1995 850GLT Manual Removing Gear Shift w/out destroying..

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 26 Apr 2014, 21:02

I've been working on removing the gear shift knob of my car so I can install a new gear shift boot. I know it can be removed without destroying it. I don't feel like paying for another knob (volvo's fix is to cut it off).

I'm at an impasse. I'm open to to suggestions as to how to remove it.

Here are some pics.

I shined a light up inside so people can see what it looks like internally. I think if I can spread those pieces of plastic I can take it off, but I'm not sure to be honest.

A tool I was using, it's not long enough because to move past the trapezoidal base.

The only reference I found on this forum the person cut the entire thing off.
I found this, but it was only moderately helpful, especially because some of the text between the images makes NO sense.

http://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-850- ... ics-51244/

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=32886

These are the only 2 threads I have found after hours and hours of searching.

Thanks in advance.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 27 Apr 2014, 15:12

Any clues?

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 27 Apr 2014, 17:01

Well, according to the VolvoForums link you posted, a short length of pipe, cut in half will release the shift knob. The tool you were trying to use looks like it would accomplish the same thing if it were long enough. Why not try the pipe method??

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 27 Apr 2014, 17:09

polskamafia mjl wrote:Well, according to the VolvoForums link you posted, a short length of pipe, cut in half will release the shift knob. The tool you were trying to use looks like it would accomplish the same thing if it were long enough. Why not try the pipe method??

No that is wrong. He used the pipe to remove only the rubber boot below the gear shift knob.

jeffsws · Post by **jeffsws** » 03 Jan 2016, 06:15

Hate to bump an old thread but I'm curious if you manged to remove the gear shift? I am in a similar boat myself now. So it's not possible to install a new boot without remove the gear head?

Post by **E Showell** » 03 Jan 2016, 09:52

My brother seems to be an expert on this. It takes strong hands. You squeeze the plastic clips at the bottom while pulling straight up with both hands. It comes off pretty hard so don't smash the sunroof with your hands. That's how it works on the 99 S and V70s. Can't say if it is the same for the '95 850s.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 03 Jan 2016, 18:31

jeffsws wrote:Hate to bump an old thread but I'm curious if you manged to remove the gear shift? I am in a similar boat myself now. So it's not possible to install a new boot without remove the gear head?

Sorry for replying so late. I did manage to remove the gear shift. You cannot install a new boot without removing the gear shift knob. I did not destroy my gear shifter as Volvo recommends. I bought a tool on the internet that someone made specifically for this purpose. It worked perfectly.

viper69 · Post by **viper69** » 03 Jan 2016, 18:32

E Showell wrote:My brother seems to be an expert on this. It takes strong hands. You squeeze the plastic clips at the bottom while pulling straight up with both hands. It comes off pretty hard so don't smash the sunroof with your hands. That's how it works on the 99 S and V70s. Can't say if it is the same for the '95 850s.

It is the same for my vehicle. HOWEVER, I used a tool for this, and didn't have to worry about the above. The gear shift is on their like cement as a result of the clips. It's over engineered!

Post by **tryingbe** » 03 Jan 2016, 20:32

After I cut off the old shift knob on my 94-95 shifter, I determined there was no way I could have got the knob off in one piece. The rubber was molded to the metal.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 03 Jan 2016, 21:09

I used three small finish nails and a zip tie. It worked.