DIY: S-Tronic Knob swap

[brainpan]

DO NOT PRESS SHIFTER TRIGGER BEFORE INSTALL, i did and it will lock the trigger into the shifter and you wont be able to install it, it took me a while to figure out how to reset it.

1. Place in neutral, with parking brake

2. Remove boot; there are 4 clips located on the left a right side, i started from the center with a slotted screw driver and worked my way around the clips, once free just lift up

3. Pull the shifter trigger out, its under spring tension, pull it out far enough so you can slip a zip tie through it.

4. Pull the boot over the knob, you will notice a metallic clip wrapping around the boot, remove the clip. Its a pain to get off, i ended up braking it off to remove it.

5. At this point you can remove the original knob and boot. Just give it a good upwards pull and it should pop right off, mine released easily. DONT PRESS THE TRIGGER while pulling up, it will fuck up the knob internals.

6. Now the dicey part, as you will notice the S-tronic knob has its pull trigger at the front of the knob, while the stock one's located on the left. To make the s-tronic shifter compatible, you must heat up the white plastic shift stock and rotate it 90 degrees. I used a heat gun to heat the plastic. Take your time doing this, if you don't have enough heat you will snap the stock, and to much heat will deform it.


7. Allow it to cool, this is a good time to transfer you original boot to the new knob. I used a zip tie to bring in the plastic tabs, they are a retainer to hold the knob in place. Youll have to do some force to pull it apart. To install the new knob onto the boot just reverse the process and make sure it is seated in all the way.



8. This is a side step because of a problem i ran into. When you heat and twist the plastic stock you will create burs. This will cause the plastic stock to get caught up in the shifter and your trigger on the shifter wont return. I used medium grade sand paper to smooth out the stock, and a small file.

9. To install the new knob, just reverse these steps. I replace the broken metal clip with a zip tie, works fine(step 4)



Note: When you initially press the new knob onto the stock, make sure you are seated all the way, take note how far down from the original knob. Once its seated you can pull the trigger, this is to set the latching mech, make sure you can press the trigger and have it return on its own. If it does not return all likely hood is that you need to do some more sanding, but if you have to remove it again DO NOT FORGET to insert a zip tie under the trigger like with the original removal.

It was an easy install took about 40 minutes plus all that other bullshit i put myself through by pressing the trigger pre install and then burs on the stock, so hopefully this will help others out there

[Stubek]

Awesome write up. Thanks very much for it.

[a4_bob]

+1 well done & great writeup!

[brainpan]

Thanks, if you're looking for the knob talk to Alex @ europrice, he's got some awesome stuff

[k9lovr]

Nice mod and write up....I dunno if i am bold enough to mess with the heat gun and bend yet....in time maybe...

[dracolnyte]

nice mod, but i dont think i would ever want to do it though

[MiracleWhips]

Great write up.

So I know a guy that already swapped his Tip shift knob some time ago. But upon uninstalling original shift know, he forgot to wrap something around the trigger, and the button is now stuck inside the knob....

How should I tell him to get it out?

[Wah]

Already posted about a year ago but good write-up nevertheless.

MiracleWhips, I would recommend either purchasing the Audi tool as shown in this vid I made or creating something similar from a piece of wire to grab onto the hook inside the knob in order to restore it to its original position.

[brainpan]

Great write up.

So I know a guy that already swapped his Tip shift knob some time ago. But upon uninstalling original shift know, he forgot to wrap something around the trigger, and the button is now stuck inside the knob....

How should I tell him to get it out?

Writing from my phone, so I apologize for the shitty quality. I did the same thing to mine, it took a while to figure out.

So first of you need to separate the boot from the knob. That aluminum sleeve at the bottom just pulls right off, that gives you access to the internals.

I used a small screw driver to pry out the trigger. Then inserted a golf tee to hold out the trigger. Once you do this, you will notice there a latch that is moving freely when you shake the knob.

That latch is what you need to secure. It rests in a black v like holder, you need to use the coat hanger(or you could buy the audi tool) to pull it into the V. Once it's properly seated if you shake the knob you will not hear any rattling.

Then pull back the trigger and remove what ever you used the keep it out. Thats it, the trigger should be back into the position it came in.

I raged on it for a long while, blind rage and ignorance works sometimes lol.

[The Infiltrator]

Do you have a website that I can buy it from?

