Hi, I am new here so these two subjects may have been covered. Sorry if this is a repeat!

I just got a 2008 Cobalt Coupe Sport. I have never done any mods to a car before but I have two things that I would like to change on my new car.

1) The gear shift knob (It is a manual), the chrome on the top is peeling and cuts my hand when I shift. I bought a chep knob at wallmart and was able to take the factory knob off and replace with the cheap wallmart knob. My question is can I get the boot to connect? The connector for the boot from the factory knob is still in the factory knob. (Sorry if I'm not giving the right details, I really am new to this!!) I'm also thinking that I will need a new boot before too long as the leather is damaged on the current boot. Where do I get a new boot? How hard is this modification?

2) The interior door handles have the same peeling chrome. I have read that I would need to remove the door panel. Is this too difficult of a job for a newbie? Where do I get the replacement door handles?

Thank you for any help that you can give me with either of these issues!

 

On the handles it's probably not worth replacing because within 6 months it will peel again. Just take them off, strip them down and paint them. As for removing the door panel, it's easy if you have power windows. Manual windows it's still easy but slightly more challenging. Still easy enough for a noob.

As for the shift boot, idk.

 

Thank you! I will look into painting them! And I do have auto windows... so at least I have the easier of the two I guess! Thanks for the info!

 

My door handles haven't peeled and I've had it for over a year now

 

Is that the original door handles or did you replace them a year ago?

 

yea i dont get it my car's 6 years old and no peeling at all... do some people have acidic palm sweat or something?

 

original door handles

 

it's gotta be a UV thing. when i had a garage, never an issue. lived in my townhouse with no covered parking for a year, passengers side has a bubble.

to the OP, i replaced my shift lever, and I don't recall the issue you're speaking of.

IIRC, there is a little band of plastic like a zip tie that keeps it retained in the knob, but it IS removeable.

TWM made my shifter, i am sure they have instructions on their site.

 

Chevrolet Cobalt Short Throw Shifter

these instructions show how to remove the boot from the knob.

for what it's worth, incredible shifter.

 

my drivers door peeled on day i leaned on the leather door armrest part and i heard a pop and cracked it still under warranty 35400 miles replaced my door chrome peeling issue fixed

 

doubt it because ive had my car 6 years as well no peeling fading color change on the chrome handles and ive never had a garage

 

I live in Texas its almost always 100+ weather except winter its around 50-60 lol and I don't have a garage my car is most of the time outside in the sun.. no peeling

 

Yeah my passenger handle is also starting to peel. There is a large air pocket in it. No clue what to do lol

 

Hey Guys,

Did you know that our custom finish shift knobs are DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coated?

DLC is among other applications used in the engines of modern supersport motorcycles, Formula 1 racecars and NASCAR vehicles to reduce abrasive wear.

How tough is DLC, take a look at this You Tube as we try to refinish one of our DLC coated shift knobs:

DLC coating vs normal finishes

There are different finishes in DLC, Black (TWM Performance, Black Pearl, Gun Metal and Graphite) Gold (TWM Performance Championship Gold) and Bronze (TWM Performance Brushed Bronze)

Here another You Tube of a Championship Gold finish durability test:

Championship Gold DLC Durability Video

Here is a pic of what they look like incoming from our supplier:



TWM Performance is the only Shift Knob manufacturer to offer DLC coating. The reason, cost, the process is very expensive and time consuming, but we think it's worth it! What do you think?

Get your TWM Performance shift knob today:

Click Here for the World's BEST Shift Knobs!

Questions? PM us or email sales@twmperformance

Thanks Guys!

 

My passenger door Handles just started peeling lol from the inside though

 

Had the car close to 4 years, the door handles are perfectly fine. Weird how some have problems and others not!

@TWM Performance, my Blox shift knob is DLC coated. Skunk2 also use DLC coating on their shift knobs. You're not the only company using this kind of finish!

 

@Turbo2009

Neither Blox nor Skunk2 use DLC, like we mentioned, no one does, it's a cost thing, DLC is done in a lab and there are very few of those in North America...

But, we are sure, you wouldn't want to sandpaper your Blox to prove us correct!

That said, you get what you pay for and that's ok...

Btw Guys we have a special on M1 Abrams Shift Knobs, email us for a discount code sales@twmperformance.com here a appetizer You Tube:

M1 Abrams a TWM Performance Production

Click here for your M1 Abrams Shift Knob!

Thanks everybody!

Your
Team TWM Performance

 

lol. No, I won't sand down my Blox.

But seriously, before making false claims go read up a little on your competitors products.

 

We honor ALL our competitors and we would make no more false claims about them than we would like them to make false claims about us! lol

In fact, we would love them to do DLC it would level the playing field and close the pricing gap, so how about it Blox and Skunk2 let's do the DLC thing!

Here is another pic from the lab, you can see it's not a shop...



Your
Team TWM Performance
Shift Knobs - TWM Performance Shift Knob Store

 

I have the stock boot off of my 09 ss/tc! should work fine