't too much of a problem - simply unscrewed the old one and screwed the new one on. The only problem is that the new one doesn't screw down as far as the original leaving an unsightly gap between the bottom of the knob and the gaiter, and also allowing almost 1cm of movement up and down in the gaiter. Is there any way to remedy this? (1/01)
I don't know the exact situation but couldn't you use a couple or three O rings to take up the gap? (1/01)

I had this problem too, and this is how I fixed it:
Leaving the gearknob in place, remove all the screws on the centre console unit (the long one with the ashtray and gear lever aperture)(2 in centre console box, 1 under ash tray, one each side at front).
Carefully lift the unit up, so that the gear lever gaiter is turned "inside out".
Either
a) get a helper to hold the console elevated, or
b) Lift the unit up at the back, and gam the back onto the roof, so you can get your head underneath.

Locate the plastic ring on the underside of the console which holds the gaiter onto the console.
Undo the four screws and loft off the console leaving the gaiter on the gear stick.
Lift the gaiter where it should meet the gear knob until it does reach the gear knob.
Notice that there is a metal ring to which the vinyl of the gaiter is glued.
Taking a roll of electrical tape, start with the tape overlapping the metal ring (ensuring the ring is as high as it can go), and start winding! go up and down a lot ;o)) , going about two inches down the gear lever shaft.
I suppose mine was covered in about four to five layers of tape for about 2 inches from (and including) the metal ring.
Re-assemble console (1/01)
I replaced my OEM Mk 2 gear knob with a Voodoo pistol grip , which is the same shape as the original. No problems with any gap with the gaiter. I subsequently replaced the vinyl gaiter with a leather version. The original has a plastic O-ring which can be removed and reglued onto the apex of the leather gaiter. The OEM black plastic handbrake grip is only lightly glued on to the metal shaft, and came off easily, as described, with a combined twist/pull. The handbrake leather gaiter is a simple and effective upgrade as the Mazda plastic cover is hideous. No need to remove the cover, just stick it over like a jacket. (1/01)
If anyone has a Momo g/knob and is fed up with the dodgy "universal fit" using the small grub screws then this is the answer! Go to momo g/knob installation section for details. The aluminium insert screws onto the lever and you mount/glue the Momo g/knob onto the insert. G'knob can then be screwed on & off like OE models. (1/01)
Don't you find static a problem with the nylon ones?.. real hair every time for me. (1/01)
About a week ago I started getting a vibration and noise through the gear knob. It occurs when the car is being driven (i.e. goes away when coasting) and stops when you put a finger on the gear knob. It sounds like something metallic touching the base of the gear shift. I assumed it was lack of oil in the gear turret so I took it all to bits (good instructions John, thanks) and the turret was full. The gaiters were shot though. On a tangent, I assume the top gaiter is the thing held in with 4 bolts and the bottom one is the concertina thing? If not, I'm missing a gaiter! Anyway the top one has a couple of tiny holes in it and the bottom one looks like it's done Paris - Dakar and back. Would changing these make the vibration go away or am I looking at something more serious? 92/01)
My original Nardi knob did this, I had to drive round with my hand on the gear knob all the time. Turns out it was jsut loose and needed tightening up. Simple really, but I guess you've already tried that..? (2/01)
My friend has some dodgy after market Elcheapo gear Knob on her car which if it isn't screwed on properly makes a noise exactly like the one you describe.....rattles when you accelerate. I presume you've checked this out though?? (2/01)
Is it the knob vibrating on the bit you tighten up? That's what mine was. I tightened it as far as it would go (I assume its a screw type) and then realised it was the bit inside the wood that then screwed onto the stick. (2/01)
Presume not just exhaust touching somewhere... normal reason.. give it a wiggle in daylight.. (2/01)

The Nardi knob is made up of 3 pieces: the wooden bit, the rubber bit and a plastic insert which screws onto the threaded bit of the gear lever. The problem I had was that the plastic bit and the wooden bit had parted company, (the glue had just got old and crumbled) but the plastic bit has ridges along its length which stop it rotating (i.e. twisting when you hold it) so the gear knob can be screwed on as tight as it will go (which mine was) and still rattle.

I prised mine apart (the insert is about 2 inches long) and re Araldited it and reassembled. The noise has now gone. Problem is the Nardi badge now doesn't run "North/South", now its more "Northeast\Southwest" so if you plan to do this yourself you might want to mark the relative positions first. It takes care to prise the bits apart without damaging them, which is another way of saying mine was damaged, but I consider it to be OK. (2/01)
The "original" Nardi gearknob is available from the following website: http://www.sportscar-parts.com/ndshiftk.html along with others. I have yet to find a UK supplier for the Nardi gearknob. (5/01)