Guide to Removing and Replacing the Gear Shift Gaiter on an Opel Astra H

When you want to give your car a new look, the first thing you do is change the interior accessories like mats and seat covers, but why stop there when you can also change the gear shift and handbrake gaiters? This operation, although a bit complex for beginners, is not impossible to carry out. You will need new gaiter covers for the gear shift and handbrake, a flat screwdriver, a staple gun, and plenty of patience.

Removing the gear shift gaiter takes the most time.

First, unclip and remove the ashtray compartment, then disconnect the electrical connector. After this, unscrew the knob by pressing on the clips that attach it to the gear shift; once this step is completed, you can remove the knob and pull out the gaiter.

The gaiter fabric is held together with a rigid plastic; to remove it, insert the flat screwdriver into the points where the staples are inserted. Once the staples are removed, you can insert the new gaiter and attach it to the plastic using the new staples with the staple gun. To reattach the gaiter and knob, simply follow the steps in reverse.

Changing the handbrake gaiter is much simpler. Just remove the surrounding plastic and twist the fabric of the old gaiter until it is fully extracted.

This gaiter is also stitched to a rigid plastic base, and to remove it, insert the screwdriver into the staples and remove them. Once this is done, insert the new gaiter, clamp it, and reassemble everything.

Now you can fully enjoy the new style of your car.