Owners of ’93-’02 Firebirds and Trans Ams equipped with manual five- or six-speed transmissions are likely to experience—or have already fallen victim to—shifter-boot-retainer failure. It occurs when the injection-molded plastic rectangle (“the retainer”), which is glued onto the bottom perimeter of the shifter boot and clips into the center console, literally breaks into pieces.
For a time, General Motors offered two solutions regarding the problem: a boot with a retainer, which it called a boot assembly, and for ’97-’02 models only, the option of the retainer separately. These items have been discontinued for more than four years. Beyond that, they were manufactured from prone-to-breakage plastic just like the failed part that’s being replaced. The parts could buy time for owners, but it’s not a permanent solution.
As shifter-boot-retainer failure became widespread in the early years of the past decade, late-model F-body forums quickly filled with posts from owners who admitted that they too were plagued by the persnickety problem. Some acted quickly and snatched up GM’s last remaining supply of the OE parts.
Enter Dave Bormet, owner of Farmer2 Specialties, who has since created a cottage industry that manufactures direct-fit replacements for these out-of-production OE pieces. “In 2004, I converted my ’02 Bright Red Trans Am WS6 coupe from automatic to a six-speed manual,” he says. “I called my GM dealer and learned that GM only offered the boot assembly, which consists of the boot and the retainer. I only needed the retainer, and was stranded with no way to inexpensively get one for the conversion.”
Seeing that his Firebird wasn’t the only one suffering from shifter-boot-retainer failure, he set out to make a sturdier solution—first for his car, and then for his comrades on sites like LS1tech.com. “Using a common metal coat hanger, I created a template for a replacement retainer,” he reveals. “Eventually I began manufacturing direct-fit boot ‘clips’ from galvanized spring steel. It’s much stronger than the factory’s plastic, and can withstand removal and reassembly multiple times.”
Our ’95 Firehawk is among the Fourth-Gen Trans Ams and Firebirds that experienced shifter-boot-retainer failure. We contacted Farmer2 Specialties, and within days PN 9396T for ’93-’96 Firebirds and Trans Ams arrived at our door. The cost was $27.21, including free shipping; the correct clip for ’97-’02 Firebirds and Trans Ams is offered at the same price.
The project is easy and you should have no problem doing it yourself. Since our Firehawk was already at Autoway Chevrolet in Clearwater, Florida, awaiting parts for a different project, Trim Specialist Seamon C. Finley offered to demonstrate the steps.
[1] According to Dave Bormet...
[1] According to Dave Bormet of Farmer2 Specialties, OE shifter-boot-retainer failure, as shown here, is widespread. “To date, I’ve been contacted from GM car owners in 25 countries, who all have the same issues with these factory parts,” he says.
[2] GM made revisions to the...
[2] GM made revisions to the boot assembly throughout its production span. Some service-replacements, like the one shown here, used a white plastic retainer, an affixing agent that glued it to the boot, and staples for added durability.
[3] Other boots, like our...
[3] Other boots, like our factory parts-bin example shown here with the broken black-plastic retainer already removed, had no staples.
[4] This mock-up of a fourth-generation...
[4] This mock-up of a fourth-generation console reveals the transmission-control-lever opening and where it houses the OE boot-retainer or its replacement—the shifter-boot clip. Notice that there are seven tab openings where the shifter-boot retainer once was.
[5] The shifter- boot clip...
[5] The shifter- boot clip we’ll install features seven tabs that line up and insert into these openings.
[6] To get the job started,...
[6] To get the job started, Autoway Chevrolet Trim Specialist Seamon C. Finley uses a small screwdriver and carefully pulls back on the shifter-knob locking tab. He lifts the knob off of the shifter shaft.
[7] He removes the boot by...
[7] He removes the boot by sliding it up and over the shifter shaft.
[8] Farmer2 Specialties suggests...
[8] Farmer2 Specialties suggests you test-fit the clip, so that you are familiar with how it snaps into the console. “The butt splice goes on the right with the hooks down.” Finley tucks the clip tips under the slots in this precise order: front, the right and left sides at the same time, and then the back. He then removes it in reverse order to prepare for boot installation.
[9] The factory boot comes...
[9] The factory boot comes with five slits around the perimeter of its base. He slips the boot around the clip and pokes the hook tips through the slits ...
[10] ...doubles back the material...
[10] ...doubles back the material and glues it to itself to make for a better fit ...
[11] ... and repeats the steps...
[11] ... and repeats the steps in caption 8 and installs the boot assembly.
[12] Once in place, the new...
[12] Once in place, the new clip serves the same purpose as the factory shift-boot retainer, but it’s guaranteed for its lifetime. The next time you need to disassemble your console—for a new shifter or other upgrades or repairs—you’ll likely breath a sigh of relief that your new shift clip is nearly immune to collateral damage, and should last you for years to come.