[Q-NIC]

Thanks for a great write up!

[brainpan]

Do you have a website that I can buy it from?

http://www.europrice.us/

[MiracleWhips]

Brainpan and Wah, thanks for the advice.

This would be needed for the stock A4 nob, but I am sure very similar.

[Nison_Li]

nice write up!

[Maximum]

I followed your directions... Nice job by the way. Everything works except the button. Not sure what I'm missing. It shifts freely now.

[brainpan]

I followed your directions... Nice job by the way. Everything works except the button. Not sure what I'm missing. It shifts freely now.

Hey thanks

sometime after you rotated the stock its gets a little deformed. You'll have to remove the knob and sand down the twist a bit, just a little friction won't allow it to return under the spring tension,

hope this helps

[Maximum]

Ok thanks, I'll give that a try! Not sure what damage, if any would occur If I kept driving it this way.

[Maximum]

No such luck so far. I've sanded the hell out of it too.

[Calbee]

awesome write up brain pan! i personally suggest having the default pics a bit bigger so we dont need to click on each one

[Highlander1010]

Very cool. My new Facelift S4 shifter is on the way from Alex right now. I'll leverage this DIY when it arrives.

[Calbee]

Very cool. My new Facelift S4 shifter is on the way from Alex right now. I'll leverage this DIY when it arrives.

how much did that run you?

[name.goes.here]

Very cool. My new Facelift S4 shifter is on the way from Alex right now. I'll leverage this DIY when it arrives.

That would be much appreciated.

[brainpan]

No such luck so far. I've sanded the hell out of it too.

weird, so its working like theres no interlock with the brake pedal? if the knob is off and its in neutral can you easily pull the plastic stock up and have it return to its normal state? also make sure the knob is properly seated when you put it back on, basically its just a little leaver in the knob that pulls the stock up when youre pulling the triggers,

i had to remove the knob a good half dozen times until i got mine to work, i had a similar problems, but the sanding made it work for me. Make sure too that the stock was twisted a perfect 90, hope this helps, :S

Very cool. My new Facelift S4 shifter is on the way from Alex right now. I'll leverage this DIY when it arrives.

good happy to help, hopefully the new face lift uses the same shifter components

awesome write up brain pan! i personally suggest having the default pics a bit bigger so we dont need to click on each one

Thanks, and Fixed, when i wrote this last year i was just starting to get the hang of the fourms

[Calbee]

weird, so its working like theres no interlock with the brake pedal? if the knob is off and its in neutral can you easily pull the plastic stock up and have it return to its normal state? also make sure the knob is properly seated when you put it back on, basically its just a little leaver in the knob that pulls the stock up when youre pulling the triggers,

i had to remove the knob a good half dozen times until i got mine to work, i had a similar problems, but the sanding made it work for me. Make sure too that the stock was twisted a perfect 90, hope this helps, :S



good happy to help, hopefully the new face lift uses the same shifter components



Thanks, and Fixed, when i wrote this last year i was just starting to get the hang of the fourms

haha! had no idea this was old. thought you just posted it. great writeup!

[Maximum]

Yeah the stock moves up and down with no problem. When I seat the knob all the way down I have to really push the trigger for it to at least grab enough. The button is then stuck in that possition until pull the knob back off. I think its turned 90, maybe 89. I looks like its facing the right direction. In the meantime do you think it's ok to drive it like that? And could that be giving me the parking brake malfunction error?

Thanks for your help!

[brainpan]

Yeah the stock moves up and down with no problem. When I seat the knob all the way down I have to really push the trigger for it to at least grab enough. The button is then stuck in that possition until pull the knob back off. I think its turned 90, maybe 89. I looks like its facing the right direction. In the meantime do you think it's ok to drive it like that? And could that be giving me the parking brake malfunction error?

Thanks for your help!

No prob, sucks your having issues, sounds like the plastic stock is binding somewhere inside the knob, as for driving it, i think it's safe to drive, I drove to the hardware store when mine was stuck like yours, just be carefully no to hit the shifter into reverse or park while moving

[Maximum]

Yeah I was thinking about that too as far as the reverse and park. I think I'll try and heat it up again and twist it a tad further. Did you lift the stock as you heated and twisted it or let it sit in the regular position?

