Shift knob and center console

Tags: #manual-transmission · #automatic-transmission · #price

Manual transmission (МКПП) shift-knob removal: the gear-shift knob on manual-transmission X80s is fixed and cannot be easily hand-unscrewed — it rotates freely in place but does not thread off. Removal requires tools; one owner's attempt to DIY-remove it without proper tools was unsuccessful, and the installation method for the replacement was not documented in detail (low-confidence, incomplete report) ¹²³.

Center console removal and shifter access: to access or remove components in the center console area, remove the shifter knob first — it rotates off the shift lever. The top piece of the center console then slides out upward once its retaining clips are released. The flat panel with the cupholder is fully removable ⁴⁵⁶.

Shifter knob leather/vinyl coating wear and restoration: the leather/vinyl coating on the shift knob wears through at the top surface and corners over time. Full removal procedure: (1) peel off the damaged coating; (2) clean the residual adhesive with solvent and a cloth, working carefully so as not to remove the underlying paint/finish. Once bare, the plastic underneath is black, matte, and smooth — cosmetically acceptable on its own. Alternative: remove the old coating and re-wrap the knob with new leather/vinyl material. If you choose not to re-wrap, the bare plastic finish is a reasonable permanent option and avoids future peeling ^{7891011121314151617}.

Cover peeling on the shift knob (reports and causes): on one FAW the gear-knob cover (наболдашник) was almost fully peeled at about 20,000 km ¹⁸. Victor's knob at 70,000 km peeled only slightly, and he attributes it to contact with aggressive substances such as oily hands ¹⁹. No Comments reports no sign of peeling at 220,000 km ²⁰, while Андрей Б. says the hand wears the cover like sandpaper ²¹. Wear is therefore inconsistent between cars (low confidence); see the removal and re-wrap options above.

Automatic transmission (AKPP) gear-shift handle — replacement, shaft diameter, aftermarket options: the AKPP shift handle is secured with bolts, not simply threaded onto the lever ²²²³²⁴. The synthetic-leather/dermantin covering can be removed and rewrapped ²². Shaft diameter is ~12mm ²⁵²⁶; some third-party handles (e.g. Mitsubishi Outlander/ASX alternatives) have different hole sizes and need modification (tapping/drilling) to fit properly ^2527282629. Replacement handles are sold on Wildberries/OZON with various materials and designs ³⁰³¹³². Separately, cross-brand compatible aftermarket AT gear-selector knobs (fits Suzuki Grand Vitara/SX4/Swift, Mazda, and Mitsubishi models) are available thread-mounted, no tools needed, on OZON/AliExpress: premium version ~1,600+ RUB (RU market, January 2026), budget version ~450 RUB (RU market, January 2026) (metal + faux-leather construction) ^333435363738.

Manual transmission (МКПП) gear-lever boot (chekhol/dermantin) tearing — DIY fix: the leather/dermantin covering on the МКПП gear-lever boot wears and tears with use, the same failure mode as the shift-knob coating above. DIY fix: carefully remove the worn covering, clean off old adhesive residue, and leave the surface bare (looks acceptable, clean finish) — a 5-minute repair, no special tools. Alternative: a universal 10mm-diameter rubber boot is sold as a replacement ^3940414243.

Professional leather-wrap labor pricing (January 2026): a shop-installed leather/faux-leather (kozzam) wrap for the shift knob costs 1,500 RUB (RU market, January 2026) labor — the same shop that does steering-wheel wraps, see the steering wheel cover card for the matching steering-wheel price ^444546474849.

MKPP shift-knob rewrap — DIY paracord option: the OEM manual- transmission shift knob can become worn and slippery over time. Solutions: (1) a professional car upholsterer can completely rewrap it (see the professional leather-wrap pricing above); (2) DIY wrapping with paracord or similar material is possible without removing the knob; one user successfully wrapped their own knob this way. Multiple users report this as a common maintenance task ^50515253.

USB port recovery from the center console: if the USB port falls into the center console, the same shift-knob-first disassembly above gives access to retrieve it: (1) remove the gear-shift knob by unscrewing it; (2) carefully pry the console edge up — a wire for the handle button is attached, so don't yank it; (3) disconnect the handbrake-button connector; (4) access the port from underneath to reinstall it ⁵⁴⁵⁵⁵⁶.

Media

Worn shifter knob with peeling vinyl coating

Restoration work in progress using a rotary sander/drill attachment in a vice

Shift knob after coating removal, showing bare black matte plastic

AKPP gear shift handle options for sale on Wildberries/OZON

AKPP gear shift handle, alternate material/design

AKPP gear shift handle, alternate material/design

Aftermarket AT gear knob installed, premium version

Comparison with OEM AT gear knob

Aftermarket AT gear knob, budget alternative

Aftermarket AT gear knob, thread-mount detail

Aftermarket AT gear knob installed in interior

Budget aftermarket AT gear knob from a different supplier

Leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob before installation

Leather-wrapped shift knob, in progress

Finished leather-wrapped shift knob

DIY paracord-wrapped shift knob

Gear knob whose cover is peeled almost entirely, exposing the base underneath

Related pages

• AKPP ATF service prices and shops
• Clutch kit — Mazda 6 GG fitment and parts
• AKPP auxiliary cooling radiator installation
• Transmission fluid change intervals and costs
• Automatic transmission (AKPP) replacement cost

Sources

This page is compiled from 56 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-10-29