95+ EXPLORER SHIFT BOOT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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95+ EXPLORER SHIFT BOOT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove shift knob. It simply screws off. Make sure you got the following items ready:

2. The first step is to remove the tray from the console piece. To do this you will want to take the four bolts out from the underside. These bolts are 5.5mm in size. You can use a ratchet or hand powered nut driver if you don't have a cordless drill.

3. The reason we are using the compartment tray is to secure the shift boot to the console bezel. The tray has to be modified in order for the gear shifter to fit up through the console and be able to shift into all gears comfortably.

4. For this step, I secured the compartment tray to a secure workbench with the hand grip clamps. You will want the tray to be as sturdy as possible as it will wobble a lot during cutting. Especially towards the end. The plastic will brake if you flex it too much. This is the reason for using fine tooth blades. They will not rattle the plastic as bad as a wood blade will. I used an 8 " blade because it was long enough to cut the entire length of the compartment. You may want to use the shorter blade when you don't need to reach so far. Also the jig saw works well to cut around corners.

5. We will be keeping the side with the bolt holes. Try to discard as much of the tray as possible. You don't need to worry about making a clean cut as you won't be able to see any of this when you are done.

6. Now comes the challenging part. For this phase of the project I learned that it was easier to hold the console bezel upside down in my lap with the shift boot hanging down through my legs. 

This picture shows the bottom of the boot stuck between my legs inside the bezel that is flipped upside down in my lap. The boot will fall through the bezel opening if you don't have something holding it in place.

7. After lining up the cutout spots on the leather boot with the retainer clips and bolt holes you will want to place the modified compartment tray over the boot and match up the bolt holes with those on the bezel. Finger tighten the bolts so the boot will stay in place but loose enough to work it around in the bezel until it fits properly. This will take some work but it is worth the effort.

Once you have the boot secured between the bezel and the modified compartment tray, you will want to tighten the bolts. Don't over tighten the bolts, as long as they are relatively tight it's fine, stop turning the moment you see the head of the bolt compressing the leather underneath the modified compartment tray. The first ratchet setting on my cordless drill was just right for this.

8. Once you have the boot secured in the bezel it is time to reinstall the bezel back into the console. Slip the gear shifter through the top of the boot and snap the 4 retainer clips back into the slots on the console. 

9. Re-install shift knob.

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