Shifter boot malfunction - 1987 5000

[Ben Swann]

If you are going to do a kludgy fix, do it right.  The drywall screw method will only end up cracking what is left of the boot retainer/bracket.  Either use panhead screw - #10 stainless with phillips head is good or use beveled head with metal ring grommets or plasitc grommets - here is where creativity can come into play.  I found some sink valve seals - round with beveled edge made out of hard black rubber/plastic and found in the plumbing section of H.D.   I have done both and the metal grommets hold well, as they cover more area and will "grab" the boot retainer.  Plastic however is less likely to dig through the leather.  Just do all four corners - drill a hole just outside of the leather at a slight angle and then use about a 1" #10 screw with the washer/grommet.  Screw down uniformly on four corners and it will not come loose again without use of a screwdriver.

No way will duct-tape or even epoxy hold for any lenth of time.   Well maybe epoxy, but when you need to get it off again it can be messy.  

The continued distraction of the boot flopping back and forth while shifting begs for an accident, so a fix is prudent, but no need to get a new retainer, unless the existing one is completly shot.  The retainer/frame clips do break off, usually from someone trying to remove the bracket  in as hurry.

Ben

[Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 11:07:14 -0500
From: "Peter Koskinen" <peter at prkbikes.com>
Subject: RE: Shifter boot malfunction - 1987 5000
To: "'Pasqualoni, James E'" <james.pasqualoni at gs.com>, "'Dave C'"
<dconner at gmail.com>
Cc: 'Quattro list' <quattro at audifans.com>
Message-ID:
<20041215160719.VZIO1994.imf17aec.mail.bellsouth.net at gateway>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I had that problem on my 5000 wagon. I drilled a small hole in each corner
at the top of the boot and used a black 1 1/4" drywall screw to attach the
boot to the console. No more movement. I also used the screws to reattach
the arm rests to the door when those tabs failed.

Peter Koskinen
Chapel Hill, NC


 <<<SNIP

The plastic frame won't remain clipped in place.  It seems the leather
is too stiff and pulls on the frame.  Or maybe the frame clips are
just tired.  Or maybe both.  It is worse in cold weather... maybe
because cold makes the leather more stiff.  Maybe I need to replace
the frame.  But if the real problem is stiff leather then I still need
to fix that.  I tried repeated application of Lexol leather
conditioner but it hasn't helped.  I also tried a bit of 3M strip
caulk at each corner of the frame.  This helped during warm weather
but it ceased to function with arrival of cold weather and now the
boot flops around with every shift. >>>]