The ring must be pulled down with some force. Also, the ring has two indentions for the knob to slide in, and these may be offset some. For instance, on mine, if I twist the ring 90 degrees, then pull it down, it pulls off much easier because the tabs are aligned with the indentions.

 

Update! I finally got tired of the knob not matching up to the boot ring correctly, so I bought the boot ring off the same ebay seller. It was about $48 after shipping to the USA from Japan. You can't buy the ring itself, so I had to buy the entire boot. To replace the boot, you need to remove the entire center console. Thankfully, user Downshift made a great guide to removing the center console here https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/3rd-...ml#post1271172, so I followed it along with using the parts diagram below to remove the console. It only took about 5-10 minutes to remove, and about 15 minutes to put it back in. I've taken lots of pics, so here they are. Hopefully this will help anyone else looking to remove the console. Please excuse the dirty ass car. I still haven't had a chance to clean it out. Trying to get the house ready for a baby can do that to you!

Here's the diagram of the console:


To remove the console, first use a flathead screwdriver to undo the screw that holds the tab in by the driver's footwell. Once the screw is out, the tab will pop out with a tug:


Then do the same thing on the passenger side:


Then you need to remove the phillips head screw right above the 12V power outlet. Once that's removed, tug on that piece to pull the whole thing out. You don't have to unplug the wires, just push the whole thing off to the side:


Next remove the screw that holds the cupholders in place. Then you can lift that out. There's a little tab on the end closest to you if you need help prying it out:


Then remove the screw that's right above that. Once done, the front of the console is completely loose:


Now in the back seat, pry up on the bottom corners of the piece that covers the back of the console. It should pop right off:


Now remove the two screws circled. These are the last screws holding the center console in:


Now remove the electrical plug that goes to the USB inside the console. There is a tab on the right side of it that you press in, then just pull straight down:


Now remove the electrical plug that goes to the 12V power outlet in the console. This time the tab you need to pull is facing the front of the car:


Now you need to pop off the cover in front of the emergency brake:


Now the console can be lifted out of the car!


Here is the car console-less:


Here is the console removed:


Here's a pic of the new boot we'll be installing:


Here's the underside of the console. You need to remove six of these eight screws to remove the boot. I forgot to circle them, but the top and bottom ones that are second from the right don't need to be removed. It's self explanatory when you look at the boot.


Here's the new boot on the left compared to the old one on the right. The only difference is the ring. On the old one, the ring is held by a zip tie. I didn't see one on the new boot, it may be secured with glue or something else.


Once the new boot is screwed into place, put the console back in the car and reverse all the steps! Here's pic of the new boot and ring. It's a perfect Fit to the Fit RS knob (which it had better be since they're both from the same car!)

 

Fantastic guide! Thank you for taking the time to make this post.

 

Can you provide me with the Honda Part number on the JDM Fit RS boot? If I get both the knob and the boot together, then I won't have to shave off the extra clamps like you did on page 1?

Is the shifter now sit a little higher than the OEM US one?

Thanks!

 

looks great dude, could you hookup the info on the seller? I tried a quick ebay search and nothing really came up. Id like to buy the knob and boot aswell.

 

nevermind im blind, looks like the guy doesnt sell on ebay anymore sadly.

 

Thanks for posting this!

Just got my buddy club short shifter in the mail and wanted to make sure I wasn't going to break anything trying to remove the console.

 

Wow. Incredible guide. This is super helpful, I can't believe it's designed so complex. I mean.. all that work just to get at that boot.

 

Thank you for the picture guide

 

NSX shift knob works with the GK5 boot. I tested it on my and it fit perfect. I ended up getting the boot ring just cause its a lot shorter than the fit. If you want pics let me know ill take some

 

Please do!

 

A pic of it in my car and one with me holding it clipped in to oem fit neck

 

It is soo easy to take out the center console that I might put in the buddy club short shifter just to see how it feels.

 

I purchased the Buddy Club short shifter from this forum and installed it a couple months ago. I love the feel!

 

Great find on the NSX shift knob. Given that's the most exciting part of the car, I take it you threw the rest of the NSX out?

 

Hi im a newbie and planning to do some interior mods. I came across this particular shift know and I wonder if its an oem for GK? Thanks