[brainpan]

No just let it sit in the normal position, I was also thinking you should check the top of the stock were that square slot is, make sure it's no deformed at all

[Maximum]

I don't think it's deformed, I mean it doesn't look like but what do I know? I'll try and tweak it again to see what happens. It would probably help if I saw the inside of the knob. That way I can adjust it accordingly

[staticuxo]

anyone know if i can just replace the top plastic insert that says S-tronic? i know it's only held on with adhesive as i pulled it off to see. i ended up scratching mine during the install- everything works fine though!

it's minor and i can live with it, but i'd prefer to replace just that top piece instead of the whole knob.

PS: this mod is awesome! my past 3 Audi's were manuals, so this knob gives a similar feel and look

[brainpan]

anyone know if i can just replace the top plastic insert that says S-tronic? i know it's only held on with adhesive as i pulled it off to see. i ended up scratching mine during the install- everything works fine though!

it's minor and i can live with it, but i'd prefer to replace just that top piece instead of the whole knob.

PS: this mod is awesome! my past 3 Audi's were manuals, so this knob gives a similar feel and look

Not that I'm aware off, I remember it being asked in another forum and the answer was no :(

And yes it is a great mod, can't decide if I like it more than my tts wheel or not o_0

[staticuxo]

Not that I'm aware off, I remember it being asked in another forum and the answer was no :(

And yes it is a great mod, can't decide if I like it more than my tts wheel or not o_0

damn ): alex @ europrice said he does not have them separately.. might buy a new knob down the line. for now, it will do..

flat bottom steering wheel is on my list, too.. not for a while though, haha. i just go the S4 two weeks ago, so i need to take it easy.

[brainpan]

damn ): alex @ europrice said he does not have them separately.. might buy a new knob down the line. for now, it will do..

flat bottom steering wheel is on my list, too.. not for a while though, haha. i just go the S4 two weeks ago, so i need to take it easy.

Oh nice, grats on the s4, what year? but the wheel in the s4 is nice anyways

[Highlander1010]

how much did that run you?

On the way to my house right now from [email protected]. S4 Post-Facelift S-Tronic Shift Knob and Boot - $279.00 each (Retail - $412.50)

[staticuxo]

Oh nice, grats on the s4, what year? but the wheel in the s4 is nice anyways

thanks! 2011.

On the way to my house right now from [email protected]. S4 Post-Facelift S-Tronic Shift Knob and Boot - $279.00 each (Retail - $412.50)

very nice! although for that price you can buy (2) S-tronic ones (you reuse your boot).. i think it'd look better than having an S4 badge in an A4 also. here is mine after i installed it:

[vtheman]

damn ): alex @ europrice said he does not have them separately.. might buy a new knob down the line. for now, it will do..

flat bottom steering wheel is on my list, too.. not for a while though, haha. i just go the S4 two weeks ago, so i need to take it easy.

If the scratch is not too deep you may be able to polish it PlastiX or like.

[vtheman]

thanks! 2011.



very nice! although for that price you can buy (2) S-tronic ones (you reuse your boot).. i think it'd look better than having an S4 badge in an A4 also. here is mine after i installed it:

A little off topic but couldn't help to notice that yours and Brainpan shifter have no "S" mode?

[staticuxo]

If the scratch is not too deep you may be able to polish it PlastiX or like.

unfortunately, i scratched it from the inside, removing some of the black back painting and chrome strip. i touched it up and it's okay for now, but i will probably replace it eventually!

A little off topic but couldn't help to notice that yours and Brainpan shifter have no "S" mode?

not sure about his car, but on my B8 S4 when i put the ADS to dynamic it changes from D to S on my center DIS. i drive in manual mode 99% of the time though... my past 3 audi's were manuals, so i'm used to shifting lol.

[Highlander1010]

thanks! 2011.



very nice! although for that price you can buy (2) S-tronic ones (you reuse your boot).. i think it'd look better than having an S4 badge in an A4 also. here is mine after i installed it:

Ouch! Really? I may need to talk with Alex then.

[staticuxo]

Ouch! Really? I may need to talk with Alex then.

sorry, i don't mean to ruin your purchase or Alex's business, haha. i'm just saying i bought mine on ebay from tuning fanatics ( from Germany) for $110.. a bunch of others bought theirs from him also, that's why i went through him. i had it in my hands in exactly a week.