Leather boots write up and review
08-21-2004, 08:34 PM
#1
I'm nutty for Nissans
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Leather boots write up and review
There is a good write up to be found at http://www.bestshiftboots.com/MaximaA32install.shtm but I wanted to get a bit more detailed and to give a review. I bought the Shifter and E Brake boots from http://www.bestshiftboots.com/MaximaA32product.shtm
(RedlineGoods.com). Here is how it went.
1) Remove the shift **** (unscrews counter clockwise), pull up the shifter trim starting form the rear. There are 4 clips total. Finally unplug the 12-volt ACC outlet.
2) Take the old boot out of the shifter trim. Notice the stock boot has a ring, rubber band, and spacer/shaper thing. I didn’t use them with the new boot.
3) Cut the bottom of the old boot, with a razor blade, to get the wire ring out.
4) Cut the wire ring anywhere; I chose the original tack weld. I cut a tiny piece out, because the butt connector took up a bit of space.
5) I sanded the wire because it was rusty. Not for looks since you cannot see it, but for ease of sliding the wire through the boot. Go ahead and thread the wire through the boot.
6) I used a butt connector to put the ring back together. It was not fun trying to crimp it though because there is not much room. I had the wire splice moved to a corner of the boot and crimped it the best I could, then pushed the ring around till I liked where it was.
7) That is it! Now you can reinstall in the reverse.
I pulled the boot up a bit over my shift ****. I think it looks really nice. Other wise the boot opening is too large and looks funny. You may be able to use the stock ring, rubber band, and spacer thing and make it look fine but I chose not to. Also my shift trim is rather beat up. It is broken in one place and the front and rear boot holder grooves are broken. I still got a good fit, and an unbroken one may need some fooling around with too. This is because the new boot is thicker and will not fit the grooves as well. Should not be too hard though.
(RedlineGoods.com). Here is how it went.
1) Remove the shift **** (unscrews counter clockwise), pull up the shifter trim starting form the rear. There are 4 clips total. Finally unplug the 12-volt ACC outlet.
2) Take the old boot out of the shifter trim. Notice the stock boot has a ring, rubber band, and spacer/shaper thing. I didn’t use them with the new boot.
3) Cut the bottom of the old boot, with a razor blade, to get the wire ring out.
4) Cut the wire ring anywhere; I chose the original tack weld. I cut a tiny piece out, because the butt connector took up a bit of space.
5) I sanded the wire because it was rusty. Not for looks since you cannot see it, but for ease of sliding the wire through the boot. Go ahead and thread the wire through the boot.
6) I used a butt connector to put the ring back together. It was not fun trying to crimp it though because there is not much room. I had the wire splice moved to a corner of the boot and crimped it the best I could, then pushed the ring around till I liked where it was.
7) That is it! Now you can reinstall in the reverse.
I pulled the boot up a bit over my shift ****. I think it looks really nice. Other wise the boot opening is too large and looks funny. You may be able to use the stock ring, rubber band, and spacer thing and make it look fine but I chose not to. Also my shift trim is rather beat up. It is broken in one place and the front and rear boot holder grooves are broken. I still got a good fit, and an unbroken one may need some fooling around with too. This is because the new boot is thicker and will not fit the grooves as well. Should not be too hard though.
08-21-2004, 08:36 PM
#2
I'm nutty for Nissans
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If you bought the matching E brake boot, and I hope you did, here is what to do.
1) Start with step 1 from above.
2) Using a Phillips screwdriver unscrew the one screw holding in the ashtray and remove it. There is 1 more clip holding it in on the right side, open it up and pull it out, then unplug it.
3) There are 2 screws to remove from the front of the center console; they connect to the dash. Then there are 2 more screws holding the rear of the console to the floor. You may have to move the front seats forward to see them. Unscrew them.
4) Pull the E brake up and unsnap the stock boot. Pull the whole console up, unplug the heated seat switched if need be.
5) Remove the boot from the console.
6) Follow steps 3 through 6 from above.
7) I found that the boot didn’t fit the console like the old one because it is thicker; just like the shifter boot. I cut the console a bit where the boot sits. There are 2 channels that the long sides of the boot sit into. I cut them so they are flat now, like tabs. This doesn’t hurt anything and you cannot see it.
8) Now the boot fits great! So install it.
9) Installation is the same as disassembly, well just in reverse.
It is not a bad idea to clean everything while it is apart. I know my center console was dirty. You can also use you favorite leather cleaner now on your REAL leather boots!
Before:
After:
Looks sweet!
Don't mind the dirty interior!
The look is great, the fit is nice, quality rocks, and the price was perfect. I have bought from them before and they have satisfied me both times. The other purchase was just an E brake boot for the 96 and the only think I don't like is the hole the handle sticks out of is rather large. It looks like a very loose fit. But it poses no problems. Shipping comes from Poland, and doesn’t take too long at all. Comes in a bubble wrapped envelope. No matter how you slice it I would go back for more anytime. I suggest you take a look at their products, they do have more than just Maxima boots.
1) Start with step 1 from above.
2) Using a Phillips screwdriver unscrew the one screw holding in the ashtray and remove it. There is 1 more clip holding it in on the right side, open it up and pull it out, then unplug it.
3) There are 2 screws to remove from the front of the center console; they connect to the dash. Then there are 2 more screws holding the rear of the console to the floor. You may have to move the front seats forward to see them. Unscrew them.
4) Pull the E brake up and unsnap the stock boot. Pull the whole console up, unplug the heated seat switched if need be.
5) Remove the boot from the console.
6) Follow steps 3 through 6 from above.
7) I found that the boot didn’t fit the console like the old one because it is thicker; just like the shifter boot. I cut the console a bit where the boot sits. There are 2 channels that the long sides of the boot sit into. I cut them so they are flat now, like tabs. This doesn’t hurt anything and you cannot see it.
8) Now the boot fits great! So install it.
9) Installation is the same as disassembly, well just in reverse.
It is not a bad idea to clean everything while it is apart. I know my center console was dirty. You can also use you favorite leather cleaner now on your REAL leather boots!
Before:
After:
Looks sweet!
Don't mind the dirty interior!
The look is great, the fit is nice, quality rocks, and the price was perfect. I have bought from them before and they have satisfied me both times. The other purchase was just an E brake boot for the 96 and the only think I don't like is the hole the handle sticks out of is rather large. It looks like a very loose fit. But it poses no problems. Shipping comes from Poland, and doesn’t take too long at all. Comes in a bubble wrapped envelope. No matter how you slice it I would go back for more anytime. I suggest you take a look at their products, they do have more than just Maxima boots.
08-21-2004, 08:41 PM
#3
I'm nutty for Nissans
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iTrader: (46)
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 10,331
Here is the 96 E brake boot: 
Tell me about any problems/ mistakes in my write up. I should get some more pix of the center console removal, but who knows. Any other questions just ask!l
Tell me about any problems/ mistakes in my write up. I should get some more pix of the center console removal, but who knows. Any other questions just ask!l
09-13-2004, 05:44 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 158
Looks great. I'm thinkin of replacing my stock ugly boots aswell. You had to remove your whole center console? (was too lazy to read the whole writeup 
) And are you serious? Poland? 
I wonder if its 60 bucks shipped here in Europe too.
) And are you serious? Poland? I wonder if its 60 bucks shipped here in Europe too.
10-30-2004, 01:26 AM
#9
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 238
So the top of the boot is just pulled up over the bottom of the shift ****? What keeps it from falling down?
The instruction on the web site don't mention the top of the boot, but the opening is definitely a lot bigger than the shaft, so it's not a tight fit at the top by any means.
I wonder if the rubber piece from the stock shift boot could be re-used, but it looks problematic since the leather is thicker than the stock vinyl.
The other thought is the same technique someone mentioned in an earlier post for the brake boot, that of turning the boot inside out and securing the top of the boot to the shaft with a zip tie.
I bought a full set (shift boot, ebrake boot, and armrest cover) but they are a Christmas gift, so they won't get installed for another 2 months.
The instruction on the web site don't mention the top of the boot, but the opening is definitely a lot bigger than the shaft, so it's not a tight fit at the top by any means.
I wonder if the rubber piece from the stock shift boot could be re-used, but it looks problematic since the leather is thicker than the stock vinyl.
The other thought is the same technique someone mentioned in an earlier post for the brake boot, that of turning the boot inside out and securing the top of the boot to the shaft with a zip tie.
I bought a full set (shift boot, ebrake boot, and armrest cover) but they are a Christmas gift, so they won't get installed for another 2 months.
those are my hands 
10-30-2004, 06:28 AM
#13
Originally Posted by dallas0593
Nice write-up, do you have a link from where your ordered from?
10-30-2004, 07:23 AM
#14
I'm nutty for Nissans
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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Yes the top is much larger than the stock part, so using the ring, rubber band, and spacer/shaper thing would cause the boot to wrinkle up and look like a balloon knot. I like the boot up higher on the **** anyway. Using a zip tie on the other side may work. I have the boot pulled up high and it stays where you see it in the pic. Any other **** and it wont stay im sure.
sprinty have you gone jump happy?
sprinty have you gone jump happy?
10-30-2004, 09:28 AM
#17
I'm nutty for Nissans
Thread Starter
iTrader: (46)
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 10,331
Max Mutes: 95/96 have different consoles (with rear ash tray) than 97-99
image: is the momo handle larger around? eek. I bet it looks great but if you cannot get the boot on
I think the bst way to hide the gap would be to wrap the shifter rod with some electrical tape so the boot wont fall down.
BTW i have a brand new set in black, same as pictured, for sale.......the same price as the site. anyone interested?
image: is the momo handle larger around? eek. I bet it looks great but if you cannot get the boot on
I think the bst way to hide the gap would be to wrap the shifter rod with some electrical tape so the boot wont fall down.
BTW i have a brand new set in black, same as pictured, for sale.......the same price as the site. anyone interested?
12-12-2005, 07:09 PM
#22
I'm nutty for Nissans
Thread Starter
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maine
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its pretty much the same. you dont have to unscrew the ****. the trim will come off if you turn it side ways and maneuver it up and around the shifter. it may help to take it out of park.
12-13-2005, 01:06 PM
#25
Thanks. I have the same thing right now, but not from Redlinegoods and I can't stand the way it just bundles up down there especially now that I have an STS. I want something way thinner.
Originally Posted by JSutter
way thicker, think jeans vs real leather.
12-13-2005, 02:47 PM
#26
I'm nutty for Nissans
Thread Starter
iTrader: (46)
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 10,331
i pulled mine up around the shift **** and its not too bad. about 1" higher than in the pic. i have an sts and it would be nice to have a shorter boot but looks great as is, so im not complaining.
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