Panda Upgrading your vinyl gear gaiter (56K - no way)

Fitting the new gaiter

Now turn the gaiter back the way it was intended and slide it down over the gear knob. Now turn it around so the "unpicked" part is nearest to you. Now pull the gaiter inside out and sew up the part where you unpicked the stiches (this is the hardest part). I used a strong brown thread but black would have been better.


Now you need your new elastic and cable tie. Measure the amount of elastic you will need by comparing your new elastic to the size of the "loop" of the old elastic. As I was using reasonably thin elastic I doubled mine over. Loop the elastic over the part of the plastic ring where you removed the old elastic and sew it so it forms a permanent loop



Now for the second most tricky bit. You need to refit the plastic ring to the new gaiter. My replacement gaiter was not elasticated like the original at the bottom so this was a bit tricky as it too time for the leather to stretch around all of the clips.

You need to slide the plastic ring over the knob with the clips facing down and the side with the elastic attached facing the drivers window (RHD). Make sure your gaiter is facing the right way, ie. the short side towards the engine and the long side towards the rear of the car. Now one by one hook the gaiter over the hooks using the pre-cut holes. Dont forget the odd one. The last hook will be a challenge but stick with it.



Next get your cable tie and insert it through the loop in the elastic. Now find the groove at the bottom of the lift reverse where the cable tie sits and loop the cable tie around it (but dont tighten it just yet, ignore the excess piece of elastic hanging down in this pic).


Make sure you pull the top of the gaiter down over this groove a few mm. Now tighten your cable tie as tight as you can and cut of the end (you can make out the elastic with the cable tie through it better in this pic. Again ignore the excess hanging down, this was there incase it wasnt "springy" enough so I could strengthen the loop).





Now for the moment of truth! Pull the plastic ring down whilst manipulating the "fold" at the top of the gaiter with your fingers to make it neat. Now carefully clip the ring back in place on the dashboard making sure the gaiter fits under the ring neatly.



And your done! The final pic shows the old and new gaiters together


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