Toyota Hilux Shifter Boot Installation Instructions

1981-83 Toyota Pickup / Hilux RWD

This guide will help you install a Redline Goods boot in a 1981-83 Toyota Pickup or Hilux. As you can see, this vehicle is missing the imitation leather boot that was originally installed.

Step One: Remove console

First, remove the shifter knob. Then remove the three screws that hold the console in place. There are two on the sides at the front and one at the back. Carefully lift the console and unplug the cruise control wiring harness (if equipped).

Step Two: Remove the shift boot frame

After you’ve removed and disconnected the console, turn it over. Here you’ll find the metal frame to which you’ll glue the new boot. Pop the frame out of the plastic clips that hold it in place.

If, as is the case with this truck, your original boot has completely disintegrated, it’ll look like this. If your original boot is still installed, you’ll have to peel it off the frame.

Step Three: Gathering supplies

You’ll need a few things to do this job: the new boot, the metal frame from the center console, some clamps, some pieces of wood or strips of metal for clamping (a painting stir-stick and some mending plates were used here, but something like Popsicle sticks would be ideal), and some glue. Gorilla Glue works well on leather.

Step Four: Gluing the boot to the frame

In this step, you’re going to place each side of the frame over the corresponding side of the boot, then lay down glue on either side, fold the flap of the boot over the frame, and clamp it down until the glue dries.

The stitching on the boot stops about an inch from the bottom, creating flaps on all sides that are glued over the metal frame. The point here is not to glue the boot to the frame, but rather to fold the boot over the frame and glue the leather to itself.

Here, the top flap is held out of the way by a heavy object. The metal frame is laid down over the inside of the bottom flap, with the frame roughly lined up with top of the flap, where the stitching starts. Apply glue, following the instructions for whatever glue you’re using.

After you’ve applied the glue, fold the flap over the frame. Using the pieces of wood (or Popsicle sticks, or whatever you’re using) on both sides of the flap, clamp the flap down.

Repeat the process with the flap on the opposite side.

In this installation, the glue was allowed to set on the two sides of the boot before gluing down the remaining two sides, as you can see in this photo. However, that's not necessary and you can glue all four sides at the same time.

After the glue sets and you remove the clamps, your boot should look like this:

Step Five: Mounting the boot and frame to the console

Insert the boot through the console from underneath and snap the metal frame into the clips on the underside of the console. Take care to orient the shifter boot properly. On this vehicle, the shifter lever is set forward in the console opening and the leather boot was constructed accordingly.

Step Six: Reinstall the console and admire your new boot

Reinstall the console by slipping the boot over the shifter lever, reconnecting the cruise control harness (if equipped), replacing the three screws securing the console to the truck, and putting the shifter knob back in place. Then sit back and admire your new boot!