shift knob paint?

[jakeru]

The piece that the silver-painted trim piece (with embossed shift pattern) pushes into is basically hard'ish molded rubber. This hard rubber piece does separate from the leather and comes out, if you peel back the leather around where it's tucked in, around the slots. You can use a razor to trim away any rubber casting flash that's in the way of the slots. Those plastic tangs basically are just friction-fit into the slots. It can be harder to get it going if you install it "cocked". For best results you'll want it pressed straight in. I'm glad to hear you got it sorted out. I think I was able to press mine together with my fingers/hands, but I do remember it not cooperating when I started it "cocked", and also I feel trimming away some of the casting flash from the slots helped.