terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I've been through 2 (3 if you count the original) OEM shiftknobs in my '92MJ and they all suffer from the same problem - they're a crappy design. There is an aluminum insert that is pressed into plastic and then covered with the rubber shiftknob material. The plastic eventually cracks and the pressed metal insert slides right out: I'm not particularly hard on these shift knobs - I switch gears like a grandma in an effort to preserve my rebuilt AX-15 for as long as possible, but these knobs continue to fail. I remembered back to my YJ-driving days and the "leather" shift knobs that were installed on those vehicles. They seemed to last and were a much better construction than the crap that came with the MJ/XJ. I thought I had one, but I couldn't find it in my Jeep spare parts bin. I bought a cheap replica on fleabay and it arrived today, but I fear it will suffer from the same fate as it's constructed identical to the knob that just broke and is now in my trash bin. On the bright side, it looks a whole lot better: What does everyone else use? I'd like to stick with Mopar OEM because I think most aftermarket shift knobs look extremely tacky and I'm trying to keep this truck as close to OEM as possible. I think I might just bite the bullet and pony up the $$ for a genuine "leather" shift knob out of a CJ/YJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 No thanks - this isn't a drag MJ :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 yea its not for everyone. but it fits my hand perfectly, and it was free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 I'd be very tempted to slam through the gears with that shift knob/handle.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 it happens. alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COMJNUT Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I put a little bit of 30min epoxy between the aluminum insert and the hardend plastic, hasn't come apart yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 I put a little bit of 30min epoxy between the aluminum insert and the hardend plastic, hasn't come apart yet! I did that on the original shift handle that came with the truck (stock Mopar) and it lasted for about 3-4 months, but eventually came apart again. It was also obvious that the PO did the same epoxy "fix." Bought a new OEM shift knob and it lasted about a year until the plastic cracked and it popped off - did the epoxy treatment again. Lasted another few months before that came off. Since I'm a glutton for punishment I bought yet ANOTHER OEM shift knob and the plastic broke...again (see picture in original post). Decided no more epoxy treatment. The failure method looks like it's due to heat. Every time the plastic in my OEM knob has broken, it has been in the summer. I'm guessing the constant heat up/cool down is causing the two dissimilar materials to expand and contract at different rates until the plastic fails from fatigue. Or I could just be thinking about it too much :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 ^ Not OEM by any stretch of the imagination, but I very much don't mind that. Mind if you share where you got that from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Azzy's design works. He has a thread in the vendor section. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 Appreciate it - thanks for the info. How about you, Rob? Lover of all things OEM - what shift knob do you use in your MJs (or MJ - I think only your diesel is a manual, si?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 OEM only for the dizzle. Same reason I begrudgingly removed, cleaned, replaced the dash and such in that awful porn red when I have black standing by. You can't beat the way your hand fits onto the stock knob either. I will say though that I am on the manhunt for a Hurst shifter for the Farmer (Yeah, the farmer, remember that thing? I still own it.) Something about just being able to have that solid feel with tight gates in that thing excites me. Plus, I think it would look dead sexy sticking out of an all black interior...a chrome shifter and white Hurst ball of destiny anchoring the interior. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 OEM only for the dizzle. Same reason I begrudgingly removed, cleaned, replaced the dash and such in that awful porn red when I have black standing by. You can't beat the way your hand fits onto the stock knob either. I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. That "flat" section on the top of the shifter just feels very unnatural to me - it just doesn't seem like it fits my hand at all. Now, the CJ/YJ replica I just installed feels perfect - perhaps because I learned to drive stick on my 89YJ way back in the day, I'm not really sure. But I do know that when I installed that CJ/YJ knob and took the ole MJ out for a spin around the neighborhood, it felt a bit nostalgic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Could be. I learned to drive on my '86 MJ with the stock knob. My palm can sit/rest on the flat and my fingers just curl around the front edge perfect. As for a knob you wouldn't break, you want the one that came on my diesel? It's one solid piece of machined metal, weighs a ton, and gives you frostbite in the winter. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass. Besides, I still have the original shift knob from my Mazda B2200, complete with a photograph of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Have a pic of that one? Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Best one I have at the moment and it looks like I was sadly mistaken. No Virgin Mary, just full grown Jesus: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 what about a shifter knob of a newer AX-15, the one in my dakota has held up for 16 years so far. (not my truck but same gear shift.) I find it to pretty comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glundblad Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I also really like the factory knob. But it is very frustrating that it doesn't last. A couple years ago, mine worked loose and I needed to tighten it up but I didn't. I took it in for repairs and the tech turned the knob to tighten it. Big mistake. That busted the plastic inside. The main thing to remember is if it gets loose, tighten it at the bolt. Never turn the knob. That advice alone will double the life from 6 months to 12. Until then, someone please offer advice on a factory look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbreiter Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I have one from a Toyota car that I adapted. It didn't fit when I got it, but I simply took and pounded a nut into the knob. Hasn't offered to move or come off yet. Best part was that it cost me nothing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Function over form buddy! :thumbsup: Hahaha My OEM knob has lasted 3 years on Walker but that trucks doesnt see too many miles and is kept inside so thats probably helped alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 The knob on the column shift auto's do this too. Grrrr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 The knob on the column shift auto's do this too. Grrrr Yes, yes they do. My '88 Pioneer is a column-shift auto and for the longest time it had a hose clamp installed to keep it in place. Eventually that fell off and the rubber shift knob disappeared too...never to be seen again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDude Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I gave Azzy the idea to make the shift knobs. Mainly so he could make one for mine! :rotfl2: He personally drills the out and then laser engraves them and will put whatever you want on it. This one is mine. Azzysdesignworks.com (He also made me the gauges too!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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