speedkar9

Here's how to restitch your shifter with a colored thread.


A few photos of the process:

Here's what the stock shifter looks like, black leather with a black stitching. I want to change mine to blue stitching to match my blue vinyl wrapped interior trims.



The first thing you need to do is remove the shifter. To do that you'll need to remove the panel underneath the steering wheel as well as the glove box, then the panel around the shifter in order to get the front console out.



Here's a video illustrating the process:


Next remove the two screws from the front of the shifter:



Undo the wiring for the O/D button and remove the shifter:



Shifter removed from the vehicle:



Carefully use a blade or screwdriver to undo the stitching along the side of the shifter, noting the pattern of the stitch:



The stitch is one thread, looped into two equal lengths from the top, crossed over each other as it works its way down. Measure out a thread a bit longer than the one you pulled out and fold it in two, then thread that from the top half way through.



Use a curved leather needle to thread in a criss cross pattern, following the original thread pattern:



Here's the front stitch completed:



Repeat for the other side, remove the original stitching:



Measure up a thread and fold it into two. I used embroidery thread, but it kept fraying out on me, so I'd recommend something stronger:



Start at the top with a double loop to ensure it doesn't become undone while threading:



Work your way down with the stitching, crossing over every other hole:



Make a knot at the end of the stitch underneath the leather so its hidden:



Here's the stitching completed:



Reinstall the shifter:





Here's what it looks like when you're done: